Vedas
Preserved but no longer current.
Also seen as: Vedaras
The four sacred books of the Brahmans, comprising (1) the Rig or Rish Veda; (2) Yajur Veda; (3) the Santa Veda; and (4) the Atharva Veda. The first consists of prayers and hymns in verse, the second of prayers in prose, the third of prayers for chanting, and the fourth of formulas for consecration, imprecation, expiation, etc. The word Veda means knowledge.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Vedas” mean?
The four sacred books of the Brahmans, comprising (1) the Rig or Rish Veda; (2) Yajur Veda; (3) the Santa Veda; and (4) the Atharva Veda. The first consists of prayers and hymns in verse, the second of prayers in prose, the third of prayers for chanting, and the fourth of formulas for consecration, imprecation, expiation, etc. The word Veda means knowledge.
Is “Vedas” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.