Definition of "James"

James

/d͡ʒeɪmz/

proper noun
countable and uncountable, plural Jameses
1. (biblical) The twentieth book of the New Testament of the Bible, the general epistle of James.
2. One of two Apostles, James the Greater and James the Less, often identified with James, brother of Jesus.
  Quotations
  Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Matthew 10:1–3
3. A male given name from Hebrew popular since the Middle Ages. Also a common middle name.
  Quotations
  […] And Normans call me James Fitz-James. / Thus watch I o'er insulted laws, / Thus learn to right the injured cause. […]
  1810, Walter Scott, “Canto VI. The Guard-room.”, in The Lady of the Lake; […], Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for John Ballantyne and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, and William Miller, stanza XXVIII, page 286
  Heaven only knows why a man with a strong biblical name like James wants to be a president named Jimmy.
  1979 Charles Kuralt, Dateline America, Harcourt Brace Jovanocich, page 184
4. An English surname originating as a patronymic.
5. A placename
  1. An unincorporated community in Jones County, Georgia, United States.
  2. An unincorporated community in Plymouth County, Iowa, United States.
  3. A township in Timiskaming District, north-eastern Ontario, Canada.
  4. Former name of Santiago, an island in Galapagos, Ecuador.