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# gray

adjective (gray, grayer, grayest — US spelling; UK grey); noun (gray); verb (gray, grays, grayed, graying — of hair)

«gray» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Gray is the colour between black and white, like ash or rain clouds. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gray/#m1)
2. Gray describes dull, cloudy weather or a dull, boring feeling. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gray/#m2)
3. To gray (of hair) means to turn gray with age. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gray/#m3)
4. A gray area is something not clearly right or wrong. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gray/#m4)

### In the lessons

In art lessons gray is made by mixing black and white. In stories gray skies set a gloomy mood. Phrases: «gray hair», «gray area», «gray matter» (the brain).

### Examples

- The sky was gray and it started to rain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gray/#x1)
- Mix black and white to make gray. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gray/#x2)
- Grandpa's hair is turning gray. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gray/#x3)
- An elephant is gray. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gray/#x4)
- Use your gray matter — think! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gray/#x5)
- Whether that is cheating is a gray area. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gray/#x6)
- It was so gray and old. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gray/#x7)

### Note

US spelling is gray; UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ and Canada usually write grey. Both are correct. Do not mix with «great».

## In Jewish tradition

Gray hair is a sign of old age and of the sorrow of an aged parent.

**Interpretation.** Jacob's gray hair stands for a father's grief. The rabbis taught respect for the elderly, based on the command to rise before the gray-haired.

### Examples

- Without shall the sword bereave, and in the chambers terror; slaying both young man and virgin, the suckling with the man of gray hairs. (Torah DEU.32.25, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/gray/#x1)
- and if ye take this one also from me, and harm befall him, ye will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. (Torah GEN.44.29, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/gray/#x2)
- it will come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die; and thy servants will bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave. (Torah GEN.44.31, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/gray/#x3)
- With us are both the gray-headed and the very aged men, much older than thy father. (Writings JOB.15.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/gray/#x4)
- Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not; yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, and he knoweth it not. (Prophets HOS.7.9, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/gray/#x5)

### Note

US spelling is gray; UK, Ireland, Australia, NZ and Canada usually write grey. Both are correct. Do not mix with «great».

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «gray» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gray/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«gray» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/gray.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «gray» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/gray/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«gray» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/gray.html) on Mova free.