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Abraham

AY-bruh-ham

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Abraham (name) means a prophet in the Old Testament, Qur'an and Aqdas; a Semitic patriarch son of Terah who practiced monotheism, father of the Jewish patriarch Isaac by Sarah and the Arab patriarch Ishmael by Hagar.

name

A prophet in the Old Testament, Qur'an and Aqdas; a Semitic patriarch son of Terah who practiced monotheism, father of the Jewish patriarch Isaac by Sarah and the Arab patriarch Ishmael by Hagar.

"Neither ſhall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name ſhall bee Abraham: for a father of many nations haue I made thee." — The Holy Bible (1611)

"As one would expect of caravan people around 1900 B.C., the caravan people depicted in the Khnum-hotpe grave had donkeys, whereas the Bible says that Abraham and his people, who according to the traditional interpretation are supposed to have lived at the same period, already possessed camels." — Werner Keller (1980)

A male first name of Hebrew origin.

A family name that began as a patronymic.

The name of the Qur'an's 14th sura, or chapter.

noun

archaic A shop that sells cheap, poor-quality clothing, especially in east London.

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: Abrahams

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Etymology

Etymology tree Biblical Hebrew אַבְרָהָם (ʔaḇrɔhɔm)bor. Ancient Greek Ἀβρᾱᾱ́μ (Abrāā́m)bor. Latin Ābrahāmbor. Old English Abraham Middle English Abraham English Abraham From Middle English Abraham, from Old English Abraham, from Late Latin Ābrahām, from Ancient Greek Ἀβρᾱᾱ́μ (Abrāā́m), from Hebrew אַבְרָהָם ('aḇrāhām, “Abraham”). Thomas L. Thompson suggests that the meaning of the name in Genesis was forgotten due to its age and that its original meaning was "Father is exalted." Glossed as אַב (aḇ, “father of”) + הֲמוֹן (hăˈmōn, “multitude of”) in Genesis 17:4–5; or from Hebrew אַבְרָם ('aḇrām, “Abram”). Doublet of Ibrahim and Avraham.

Origin: Ancient Greek

Synonyms

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Abe Bram Abrahan Abram Avraham Ibrahim

Related words

Abe Ibrahim Abel abrahan abram avraham Bram

Rhymes for Abraham

graham

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Frequently asked questions

What does “Abraham” mean?

The word “Abraham” means a prophet in the Old Testament, Qur'an and Aqdas; a Semitic patriarch son of Terah who practiced monotheism, father of the Jewish patriarch Isaac by Sarah and the Arab patriarch Ishmael by Hagar.

How do you pronounce “Abraham”?

“Abraham” is pronounced AY-bruh-ham (/ˈeɪ.bɹəˌhæm/ in IPA).

How do you use “Abraham” in a sentence?

Here is “Abraham” used in a sentence: “Neither ſhall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name ſhall bee Abraham: for a father of many nations haue I made thee.”

What part of speech is “Abraham”?

Depending on how it is used, “Abraham” can be a name and a noun.

Where does the word “Abraham” come from?

The word “Abraham” comes from Ancient Greek.

Is “Abraham” a common word?

“Abraham” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Abraham” have?

“Abraham” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a prophet in the Old Testament, Qur'an and Aqdas; a Semitic patriarch son of Terah who practiced monotheism, father of the Jewish patriarch Isaac by Sarah and the Arab patriarch Ishmael by Hagar.

Why is Abraham important in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam?

Abraham is a patriarch and prophet who appears in the Old Testament, the Qur'an, and the Aqdas, honoured for practising monotheism, the worship of one God. Because Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all trace themselves back to him, they are often called the Abrahamic religions.

Who were Abraham's sons Isaac and Ishmael?

Isaac was Abraham's son by Sarah and is regarded as a patriarch of the Jewish people, while Ishmael was his son by Hagar and is regarded as a patriarch of the Arab peoples. This is why both Jewish and Arab traditions trace their ancestry to Abraham.

What is the difference between Abraham and Abram?

In the Book of Genesis, the patriarch is first called Abram and is later renamed Abraham. The two forms refer to the same figure, with Abraham being the name used through most of the biblical story and in later tradition.

Is Abraham a first name, a surname, or both?

Abraham is both: it is a male given name of Hebrew origin and also a surname that began as a patronymic, a family name derived from a father's given name. It is additionally the title of the 14th sura, or chapter, of the Qur'an, where the patriarch is known in Arabic as Ibrahim.

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Abe Ibrahim Abel abrahan abram avraham Bram