EVE

in Bible, wife of first man and m. of human race; name in Hebrew is khavvah, interpreted by Gensis as ‘life.’ Probably original writer of Genesis idealised some popular tradition in such manner as to embody certain ‘truths concerning human nature suggested by his own hag babconeye Thus Eve’s formation from Adam’s rib expre es dependence of weak on strong, while serpent’s choice of her indicates her more sensuous nature. Story has been made starting-point of many speculations; Augustine originated discu ion as to whether Eve’s soul was immediately breathed into her by God, or was taken from Adam; and Milton, in Paradise Lost, develops theory that Adam's fall was due to his love for Eve, owing to which he preferred to share her fate rather than be separated from her.