emmaus
LowFormal, Literary, Religious
Definition
Meaning
A biblical village near Jerusalem where, according to the Gospel of Luke, the resurrected Jesus appeared to two of his disciples.
Used metaphorically to denote a moment of sudden spiritual recognition or revelation after a period of confusion or despair; also refers to the modern international Christian charity founded by Abbé Pierre.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
When capitalized, it primarily refers to the biblical location or the modern charity. In metaphorical use, it suggests a journey from despair to hope or confusion to clarity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical and equally rare in both varieties, confined primarily to religious or literary contexts.
Connotations
Strong Christian religious and literary connotations.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general corpora; slightly higher in religious texts or discussions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[The] road to Emmaus[an] Emmaus moment of [realisation][the] Emmaus story/narrativeVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “road to Emmaus”
- “Emmaus moment”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in theological, biblical studies, or literary analysis contexts.
Everyday
Rare, except among religious communities.
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The sermon focused on the disciples' journey to Emmaus.
- She found her Emmaus in the quiet of the chapel.
American English
- His visit to the charity's headquarters was a modern Emmaus.
- The painting depicts the supper at Emmaus.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Emmaus is a town in the Bible.
- The priest explained the significance of the Emmaus story during the Easter service.
- After years of searching, her trip to the monastery became a personal Emmaus, revealing the answer she had sought.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine 'Emmaus' sounds like 'I may see us' – a place where something hidden becomes clear.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY / UNDERSTANDING IS SEEING
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with the common Russian name 'Емеля' (Emelya). It is a proper noun, not translated.
Common Mistakes
- Using lowercase ('emmaus') when referring to the proper noun.
- Mispronouncing as /ˈɛməs/ or /iːˈmeɪəs/.
- Using it in a non-metaphorical secular context where 'epiphany' would be more appropriate.
Practice
Quiz
What is an 'Emmaus moment' typically understood as?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word used almost exclusively in religious, literary, or specific charitable contexts.
Rarely. Its primary meaning is biblical. Metaphorical use ('an Emmaus moment') still carries strong spiritual or profound revelatory connotations.
Emmaus is an international solidarity movement founded in Paris in 1949 by Abbé Pierre, which combats poverty and homelessness through community-based work.
It is pronounced /ɪˈmeɪəs/ (ih-MAY-uhs) in both British and American English.