Emily Dickinson Lexicon

Jerusalem, proper n. [Old Hebrew yarah 'threw, cast' < yerushalayim 'founded in peace'.]

Holy City; metropolis in Palestine; place on Mount Moriah where Isaac met his bride Rebekah for the first time (see 2 Chronicles 3:1); place of pilgrimage where the Jew Isaac and his daughter Rebecca fled in Ivanhoe; [fig.] home; promised land; (see Isaiah 52:1; ED letters).

Jerusalem, proper n. [prob. < Old Hebrew shalem, 'house of peace' or 'house of stone'; poss. < salem, name of a Semitic god who was the city's patron.]

Holy City; metropolis in Palestine; [fig.] heavenly city where someone would want to be.

jessamine (-s), n. [Fr. jasmin.]

Climbing flowered plant; ascending shrub with fragrant blossoms; [fig] sweet-smelling balm.

jest (-'s), n. [OFr geste, action, exploit, romance.] (webplay: earnest, play, truth).

Joke; diversion; merry-making.

Jesuit, proper n. [L. Jēsūīta, little Jesus; see Jesus, proper n.]

Member of the “Society of Jesus”; monk of the order that Ignatius Loyola founded in 1533; Roman Catholic priest that espouses strict obedience to the Pope; one who has received elite intellectual and spiritual training; [fig.] bird personified; zealot; pretender; deceiver; cunning one; shrewd creature.

Jesus, proper n. [L. < Gk < Heb. yehôshûa, God is salvation, and < Aramaic Jeshua, savior, healing; see also Christ, proper n.]

Savior; sinless eternal being; given name of the Son of God (see Matthew 1:21); King of the Jews; baby born of Mary at Bethlehem; New Testament divine personage; Jewish leader of twelve disciples and many other followers; prophet and rabbi from Nazareth of Galilee; Redeemer who rescues mortals from death and sin; (see John 18:7; see ED's letters).

Jew, proper n. [ME < OFr < L. < Gk < Heb. yehûdhāh, Judah, praise, celebrate.]

1. Israelite; one of Hebrew ancestry; one whose religion is Judaism; person of the tribe of Judah in the House of Israel (see ED's letters); [fig.] businessman; moneylender; usurer; individual obsessed with money [see Shylock in SH's Merchant of Venice.]
2. Banker; connoisseur; owner; rich person; collector of fine treasures; one who accumulates wealth; [fig.] Lord; Savior; Redeemer; Jesus of Nazareth.
3. Wealthy person; well-dressed man; individual wearing fine clothing and precious ornaments; [word play] jewel; multi-faceted stone.

jewel (-s), n. [Anglo Fr. juel.] (webplay: fondness).

Gem that sparkles; ornament made of precious metals and stones that is of great worth; general term encompassing stones such as diamond, amethyst, topaz, and emerald.

jib, n. [unknown origin.]

Foremost sail of a ship; triangular sail stretching from the outer end of the boom to the fore–topmost head in large ships; [fig.] extended arm, branch, or twig.

jiff, n. [unknown origin.]

Second; moment; very short space of time.