Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

sell one's birthright for a mess of pottage

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.76 in modern English

Syllables: sel-l- one's birthright -for a mess of pot-tage
IPA

55

Scrabble Score

35

Letters

5

Syllables

15

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To make an unfavorable exchange, especially of something of great, but deferred value, for something of very low, but immediate value.

Dated

Example Sentences

"An elector, who by his vote should contribute to the establishment of a constitution having for its effect, instead of the greatest happiness of the greatest number, the greatest or supposed greatest happiness of the ruling few at the expense of the happiness of the many, would, supposing himself to become in consequence of the misrule, a sufferer to a greater amount than that of the benefit received by his vote, be an Esau selling his birthright for a mess of pottage."

Etymology

In allusion to the Biblical character Esau, who sold his birthright for a meal of lentil stew (Genesis 25:29-34).

Usage

Dated

Inflected Forms

sells one's birthright for a mess of pottage (present, singular) selling one's birthright for a mess of pottage (participle, present) sold one's birthright for a mess of pottage (participle, past) sold one's birthright for a mess of pottage (past)

Phrases

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush sell the family silver my kingdom for a horse

Frequently Paired Words

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush sell the family silver my kingdom for a horse

Questions

What does sell one's birthright for a mess of pottage mean?: To make an unfavorable exchange, especially of something of great, but deferred value, for something of very low, but immediate value.
Where does sell one's birthright for a mess of pottage come from?: In allusion to the Biblical character Esau, who sold his birthright for a meal of lentil stew (Genesis 25:29-34).

How to pronounce sell one's birthright for a mess of pottage

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