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Definition of eli

eli

/ˈiː.laɪ/
E · li
Plural:Elis
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eli Lexical Profile

eli Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

American A student, alumnus, or athletic team member of Yale University (typically capitalized).

Example

"The annual football rivalry between Harvard and the Elis dates back to the late nineteenth century."

2

In the Hebrew Bible, a high priest and judge of Israel at Shiloh who mentored the young prophet Samuel (capitalized).

Example

"In the first chapter of First Samuel, Hannah prays silently at the tabernacle while Eli observes her from his seat by the doorpost."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for eli

• Nearby Words

elfish
elgar
elgon
eli
elias
elicit
eligibility

Word Origin & Etymology

The university sense derives from a shortening of Elihu Yale (1649–1721), the British merchant and benefactor after whom Yale University was named. The biblical name comes from Hebrew 'Ēlī, meaning 'ascension' or 'my God.'

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Eli. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/eli
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