name
Ahab
AY-hab
name
1
A king of ancient Israel described in the Hebrew Bible, remembered for his conflicts with the prophet Elijah.
"The story of King Ahab and Jezebel is one of the darker episodes in the Book of Kings."
2
A male given name of Hebrew origin, now rarely used, most familiar today as the obsessive sea captain in Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick."
"Melville named his doomed captain Ahab, evoking the biblical king's reputation for defiance."
How to Use Ahab
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBest known either as the biblical king or as the vengeful ship captain in Moby-Dick.
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The story of King _____ and Jezebel is one of the darker episodes in the Book of Kings.
Etymology
From Hebrew, built from roots meaning "brother" and "father"; it reached English through Greek and Latin versions of the Old Testament.