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Samson
Samson (1135–1211). Abbot of Bury St Edmunds. A Norfolk man, educated in Paris, Samson taught at the abbey, took vows (1166) and was elected abbot in 1182. A shrewd, hard-headed businessman typical of his age, he speedily restored abbey finances after years of mismanagement. Not a great spiritual leader, still less a saint, he was an upright, God-fearing, just, and enthusiastic administrator with qualities essential for running a 13th-cent. abbey with its numerous estates and buildings; he rebuilt part of the abbey and founded a hospital and a school. Though previously unknown to the papacy, he was drawn into public service by being appointed papal judge-delegate. He led his knights in the siege of Windsor (1193) and travelled to Germany to visit the imprisoned Richard. His powerful local influence, if unpopular, was beneficial in a turbulent age. A man of affairs, he nevertheless wrote an account of the miracles associated with St Edmund's shrine. The abbot was one of Carlyle's ‘heroes’ in Past and Present.
Revd Dr William M. Marshall/ and Professor J. A. Cannon |
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JOHN CANNON. "Samson." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN CANNON. "Samson." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-Samson.html JOHN CANNON. "Samson." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-Samson.html |
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Samson
Samson ♂ Biblical name (Hebrew Shimshon, probably derived from shemesh ‘sun’), borne by a Jewish champion and judge famous for his prodigious strength. He was betrayed by his mistress, Delilah, and enslaved and blinded by the Philistines; nevertheless, he was able to bring the pillars of the temple of the Philistines crashing down in a final suicidal act of strength (Judges 13–16). This famous story provided the theme for Milton's poetic drama Samson Agonistes (1671), which is modelled on ancient Greek tragedy. In the Middle Ages the popularity of the given name was increased in Celtic areas by the fame of a 6th-century Celtic saint who bore it, probably as a classicized form of some ancient Celtic name. He was a Welsh monk who did missionary work in Cornwall and afterwards established a monastery at Dol in Brittany.
Variant: Sampson (usually a transferred use of the surname, derived from the given name in the Middle Ages). |
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PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Samson." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Samson." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Samson.html PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Samson." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Samson.html |
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Samson
Samson One of the Israelite judges, of the tribe of Dan (Judg. 13: 24–16: 31). He was a Nazirite, but sat lightly to his vows (Judg. 14: 8–10). He carried on a mostly individual battle against the Philistines. The stories of Samson's erotic attachment to women are legendary. They include the discovery by Delilah of the secret of his astonishing strength, which lay in his uncut hair. When it was shorn, he was captured and blinded, but in a last display of strength, as his hair grew, he seized the pillars which supported the house where the Philistines were celebrating, and died together with his mocking captors (Judg. 16: 4–31). The story of Samson was used by Handel for his oratorio, and there are many great pictures (by Rubens, Rembrandt, Reni) in the art galleries of London and other cities.
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W. R. F. BROWNING. "Samson." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. W. R. F. BROWNING. "Samson." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-Samson.html W. R. F. BROWNING. "Samson." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-Samson.html |
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Samson
SamsonSamson, who appears in the Old Testament of the Bible, was an exceptionally strong hero of the Israelites of the ancient Near East. According to the story, an angel visited Samson's parents before his birth to tell them they would have a son. The boy was to be raised devoted to God, and he must also refuse all strong drink and never cut his hair. Samson had tremendous physical strength and led the Israelites against the Philistines*. He performed many remarkable feats, such as killing 1,000 men using only the jawbone of a donkey as a weapon. However, he fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who tricked him into telling her the source of his strength—his long, thick hair. While Samson was asleep one night, Delilah cut off his hair. Samson grew weak and the Philistines seized him. They put out his eyes and chained him to pillars in the temple of their god Dagon. After a time Samson's hair grew back, and his strength returned. During a celebration in the temple, Samson pulled down the pillars to which he was chained. The temple collapsed, killing Samson and all the Philistines inside. See also Delilah. |
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"Samson." Myths and Legends of the World. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Samson." Myths and Legends of the World. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3490900428.html "Samson." Myths and Legends of the World. 2001. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3490900428.html |
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Samson
Samson in the Bible, judge of Israel. His long hair was a symbol of his vows to God, and because of this covenant Samson was strong. The enemies of his people, the Philistines, accomplished his destruction through the woman Delilah. By cutting his hair she forced him to break his vow and thus destroyed his might. Captured and blinded and chained in the temple of the Philistines, he regained his strength as his hair grew long again, and with his bare hands he pulled down the temple, destroying himself along with his enemies. The Samson cycle was probably drawn from popular oral folk tales and may be a myth connected with the cult of sun worship. Milton's Samson Agonistes is a celebrated English poem on the blinded Samson. |
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"Samson." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Samson." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Samson.html "Samson." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Samson.html |
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Samson
Samson (probably 11th cent. BC), Hebrew hero and traditionally the last of the great ‘judges’. According to the account in Jgs. 13: 2–16: 31, he was endowed with prodigious strength and wrought havoc among the Philistines; when he fell victim to his passion for Delilah and revealed to her the secret of his strength, the Philistines put out his eyes, but he was granted his revenge in pulling down the pillars of the temple where 3,000 Philistines were assembled. Recent scholarship thinks of the Samson stories as originally independent tales, perhaps covering various local heroes. His faith is commended in Heb 11: 32.
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E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Samson." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Samson." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-Samson.html E. A. LIVINGSTONE. "Samson." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 2000. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O95-Samson.html |
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Samson
Samson an Israelite leader (probably 11th century bc) famous for his strength (Judges 13–16). He fell in love with Delilah and confided to her that his strength lay in his uncut hair. She betrayed him to the Philistines who cut off his hair and blinded him, but his hair grew again, and he pulled down the pillars of a house, destroying himself and a large gathering of Philistines.
The name Samson is used allusively with reference to his enormous strength, his having been blinded, or his final destruction of his enemies at the price of his own life. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Samson." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Samson." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Samson.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Samson." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Samson.html |
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Samson
Samson Israelite judge and Old Testament hero renowned for his great physical strength. Samson was a Nazarite, whose strength lay in his long hair. When his mistress, Delilah, discovered this, she had his hair cut off while he slept and handed him over to his enemies, the Philistines. Samson regained his strength as his hair regrew, and when called upon to display his strength in the Philistine Temple of Dagon, he pulled down its central pillars and roof, killing himself and thousands of his captors.
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"Samson." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Samson." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Samson.html "Samson." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Samson.html |
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Samson
Samson. Oratorio by Handel to text compiled from Milton's works, comp. 1741–2, f.p. London 1743.
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MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "Samson." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "Samson." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O76-Samson.html MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE. "Samson." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O76-Samson.html |
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Samson
Samson (Heb. Shimshon). An Israelite Judge. The story of Samson is to be found in Judges 13–16.
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JOHN BOWKER. "Samson." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN BOWKER. "Samson." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Samson.html JOHN BOWKER. "Samson." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Samson.html |
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Samson
Samson
•Masson
•flaxen, Jackson, klaxon, Sachsen, Saxon, waxen
•Samson
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•Mendelssohn • Empson
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•basin, caisson, chasten, diapason, hasten, Jason, mason
•Bateson • handbasin • washbasin
•Freemason • stonemason • Nielsen
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•person, worsen
•Bergson • chairperson • layperson
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"Samson." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Samson." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Samson.html "Samson." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Samson.html |
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