Hebrew

edit

Etymology

edit

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “see extensive etymology section at Hebrew Wiktionary”)

The popular folk etymology כְּ־ (k'-, like, comparative prefix) + *לוּם (lúm), a supposedly rare word meaning "olive pit", thus "something as small as an olive pit; anything at all," is unsupported.

Pronunciation

edit

Pronoun

edit

כְּלוּם (k'lum)

  1. anything

Usage notes

edit
  • Used with a negative word, so the combination means "nothing".

Synonyms

edit

Particle

edit

כְּלוּם (k'lum)

  1. (archaic) Used to turn a statement of fact into a question of fact.
    • Talmud Bavli, Maseches Pesachim 87b
      כלום אדם זורע סאה אלא להכניס כמה כורין
      A man sows a se'a but to gain several korim...? [i.e., Does a man sow a small amount for a reason other than to gain many times the original amount?]

Synonyms

edit

Anagrams

edit