Hebdomad

Quick meaning: Hebdomad is a noun meaning (Gnosticism) A group of seven world-creating archons (supernatural beings) often regarded as somewhat hostile; also, a term of address for the Demiurge (“a being sometimes seen as the creator of evil”).

Meaning

(Gnosticism) A group of seven world-creating archons (supernatural beings) often regarded as somewhat hostile; also, a term of address for the Demiurge (“a being sometimes seen as the creator of evil”).

More Meanings

1. (obsolete) A group of seven.
2. (historical or Christianity) A period of seven days; a week.

Example Sentences

The Babylonian race will hold the Roman state in its power for a threefold cycle hebdomad of years. Thereafter the Romans will enslave the Persians in the fifth hebdomad of years.

For that ſaying of our Saviour, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work, is by the moſt judicious underſtood of the works of preſervation and providence: Thoſe of creation being concluded within the firſt Hebdomade, accordingly as is expreſt in the Hiſtory, that God on the ſeventh day reſted from all his works.

In Platonic Theology V. 4.19 ff., Proclus further relates that Plato divided the Soul into one circle and seven circles—a monad and hebdomad. [...] Proclus stresses the relationship between the circles of the monad and hebdomad by explaining that the monad is the whole soul which precedes the hebdomad (In Tim. 267.10–15).

The word "hebdomad" stands in the same relation to seven, that "decad" does to ten, or our English word "dozen" to twelve. As therefore we can say a dozen of days, or a dozen of months, or a dozen of years, so we can say, a hebdomad of days, (i.e. seven days,) or a hebdomad of months, (i.e. seven months,) or a hebdomad of years, (i.e. seven years.)

Word Forms

• hebdomads
• hebdomade

Synonyms for hebdomad

Depending on context, synonyms include week.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include week, septimate, heptade, septenary, heptad, septuple.

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