What does "Mitzvah" mean?

Definition of "mitzvah"

From the Merriam-Webster online dictionary. They retain all rights. You can access them by clicking on the graphic, above. Note: I am not Jewish by birth, although my church lists Judaism as one of its six traditional sources. This word was taught to me by one of my favorite "bosses" of all time, a man named Brent Routman. My intended meaning is * below.

Main Entry: mitz·vah
Pronunciation: 'mits-v&
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural mitz·voth /-"vOt, -"vOth, -"vOs/; or mitz·vahs
Etymology: Hebrew miswAh
Date: 1650
1 : a commandment of the Jewish law
* 2 : a meritorious or charitable act

Dictionary Pronunciation Key

\&\ as a and u in abut
\[^&]\ as e in kitten
\&r\ as ur and er in further
\a\ as a in ash
\A\ as a in ace
\ä\ as o in mop
\au\ as ou in out
\ch\ as ch in chin

\e\ as e in bet
\E\ as ea in easy
\g\ as g in go
\i\ as i in hit
\I\ as i in ice
\j\ as j in job
\[ng]\ as ng in sing
\O\ as o in go

\o\ as aw in law
\oi\ as oy in boy
\th\ as th in thin
\[th_]\ as th in the
\ü\ as oo in loot
\u\ as oo in foot
\y\ as y in yet
\zh\ as si in vision

For explanations of other pronunciation symbols see Guide To Pronunciation.