אֵם

אֵםf. (b. h.; אמם, אמה, √אם; to press, embrace, join, support, lead; v. אמן, אמר, אמץ ; cmp. אָב) 1) mother, freq. = my mother. Sabb.134a; a. fr.Y.M. Kat. III, beg. 81c הניח חק אִמֹּו left his mothers lap (Palestine).Num. R. s. 10 (ref. to immo Prov. 31:1) אמו זו … התורהוכ׳ ‘his mother that means the Law which trained Solomon and which is called a mother of those studying it, as you read (Prov. 2:3; text אִם is read אֵם ēm). 2) womb, mouth of the womb. Ḥull.III, 2 (54a) ניטלה האםוכ׳ if the mouth of the womb is absent, cut out. Bekh.IV, 4 (28b).Trnsf. legitimate existence, authority. Succ.6b, a. fr. יש א׳ למסורת the traditional Scripture text (letters without vowels) is authoritative in Biblical interpretation, opp. יש א׳ למקרא the traditional reading (vowels) must guide us, e. g. בחלב (Ex. 23:19) may be read בַּחֲלֵב as the traditional vocalization, or בְּחֵלֶב in the fat of.Pl. אִמָּהֹות, אִימָּהֹות. Kidd.IV, 4 her genealogy must be traced back ארבע א׳ to the mothers of four generations (on each side) which is eight mothers. Y.Snh.II, 20b bot. they are not אֲמָהוֹת אלא אִימָּהוֹת maid-servants but mothers (of the nation).Trnsf. א׳ של בצלים seed-onions. Peah III, 4. Erub.29a; a. e.Ch. אִימָּא. (Koh. R. to XII, 7 א׳ דבצלי׳, v. אַמָּה.