messiah

plural messiahs · alternative Messiah

1. The one who is ordained by God to lead the people of Israel, believed by Christians and Muslims to be Jesus Christ.
2. broadlylifestyleA similar religious figure or awaited divine ruler, such as the Islamic Mahdi.

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   The spice exists on only one planet in the entire universe- a desolate, dry planet with vast deserts. Hidden away within the rocks of these deserts are a people known as the Fremen, who have long held a prophecy, that a man would come, a messiah, who would lead them to true freedom. The planet is Arrakis, also known as Dune.

   1984, 1:50 from the start, in Dune (Science Fiction), spoken by Princess Irulan, →OCLC

3. figurativelyAn extremely powerful or revered figure.

   Girlie, as far as you're concerned, I'm the messiah of the DMV. Now, get out of the car.

   1995, Amy Heckerling, Clueless, spoken by DMV tester (Ron Orbach)

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   At its best, psychoanalysis is the classic therapeutic technique for exploring unconscious processes. At its less-than-best, it is a jargon-opacified oedipus-complicated, libido-theoretical, pseudo-scientific cult whose messiah is Sigmund Freud.

   1979 August 11, Lawrence Mass, “Psychiatry on Trial”, in Gay Community News, volume 7, number 4, page 8

1. JudaismThe promised and expected savior or liberator of the Jewish people.

   Synonyms: Christ

2. A saviour or liberator of a group of people.
3. ChristianityJesus Christ.