amos: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/Very Low FrequencyFormal, Literary, Biblical/Religious, Historical
Quick answer
What does “amos” mean?
A Latin word meaning "we love" or "I love," primarily encountered in biblical, historical, or literary contexts, especially as the name of a biblical prophet or a book of the Old Testament.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Latin word meaning "we love" or "I love," primarily encountered in biblical, historical, or literary contexts, especially as the name of a biblical prophet or a book of the Old Testament.
As a proper noun, it refers to: 1) The eighth-century BC Hebrew prophet; 2) The book of the Bible bearing his name; 3) A given name; 4) (Rare/archaic) Used as a verb form from Latin, as in inscriptions or mottoes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Negligible differences in usage. Pronunciation of the prophetic name may slightly vary.
Connotations
In both varieties, strongly connotes the biblical prophet or the Old Testament book. As a first name, it has historical/old-fashioned connotations.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse, slightly higher in religious contexts. Equal rarity in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “amos” in a Sentence
Proper Noun (No valency)Verb (Archaic): 'amos' + direct object (from Latin 'amo')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “amos” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The ancient inscription read, 'Amos patriam' – we love our country.
American English
- In the Latin motto, 'Deum amos' signifies 'We love God.'
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in theological, religious studies, or historical contexts discussing the Bible or ancient Near Eastern prophecy.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used when referring to someone named Amos or in a religious discussion.
Technical
Specific to theology/biblical scholarship. In computer science, AMOS is an acronym for a programming language (unrelated).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “amos”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “amos”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “amos”
- Mispronouncing as /ˈæ.məs/ (like 'ham') instead of /ˈeɪ.məs/.
- Using it as a common noun in modern English.
- Confusing it with the acronym AMOS (AMiga DOS).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is an English proper noun borrowed from Hebrew via Latin and Greek, referring to the biblical figure and book. It is not a common English noun or verb in contemporary use.
The standard pronunciation is /ˈeɪ.məs/ (AY-muhs) in American English and /ˈeɪ.mɒs/ (AY-moss) in British English, with a long 'A' sound.
No, not in modern English. That is the Latin meaning. In English, it is only recognized as the name of the prophet or the biblical book.
It is relatively uncommon but has seen some revival. It is considered a traditional, somewhat old-fashioned name.
A Latin word meaning "we love" or "I love," primarily encountered in biblical, historical, or literary contexts, especially as the name of a biblical prophet or a book of the Old Testament.
Amos is usually formal, literary, biblical/religious, historical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A MOSaic of prophecy' - Amos is one piece (a book) in the mosaic of the Bible's Minor Prophets.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROPHECY IS A VOICE/AMOS IS A HERALD (e.g., 'The voice of Amos cried out for justice.')
Practice
Quiz
In modern English, 'Amos' is primarily used as a: