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3 definitions found

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:

  Cistern \Cis"tern\, n. [OE. cisterne, OF. cisterne, F. cisterne,
     fr. L. cisterna, fr. cista box, chest. See {Cist}, and cf.
     {chest}.]
     1. An artificial reservoir or tank for holding water, beer,
        or other liquids.
  
     2. A natural reservoir; a hollow place containing water.
        ``The wide cisterns of the lakes.'' --Blackmore.

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  cistern
       n 1: a sac or cavity containing fluid especially lymph or
            cerebrospinal fluid [syn: {cisterna}]
       2: a tank that holds the water used to flush a toilet [syn: {water
          tank}]
       3: an artificial reservoir for storing liquids; especially an
          underground tank for storing rainwater

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Cistern
     the rendering of a Hebrew word _bor_, which means a receptacle
     for water conveyed to it; distinguished from _beer_, which
     denotes a place where water rises on the spot (Jer. 2:13; Prov.
     5:15; Isa. 36:16), a fountain. Cisterns are frequently mentioned
     in Scripture. The scarcity of springs in Palestine made it
     necessary to collect rain-water in reservoirs and cisterns (Num.
     21:22). (See {WELL}.)
     
       Empty cisterns were sometimes used as prisons (Jer. 38:6; Lam.
     3:53; Ps. 40:2; 69:15). The "pit" into which Joseph was cast
     (Gen. 37:24) was a _beer_ or dry well. There are numerous
     remains of ancient cisterns in all parts of Palestine.
     

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