seven

seven
    adj 1: being one more than six [syn: {seven}, {7}, {vii}]
    n 1: the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one [syn:
         {seven}, {7}, {VII}, {sevener}, {heptad}, {septet},
         {septenary}]
    2: one of four playing cards in a deck with seven pips on the
       face [syn: {seven-spot}, {seven}]
    

Seven \Sev"en\, n.
   1. The number greater by one than six; seven units or
      objects.
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            Of every beast, and bird, and insect small,
            Game sevens and pairs.                --Milton.
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   2. A symbol representing seven units, as 7, or vii.
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Seven \Sev"en\, a. [OE. seven, seoven, seofen, AS. seofon,
   seofan, seofen; akin to D. zeven, OS., Goth., & OHG. sibun,
   G. sieben, Icel. sjau, sj["o], Sw. sju, Dan. syv, Lith.
   septyni, Russ. seme, W. saith, Gael. seachd, Ir. seacht, L.
   septem, Gr. ???, Skr. saptan. [root]305. Cf. {Hebdomad},
   {Heptagon}, {September}.]
   One more than six; six and one added; as, seven days make one
   week.
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   {Seven sciences}. See the Note under {Science}, n., 4.

   {Seven stars} (Astron.), the Pleiades.

   {Seven wonders of the world}. See under {Wonders}.

   {Seven-year apple} (Bot.), a rubiaceous shrub ({Genipa
      clusiifolia}) growing in the West Indies; also, its edible
      fruit.

   {Seven-year vine} (Bot.), a tropical climbing plant
      ({Ipom[oe]a tuberosa}) related to the morning-glory.
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Seven
This number occurs frequently in Scripture, and in such
connections as lead to the supposition that it has some typical
meaning. On the seventh day God rested, and hallowed it (Gen.
2:2, 3). The division of time into weeks of seven days each
accounts for many instances of the occurrence of this number.
This number has been called the symbol of perfection, and also
the symbol of rest. "Jacob's seven years' service to Laban;
Pharaoh's seven fat oxen and seven lean ones; the seven branches
of the golden candlestick; the seven trumpets and the seven
priests who sounded them; the seven days' siege of Jericho; the
seven churches, seven spirits, seven stars, seven seals, seven
vials, and many others, sufficiently prove the importance of
this sacred number" (see Lev. 25:4; 1 Sam. 2:5; Ps. 12:6; 79:12;
Prov. 26:16; Isa. 4:1; Matt. 18:21, 22; Luke 17:4). The feast of
Passover (Ex. 12:15, 16), the feast of Weeks (Deut. 16:9), of
Tabernacles (13:15), and the Jubilee (Lev. 25:8), were all
ordered by seven. Seven is the number of sacrifice (2 Chr.
29:21; Job 42:8), of purification and consecration (Lev. 42:6,
17; 8:11, 33; 14:9, 51), of forgiveness (Matt. 18:21, 22; Luke
17:4), of reward (Deut. 28:7; 1 Sam. 2:5), and of punishment
(Lev. 26:21, 24, 28; Deut. 28:25). It is used for any round
number in such passages as Job 5:19; Prov. 26:16, 25; Isa. 4:1;
Matt. 12:45. It is used also to mean "abundantly" (Gen. 4:15,
24; Lev. 26:24; Ps. 79:12).