n.
Pronunciation: ' j ō -z ə f also -s ə f
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin, from Greek I ō s ē ph, from Hebrew Y ō s ē ph
Date: 14th century
1 capitalized a : a son of Jacob who according to the account in Genesis rose to high political office in Egypt after being sold into slavery by his brothers b : the husband of Mary the mother of Jesus according to the Gospel accounts
2 : a long cloak worn especially by women in the 18th century