amora

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Pronunciations

amora (uh-MOH-ruh) listen
amora (uh-MYE-ruh) listen

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Definitions

  • n. A Talmudic sage whose teachings comprise the Gemara. "Amoraim are contrasted with the tannaim, ancient rabbis who are quoted in the Mishnah" (JPS).

Example Sentences

  • "The amoraim were active between approximately 220 C.E. and 360 or 370 in the Land of Israel."
    (source)

  • "The general principle followed in the Talmudic arguments is that an Amora is not at liberty to disagree in matters of law with a Tanna unless he can quote another Tanna in support." (source)

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Languages of Origin

  • Textual Hebrew

Etymology

  • אמורא amora 'explainer'

      • Who Uses This

      • Religious: Jews who are engaged in religious observance and have some Jewish education
      • Orthodox: Jews who identify as Orthodox and observe halacha (Jewish law)

      Regions

      • North America
      • Great Britain
      • South Africa

      Dictionaries

      • The JPS Dictionary of Jewish Words, by Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic, (Philadelphia, 2001).
      • Dictionary of Jewish Usage: A Popular Guide to the Use of Jewish Terms, by Sol Steinmetz (Lanham, MD, 2005).

      Alternative Spellings

      amorah, amore, amoreh, amoyre, amoyreh, amoyra, amoyrah

Notes

  • Plural Amoraim / Amora'im.

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