Pharaoh
[ fair-oh, far-oh, fey-roh ]
/ ˈfɛər oʊ, ˈfær oʊ, ˈfeɪ roʊ /
noun
a title of an ancient Egyptian king.
(lowercase)
any person who uses power or authority to oppress others; tyrant.
Origin of Pharaoh
before 900; Middle English
Pharao, Old English
Pharaon < Latin
pharaō < Greek
pharaṓ (stem
pharaōn-) < Hebrew
phārʿōh < Egyptian
pr house +
ʿʾ great; originally a designation for the palace, but used to refer to the king from the time of Akhenaton (14th cent. b.c.);
-h restored from Hebrew
Example sentences from the Web for pharaohs
British Dictionary definitions for pharaohs
Pharaoh
/ (ˈfɛərəʊ) /
noun
the title of the ancient Egyptian kings
Derived forms of Pharaoh
Pharaonic (fɛəˈrɒnɪk), adjectiveWord Origin for Pharaoh
Old English
Pharaon, via Latin, Greek, and Hebrew ultimately from Egyptian
pr-`o great house
Cultural definitions for pharaohs (1 of 2)
pharaohs
[ (fair-ohz, fay-rohz) ]
The kings of ancient Egypt (see also Egypt). The pharaohs headed strong governments. They are remembered for establishing extensive irrigation systems and for building as tombs the imposing pyramids, which still stand today.
notes for pharaohs
In the biblical account of the
Exodus, a pharaoh refused to let the
Israelites under
Moses leave Egypt.
Cultural definitions for pharaohs (2 of 2)
pharaoh
[ (fair-oh, fay-roh) ]
The title of the kings of ancient Egypt (see also Egypt). In the story of Joseph and his brothers, a pharaoh puts Joseph in charge of his entire kingdom. In the Book of Exodus, a pharaoh repeatedly refuses the request of Moses to let the Israelites leave the country and does not give in until after the worst of the ten plagues of Egypt.