Hebrew Usage
Gadol is used in modern Hebrew in a variety of ways. It comes from the root word meaning size thus common usage denotes a large size. Variations of the root word also mean to grow. It also can mean greatness, famous, powerful, influential, or successful.
In Hebrew halachic texts, gadol is also used as a term for a Jewish boy who turns thirteen, and is viewed as an adult regarding to his obligation to practice the mitzvos. This is the age of Bar Mitzvah. When a Jewish girl reaches the age of twelve and a half, according to Jewish law, she is called a gedolah (the feminine form of gadol).
Kohen Gadol refers to the high priests in the Jewish Temples. Shabbat Hagadol is the Shabbat prior to Passover.
In modern Hebrew, gadol as slang is used as an interjection to mean something is extremely cool, out of this world, superb, awesome, absurdly funny or hilarious. For example, upon hearing a funny joke one might interject "Gadol!".
In English writing, the transliterated word "gadol" is used nearly exclusively to refer to a prominent rabbi.
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Famous quotes containing the words hebrew and/or usage:
“Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you.”
—Bible: Hebrew Genesis 9:3.
God speaking to Noah.
“Pythagoras, Locke, Socrates—but pages
Might be filled up, as vainly as before,
With the sad usage of all sorts of sages,
Who in his life-time, each was deemed a bore!
The loftiest minds outrun their tardy ages.”
—George Gordon Noel Byron (1788–1824)