[a. L. exodus, a. Gr. ἔξοδος going out, f. ἐξ out + ὁδός way.]
1. The title of the book of the Old Testament that relates the departure of the Israelites out of Egypt.
(In 14–16th c. sometimes ‘Book of Exodi,’ retaining the Lat. genitive.)
c. 1000. Ælfric, On O. T. (Sweet), 63. Seo oðer boc is Exodus ʓehaten.
1388. Wyclif, Ex., Prol. This book of Exodi, that is to seie, of going out, makith mencioun, that [etc.].
1549. Coverdale, Erasm. Par. Rom. ix. 15. That, whiche in the boke of Exodi is by God spoken, I wyl shewe mercy, to whom soeuer I shewe mercy.
1579. Fulke, Heskins’ Parl., 8. In Exodus and Leuiticus … are many thinges … very easie and plaine.
1611. Bible (heading), The Second Booke of Moses, called Exodus. [So Ibid. (1885), (Revised).]
2. A going out or forth.
a. spec. The departure of the Israelites from Egypt.
a. 1646. J. Gregory, Posthuma (1649), 107. The Men of Hamel date all their publick Matters especially, from this Exodus, or going forth of the Children.
1740. Warburton, Div. Legat., IV. § 6 (1755), IV. 85. The two generations, between the exodus from Egypt and the entrance into Canaan.
1882. Farrar, Early Chr., I. 460, note. Pharaoh consented to the Exodus, but it was only in wrath and fear.
b. gen. (more or less consciously transf. from 2 a). lit. and fig.
1623–6. Cockeram, Exodus, a going out.
1721–1800. in Bailey.
1830. Galt, Lawrie T., III. i. (1849), 81. Our Exodus from New York … commenced under the happiest auspices.
1847. Lytton, Lucretia (1853), 228. To trace that son’s exodus from the paternal mansion.
1858. Maury, Phys. Geog. Sea, vi. § 306. The air … at its exodus, is dry.
1862. R. Vaughan, Nonconformity, 383. The exodus from the established church which dates from the 17th August, 1662.
1881. Mahaffy, Old Grk. Educ., xi. 140. A formal exodus of philosophic students, who only returned with Theophrastus.
c. esp. The departure or going out, usually of a body of persons from a country for the purpose of settling elsewhere. Also fig. Cf. EMIGRATION 2.
1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res. (1858), 49. This Genesis of his can properly be nothing but an Exodus (or transit out of Invisibility into Visibility).
1856. Emerson, Eng. Traits, Wealth, Wks. (Bohn), II. 75. The poor-rate was … forcing an exodus of farmers and mechanics.
1862. T. C. Grattan, Beaten Paths, I. 132. The rushing exodus, as it was the fashion to call this continuous transatlantic movement.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, xiv. 202. A complete exodus of the entire tribe.
