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Moloch

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also:moloch

Translingual

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Athorny dragon(Moloch horridus), the sole species of thegenusMoloch,inAlice Springs,Northern Territory,Australia

Etymology

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New Latin,fromΜολόχ(Molókh),Greek rendition ofHebrewמולך(mólekh,Moloch),borrowed fromAmmonite𐤌𐤋𐤊(mlk),an Ammonite god mentioned in thePentateuch,worshipped by Canaanites and Phoenicians, said to have demanded child-sacrifice.

Proper noun

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Molochm

  1. A taxonomicgenuswithin thefamilyAgamidaethorny dragon,of Australia.

Hypernyms

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Hyponyms

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References

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From theProto-Semitic*malk-(king).The figurative sense derives from the Old Testament, in which it is alleged that the cult of Moloch involved the sacrifice of human children.

Pronunciation

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Proper noun

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Moloch

  1. An ancientAmmonitedeityworshiped by theCanaanites,Phoenicianand related cultures inNorth Africaand theLevant,often depicted with the head of a bull.
  2. (figuratively)A person or thing demanding or requiring a very costlysacrifice.
    • 1706,[John Rushworth], “The Speaker’s Speech to the King[marginal note]”,inHistorical Collections from the Year 1638. to the Year 1641. Abridg’d and Improv’d.[...]With a Particular and More Methodical Account of the Trial of the Earl of Strafford than has been yet Publish’d,volume III, London:[s.n.],→OCLC,page248:
      [W]e can't without wonder remember that horrid Invention projected in this place, but thanks be to God diſappointed, wherein there was not Reverence to the ſacred Bones of Princes, but all were at one blaſt to be offer'd up toMoloch.
    • 1857November, “The Present Panic”, inTait's Edinburgh Magazine,volume XXIV, Edinburgh:William Tait,→OCLC,page644:
      They [bankers] would do what has been done by theBank of France—buy bullion at a premium, on the approach of danger, and keep peril at a safe and respectable distance. Any expenditure that might be incurred for that purpose would be small indeed when contrasted with the immense loss and suffering caused by the present system, and the continual fear in which the public now live of some new crisis—because it has been out of one and into another for a long period now; and that will be the case hereafter, until we have no interval to gather strength, and recruit for the next struggle withMammon,orMoloch,or whatever other name of evil import belongs to the "Tutelarity"ofLombard-streetand its precincts.
    • 1859,Charles Dickens,A Tale of Two Cities,London:Chapman and Hall,[],→OCLC:
      []poor Johnny Tetterby staggering under hisMolochof an infant, the Juggernaut that crushes all his enjoyments.

Derived terms

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Translations

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Further reading

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Alemannic German

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key):/moˈlɔχ/,/ˈmolɔχ/

Noun

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Molochm

  1. (biblical)Moloch(deity)
    • (Can wedatethis quote?),W. F. Niedermann, edited by O. Sutermeister,Zwei einaktigi Lustspiel. Liecht ufz'füehre i Verein und Familie(Sammlung deutsch-schweizerischer Mundart-Literatur: Aus dem Kanton Zürich. Siebentes Heft)‎[1],Orell Füßli,→OCLC,Terzett mit Hindernisse. Lustspielszene, page11:
      Frau: Soll ich myn arme Bueb demMolochMammon opfere?
      Wife: Should I sacrifice my poor boy to theMolochMammon?
    • 2018February 1, Jürg Meier["uf Baaseldütsch überdräit und uusegää vom Jürg Meier"],“In dr Wieschti duet s Volgg nid foolge”, inS Wiirgge vo den Aboschdle, brichted vom Lukas(Dasch dr Hammer!: S nöie Teschdamänt uf Baaseldütsch; 3)‎[2],BoD – Books on Demand,→ISBN,→OCLC,page41:
      43 Nääi, iir händ imMolochsy Zälthäiligdum und s Stäärnbild vom Gott Räfan mitgfiert. Sottigi Götzebilder händ iir öich gmacht, as er sy könned aabätte. Wägedämm wiird yych öich in d Verbannig fiere — no vyyl wyter als nach Babylon.›
      43 No, you have carried alongMoloch's tent sanctuary and the star sign of the God Remphan. Such graven images have you made for yourselves, so that you can praise them. Therefore, I will lead you into exile — even much farther than to Babylon.›
  2. somethingbig;monstrosity,monster
    • 2011,Daniel Aeschlimann,Eriz - zwischen alter und neuer Zeit: Geschichte und Geschichten aus dem Leben von 12 Generationen Bauern, Küher und Bergbauern während 400 Jahren[3],Weber AG Verlag,→ISBN,page153:
      I dr Grasdeeri het me denn aube no ds Gras u nid ds Trocheguet gwoge. «Du bischt es schöns donner Chaub. Wiischt, wi viu das de hesch glade? Brutto 4860 Kilo, fascht 5 Tone! Sövu ladi ja nid emau d Bure hie nide mit de grosse Traktore. U du chunnscht mit däm liechte Jeepli u mit eme settigeMolochus em Erix use», het dr Grasdeeri-Chef gsiit, won er das Fueder het gwoge.
      (pleaseadd an English translationof this quotation)
    • 2021March 26, Roland Zoss,Hippie-Härz: e Trip dür d Seventies[4],2nd edition, BoD – Books on Demand,→ISBN,→OCLC,page 9:
      Aber als Bärner bisch ja sowiso gärn chli hingerdry. Läck Bobby da muesch ufpasse, das nüüt a dir lasch la verby gah! Wül L.A. – das darfsch mer gloube – isch eMoloch,es Monschter vo re Stadt.
      But, as a Bernese, you like being a bit behind anyway. Dear Lord, there you have to be careful, so that let nothing get past you! Because L.A. - this you can believe me - is amonstrosity,a monster of a city.

German

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Etymology

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BorrowedfromLate Latinmoloch,fromHebrew.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key):/ˈmɔlɔχ/,/ˈmoːlɔχ/
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

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Molochm(strong,genitiveMolochs,pluralMoloche)

  1. behemoth
    • 2010,Tocotronic(lyrics and music), “Keine Meisterwerke mehr”, inSchall und Wahn:
      Keine Meisterwerke mehr / Die Zeit ist längst schon reif dafür / Was wir niemals zu Ende bringen / Kann keinMolochje verschlingen
      (pleaseadd an English translationof this quotation)
  2. (figuratively)Moloch(person or thing demanding or requiring a very costly sacrifice)

Declension

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Further reading

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Portuguese

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Alternative forms

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Proper noun

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Molochm

  1. Moloch(ancient Ammonite deity)