Methuselah
6
9.9
- proper noun
- /məˈθjuːzələ/
- Literature
:
Metusalén
- Mr. Bates' mother was as old as Methuselah and bedridden.
- old as Methuselah
- Methuselah, who lived 969
- Methuselah lived
Examples
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Although he looked as old as Methuselah, the chief was as sharp as ever and was a veritable walking encyclopedia of forensic data and experience.
Fiction book (1999) -
Although falling short of Methuselah's record, he lived to the ripe old age of 80 and died a wealthy man.
Blog text (13) -
I wanna thank the both of you for making me feel as old as Methuselah.
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To me, that sounds like too high a price to pay for becoming a Methuselah.
Academic text (2006) -
Noah and Methuselah lived for lengthy periods of time.
Blog text (19) -
Methuselah is often regarded as a symbol of longevity due to his reputed lifespan of Methuselah, who lived 969 years.
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In the story, Methuselah lived long enough to witness many generations of his family.
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The reference to Methuselah highlights the idea of extreme old age in various cultures.
Surface Forms
Etymology
Methuselah is the name of a Bible figure, the 'grandfather of Noah', who was famous for living 969 years, and his great age made his name a symbol of long life, which is why we use it for very old people and even for a very large wine bottle.