Baal
A storm and fertility god of the Phoenician and Canaanite pantheons, reckoned as chief of the gods by the 1st millennium BC.
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈbeɪəl/ · Context: UK
- IPA: /ˈbeɪl/ · Context: UK
- IPA: /ˈbɑːl/ · Context: UK
- IPA: /ˈbeɪəl/ · Context: US
- IPA: /ˈbeɪl/ · Context: US
- IPA: /ˈbɑl/ · Context: US
- IPA: /bɑˈɑl/ · Context: US
- Rhymes: -eɪəl
- Rhymes: -eɪl
- Rhymes: -ɑːl
- Homophone: bael (UK)
- Homophone: bail
- Homophone: bale
- Homophone: boll (some US speakers)
- Homophone: ball
- Homophone: bawl (cot–caught merger)
- Context: Canada · Audio
- Context: Southern England · Audio
Proper noun
- A storm and fertility god of the Phoenician and Canaanite pantheons, reckoned as chief of the gods by the 1st millennium BC.
mythology, biblical · Topics: biblical, human sciences, lifestyle, mysticism, mythology, philosophy, religion, sciences
- 25 And Eliiah said vnto the prophets of Baal, Chuse you one bullocke for your selues, and dresse it first, for yee are many: and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire vnder. 26 And they took the bullocke which was giuen them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning, euen vntil noone, saying, O Baal, heare vs. But there was no voyce, nor any that answered: And they leapt vpon the altar which was made. - 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], 1 Kings 18:25–26
- Various other Baalim, understood as distinct patron gods or as local patron aspects the great god Baal.
mythology, biblical, sometimes lowercase · Topics: biblical, human sciences, lifestyle, mysticism, mythology, philosophy, religion, sciences
- One of the demons or fallen angels of Satan.
Christianity · Topics: Christianity
Origin
From Late Latin Baal (as in the Vulgate) and Ancient Greek Βάαλ (Báal); from Hebrew בַּעַל (bá`al, “lord, husband, owner”), Phoenician 𐤁𐤏𐤋 (bʿl, “lord, master, owner”) and Ugaritic 𐎁𐎓𐎍 (baʿlu, “lord, owner”), all from Proto-Semitic *baʿl- (“owner, lord, husband”).
Forms
Related
Derived
Baal-gad Baalian Baalic Baalish Baalism Baalist Baalite Baalize Baalzebub