alpha and omega

alpha and omega
noun
1. the first and last; signifies God's eternity
• Hypernyms: ↑eternity, ↑infinity
2. the basic meaning of something; the crucial part
• Hypernyms: ↑crux, ↑crux of the matter

* * *

noun
Etymology: so called with reference to Rev 1:8, from alpha and omega's being respectively the first and last letter of the Greek alphabet
1. : the beginning and ending
2. : the principal element : the most important feature

wheat is the alpah and omega of their diet — T.H.Fielding

* * *

1. the beginning and the end. Rev. 1:8.
2. the basic or essential element or elements: the alpha and omega of political reform.

* * *

alpha and omega
Beginning and end
• • •
Main Entry: ↑alpha

* * *

alpha and omega,
the first and the last; the beginning and the end: »

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord (Revelation 1:8).

╂[because alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet]

* * *

the beginning and the end (esp. used by Christians as a title for Jesus)
■ the essence or most important features

collective bargaining is seen as the alpha and omega of trade unionism

* * *

noun
the alpha and omega
: the most important part of something

Money is the alpha and omega of his existence. [=money is the only thing that matters to him]


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Alpha and Omega — • Includes Jewish and Christian meanings Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Alpha and Omega     Alpha and Omega     † …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Alpha and omega — Alpha Omega est un groupe de dub underground anglais qui se forme un peu avant 1990. Le premier album complet réalisé par le groupe, Daniel in the Lion s Den, sort en 1990. Le son d Alpha Omega, inspiré par la culture jamaicaine et le dub UK, est …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Alpha and Omega — omega o*me ga ([=o]*m[=e] g[.a] or [=o]*m[=a] g[.a] or [=o] m[ e]*g[.a]; 277), n. [NL., fr. Gr. w^ me ga, i.e., the great or long o. Cf. {Mickle}.] 1. The last letter of the Greek alphabet. See {Alpha}. [1913 Webster] 2. The last; the end; hence …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • alpha and omega — ► alpha and omega the beginning and the end. Main Entry: ↑alpha …   English terms dictionary

  • alpha and omega — n. 1. the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet 2. the beginning and the end: cf. Rev. 1:8 …   English World dictionary

  • Alpha and Omega — The term Alpha and Omega comes from the phrase I am the alpha and the omega ( gr. τὸ Α καὶ τὸ Ω), an appellation of God in the Book of Revelation (verses 1:8, 21:6, and 22:13). Its meaning is found in the fact that Alpha (Α) and Omega (Ω) are… …   Wikipedia

  • alpha and omega — 1. the beginning and the end. Rev. 1:8. 2. the basic or essential element or elements: the alpha and omega of political reform. * * * ▪ Christianity       in Christianity, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, used to designate the… …   Universalium

  • alpha and omega — noun a) The first and last; the beginning and end. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end saith the Lord, ... b) The first and last letters in the Greek alphabet, quotation …   Wiktionary

  • Alpha and Omega —    The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. They are used of our Lord to set forth His eternal and divine Nature, as in Revelation I:II, I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last. In their Greek form these letters are used in the… …   American Church Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  • alpha and omega — noun Etymology: from the fact that alpha and omega are respectively the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet Date: 1526 1. the beginning and ending 2. the principal element …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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