amasa: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely rare / ArchaicFormal, Biblical, Historical
Quick answer
What does “amasa” mean?
A biblical proper noun referring to two distinct men: 1) A commander of King David's army.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A biblical proper noun referring to two distinct men: 1) A commander of King David's army; 2) A son of David's half-sister Abigail.
In modern usage, extremely rare as a given name, almost exclusively in religious or historical contexts referencing the biblical figures.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage or recognition. Equally obscure in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries strong biblical/historical connotations. No modern slang or colloquial uses.
Frequency
Effectively zero frequency in contemporary corpora for both BrE and AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “amasa” in a Sentence
Proper Noun [Subject] + was + [past participle]Proper Noun [Subject] + commanded + [object]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used only in theological, historical, or literary studies focusing on the Davidic monarchy or Biblical narratives.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Not used in technical fields outside specific religious scholarship.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “amasa”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “amasa”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “amasa”
- Misspelling as 'Amassa' or 'Amaza'.
- Mispronouncing with a short 'a' (/æ/) at the beginning.
- Using it as a common noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'Amasa' is not a lexical word in modern English. It functions exclusively as a proper noun referring to specific biblical figures and is not used in everyday language.
The standard pronunciation is /əˈmeɪsə/, with the stress on the second syllable: uh-MAY-suh.
Yes, as it is a valid proper noun from a widely published work (the Bible), it is typically listed in official Scrabble dictionaries as a playable word.
Amasa's significance is twofold: his appointment by David was a political move to unite Judah and Israel, and his murder by Joab highlights the brutal power struggles within David's court.
A biblical proper noun referring to two distinct men: 1) A commander of King David's army.
Amasa is usually formal, biblical, historical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. The word does not feature in any modern English idioms.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Amasa led the army, think 'a-MASS-a' lot of soldiers.
Conceptual Metaphor
Not applicable. It is a proper name without conceptual metaphorical extensions.
Practice
Quiz
Who was Amasa's mother according to the Bible?