The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
Appendix II
Semitic Roots
ENTRY:
rbb.
DEFINITION:
Also rby. To be(come) much, many, great. 1a.rabbi, reb2, rebbe, from Hebrew and Aramaic rabbî, my master, from rab(b), master, chief, from rab, to be(come) much, many, great; b.rabbinical, probably from Aramaic rabbin, plural of rab(b), master (see above). 2. Jeroboam, from Hebrew yrobcm, the (divine) kinsman increased, from yrob, archaic preterite of rbab, to be(come) many, much (cm, kinsman; see cmm). 3.rebec, from Arabic rabb, rebec, from rabba, to be master, control.
robc
