English
hasbara
Hasbara comes from Hebrew הַסְבָּרָה ‘verbal noun of הִסְבִּיר (hisbír): explaining’, and goes back to הִסְבִּיר.
- Hebrew1880s–presentהִסְבִּירhisbír‘to explain’
- Hebrew, derived1880s–presentהַסְבָּרָהhasbará‘verbal noun of הִסְבִּיר (hisbír): explaining’literally ‘explaining’
- Englishearliest quotation 2015hasbara
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Hebrew1880s–presentהִסְבִּירhisbír‘to explain’
- Hebrew, derived1880s–presentהַסְבָּרָהhasbará‘verbal noun of הִסְבִּיר (hisbír): explaining’literally ‘explaining’
- Englishearliest quotation 2015hasbara
Earliest quotation: 2015, Gideon Levy, Israeli Propaganda Isn't Fooling Anyone - Except Israelis: “Hasbara is the Israeli euphemism for propaganda, and there…”
Every English word from Hebrew הִסְבִּיר
Today it means
noun Public relations efforts or propaganda to defend abroad the point of view and policies of the State of Israel.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Hebrew הִסְבִּיר / hasbara