עלה תאנה

Hebrew

Etymology

From ⁧עֲלֵה⁩ (alé) +‎ ⁧תְאֵנָה⁩ (te'ená); a reference to Genesis 3:7.

Pronunciation

  • (file)

Noun

⁧עֲלֵה תְאֵנָה⁩ • (alé-te'ená) m (plural indefinite ⁧עֲלֵי תְאֵנָה⁩)

  1. (literally) A fig leaf: a leaf of the fig plant.
    • Genesis 3:7 (with KJV translation):
      ⁧וַתִּפָּקַחְנָה עֵינֵי שְׁנֵיהֶם וַיֵּדְעוּ כִּי עֵֽירֻמִּם הֵם וַֽיִּתְפְּרוּ עֲלֵה תְאֵנָה וַיַּעֲשׂוּ לָהֶם חֲגֹרֹת׃⁩
      vatipakákhna einéi sh'neihém vayeid'ú kí arumím hém vayitp'rú alé t'ená vaya'asú lahém khagorót.
      And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
  2. (figuratively) A fig leaf: something intended to conceal something offensive; especially, something that is insufficient for this purpose.
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