mesiras nefesh

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Pronunciations

mesiras nefesh (meh-SEE-rahs NEH-fesh) listen

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Definitions

  • n. Self-sacrifice (figuratively); extreme devotion.

Example Sentences

  • "The mesiras nefesh, incredible warmth, and caring to two strangers was outstanding. What sterling middos!" (source)

  • "She's been caring for her parents with such mesirut nefesh." (Glinert)

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Languages of Origin

  • Textual Hebrew
  • Yiddish

Etymology

  • TH מסירת נפש mesirát néfesh > Y מסירת־נפֿש mesires-nefesh

      • Who Uses This

      • Orthodox: Jews who identify as Orthodox and observe halacha (Jewish law)
      • Older: Jews who are middle-aged and older
      • Ashkenazim: Jews with Ashkenazi heritage

      Regions

      • North America
      • Great Britain
      • South Africa

      Dictionaries

      • Yiddish and English: A Century of Yiddish in America, by Sol Steinmetz (Tuscaloosa, 1986).
      • The Joys of Hebrew, by Lewis Glinert (New York, 1992).

      Alternative Spellings

      mesirat nefesh, mesiros nefesh, mesirot nefesh, mesirus nefesh, mesirut nefesh, moiser nefesh, moyser nefesh

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