I. ˈma-kə-(ˌ)bēz noun plural
Etymology: Greek Makkabaioi, from plural of Makkabaios, surname of Judas Maccabaeus 2d century B.C. Jewish patriot
Date: 1587
1. : a priestly family leading a Jewish revolt begun in 168 B.C. against Hellenism and Syrian rule and reigning over Palestine from 142 B.C. to 63 B.C.
2. singular in construction : either of two narrative and historical books included in the Roman Catholic canon of the Old Testament and in the Protestant Apocrypha — see bible table
• Mac·ca·be·an ˌma-kə-ˈbē-ən adjective
II. ˈma-kə-ˌbēz biographical name
Judas or Judah died 161 B.C. surname Mac·ca·ba·eus ˌma-kə-ˈbē-əs Jewish patriot