mene tekel

Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From the Aramaic phrase מְנֵא מְנֵא תְּקֵל וּפַרְסִין (mənē mənē təqēl ūp̄arsīn, “a mina, a mina, a shekel, and half-shekels”) from Daniel 5:25.

Noun

mene tekel n (definite singular mene tekelet, indefinite plural mene tekel, definite plural mene tekela)

1. a solemn, ominous warning or prediction of bad luck
2. a bad omen
3. writing on the wall

See also

• bli vegen og funnen for lett
• skrifta på veggen

References

• tekel “mene tekel” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.