Promised Land
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See also: promised land
English[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Audio (AU) (file)
Proper noun[edit]
- (Judaism, Christianity) The area historically known as Judea, which was promised to the Israelites by God according to oral tradition recorded in the Book of Genesis.
- 1910, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter 3, in The Intrusion of Jimmy:
- At last, after years of patient waiting, he stood like Moses on the mountain, looking down into the Promised Land.
- (Mormonism) The United States of America.
- (idiomatic, sometimes lower case) Heaven or the afterlife.
- 1901, Gilbert Parker, chapter 3, in The March of The White Guard:
- "Be good, my boy, and God will make you great." Then she said she was cold, and . . . murmured: "I'll away, I'll away to the Promised Land—to the Promised Land. […] It is cold—so cold—God keep my boy!"
- 1934 July 16, “Heroes: Brave Engineer”, in Time:
- On Sunday night, April 29, 1900 Engineman John Luther Jones, called "Casey", […] took his farewell journey to the promised land.
Related terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
land promised by God
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Heaven or the afterlife
Noun[edit]
Promised Land (plural Promised Lands)
- (idiomatic, sometimes lower case) Any place to which one eagerly seeks to go and which one expects to greatly improve one's situation.
- c. 1820, “The Early Experiences of Ralph Ringwood”, in The Crayon Papers, Washington Irving:
- The country, too, which had been the promised land of my boyhood, did not, like most promised lands, disappoint me.
- 1857, Charlotte Brontë, chapter 25, in The Professor:
- When Frances had developed her plan, she intimated, in some closing sentences, her hopes for the future. […] [A]nd what was to hinder us from going to live in England? England was still her Promised Land.
- 1912, Annie Fellows Johnston, chapter 8, in Mary Ware's Promised Land:
- That is the danger that always menaces people when they get over into their Promised Land.
- 1968 April 3, Martin Luther King Jr., I've Been to the Mountaintop:
- I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.
- 1987, Joe Smooth (lyrics and music), “Promised Land”, performed by Anthony Thomas:
- When the angels from above / Fall down and spread their wings like doves / As we walk hand in hand / Sister, brothers, we'll make it to the promised land
Translations[edit]
place which one eagerly seeks
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