Dorcas

See also: dorcas

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek δορκάς (dorkás, “gazelle”), translation of Tabitha in the Bible.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈdɔːkəs/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈdɔɹkəs/

Proper noun

Dorcas

1. A woman who is said, in the Bible, to have been restored to life by Peter.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Acts 9:36:

     Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas; this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

2. A female given name from Ancient Greek of biblical origin.
3. (Christianity, historical) Used attributively of a ladies' association within the church in order to make and distribute clothes for the poor.
   • 1863, Anthony Trollope, “The Ray Family”, in Rachel Ray. […], volume I, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, page 11:

     She established a Dorcas society at Baslehurst, of which she became permanent president, and spent her money in carrying on this institution in the manner most pleasing to herself.

   • 1866, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], chapter V, in Felix Holt, the Radical […], volume I, Edinburgh, London: William Blackwood and Sons, →OCLC, page 120:

     The daughter was probably some prim Miss, neat, sensible, pious, but all in a small feminine way, in which Felix was no more interested than in Dorcas meetings, biographies of devout women, and that amount of ornamental knitting which was not inconsistent with Nonconforming seriousness.

Translations

biblical woman

• Catalan: Dorques f
• Finnish: Dorkas
• Greek:

  Ancient: Δορκάς f (Dorkás)

• Hawaiian: Doreka
• Norwegian: Dorkas
• Portuguese: Dorcas f
• Swedish: Dorkas

female given name

• Hawaiian: Koleka
• Portuguese: Dorcas f

Noun

Dorcas (plural Dorcasses or Dorcases)

1. A member of a Dorcas association.
   • 1654, William Jenkyn, A shock of corn coming in in its season, page 13:

     Secondly, When a person not only hath grace, but also is beneficial, usefull, doth much good in his time, is diffusive of holinesse, full of good works, serves his generation, and hath done his work before he fals asleep, hath his Dorcasses coats to be seen after his death; it is only our doing good that makes us called good;

   • 1863, Caroline Matilda Kirkland, A Few Words in Behalf of the Loyal Women of the United States, page 2:

     I have beheld, O Dorcasses! with admiration and gratitude , the coats and garments, the lint and bandages which you have made.

   • 1870, Samuel Cowdy, Christianity re-examined: help and hope for truth seekers, page 65:

     yea, of women, not a few, who following in the train of those who “ministered to Christ,” were good Dorcasses, and “succourers of many."

   • 1940, John Pintard, Dorothy C. Barck, Letters from John Pintard to His Daughter, Eliza Noel, page 196:

     I fear least thro the medium of the papers he sh^d hear of it before the Dorcasses of his congregation shall receive the certificate to present in due form, in this case be pleased to apologize to the ladies for my indiscretion.

Verb

Dorcas (third-person singular simple present Dorcasses or Dorcases, present participle Dorcassing or Dorcasing, simple past and past participle Dorcassed or Dorcased)

1. To do the work of a Dorcas; to make and distribute clothes to the poor.
   • 1912, Rupert Hughes, Mrs. Budlong's Christmas Presents, page 59:

     They had been pouring tea and passing wafers when they should have been Dorcassing at their Christmas tasks.

   • 1913, H. J. A. Hervey, The European in India, page 84:

     It was by good works of this kind — not by doles , “Dorcassing,” and such-like — that Ossett gained and deserved the title of a “Charitable Man.”

   • 1928, Lawrence Pilkington, The Chimneys of Tattleton: A Story of Old Lancashire, page 41:

     Peter and Paul knew what they were about when they kept the women Dorcassing and such like.

Derived terms

• dorcastry

Anagrams

• Acords

Portuguese

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈdɔʁ.kɐs/ [ˈdɔh.kɐs]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈdɔʁ.kɐs/ [ˈdɔh.kɐs]
  • (São Paulo) IPA^(key): /ˈdɔɾ.kɐs/
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /ˈdɔʁ.kɐʃ/ [ˈdɔχ.kɐʃ]
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈdɔɻ.kas/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈdɔɾ.kɐʃ/

Proper noun

Dorcas f

1. (biblical) Dorcas (woman restored to life by Peter)
2. a female given name, equivalent to English Dorcas