Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • proper noun A female given name.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Of uncertain origin, used in Scotland since the sixteenth century; possibly from Latin orabilis "yielding to prayer" or a variant of Annabel.

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Examples

  • Arabella is haunted by the memory of Nora Hughes, a nearly perfect maidservant who preceded Bessy in

    The Observations by Jane Harris: Questions 2006

  • When she further discovers that Arabella is at work on a secret manuscript, a book of "observations" on the behavior of domestic servants, Bessy is horrified that her sordid past is not as carefully concealed as she has supposed.

    The Observations by Jane Harris: Questions 2006

  • Arabella is virtually obsessed with chronicling and analyzing the thoughts and actions of her maidservants.

    The Observations by Jane Harris: Questions 2006

  • Thus he learnt, that while Mr. Pole was advancing toward the three grouped ladies, on the day of Mr.. Chump's arrival, he called Arabella by name, and Arabella went forward alone, and was engaged in conversation by

    Complete Project Gutenberg Works of George Meredith George Meredith 1868

  • But I haven't named my children after him, even though they are called Arabella and Richard.

    Telegraph.co.uk - Telegraph online, Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph Adam Sweeting 2011

  • Her relatively nascent label Arabella, which pays homage to the "beautiful Arab woman" and supplies customised, traditional garb to her clients, put a set of dark stones-embellished yet minimalistic abayas on the catwalk.

    Khaleej Times : UAE News 2010

  • One ought to love ugly Mary Thompson because she was so clean, God because he was so good, prating Mr. Scarby because he was so honest and paid all his son’s debts, scolding cousin Arabella because she was so capable, Mamma because she was so kind, Frederick because he was her husband.

    Commonplace 2010

  • One ought to love ugly Mary Thompson because she was so clean, God because he was so good, prating Mr. Scarby because he was so honest and paid all his son’s debts, scolding cousin Arabella because she was so capable, Mamma because she was so kind, Frederick because he was her husband.

    A Different Stripe: 2010

  • One ought to love ugly Mary Thompson because she was so clean, God because he was so good, prating Mr. Scarby because he was so honest and paid all his son’s debts, scolding cousin Arabella because she was so capable, Mamma because she was so kind, Frederick because he was her husband.

    "One could love her for the only sufficient reason that one chose to." 2010

  • “Do you know of a lady called Arabella Fermor?” he asked another man in the party.

    The Scandal of the Season Sophie Gee 2007

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