The plural of cherub; multiple angelic beings, particularly as described in Biblical and religious texts.
From Hebrew 'kerubim,' the plural of 'kerub.' English adopted this Hebrew plural form directly through Latin and Greek translations of Biblical texts, rather than using the English plural '-s.'
Cherubim represents one of English's surviving irregular plurals borrowed from Hebrew—like how we say 'seraphim' not 'seraphs'—and their appearance in the King James Bible ensured these ancient plurals remained standard in religious English.
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