teraphim

[ ter-uh-fim ]
/ ˈtɛr ə fɪm /

plural noun, singular ter·aph [ter-uh f] /ˈtɛr əf/.

idols or images reverenced by the ancient Hebrews and kindred peoples, apparently as household gods.

Origin of teraphim

1350–1400; < Hebrew tərāphīm; replacing Middle English theraphym < Late Latin theraphim (Vulgate) < Greek theraphín (Septuagint) < Hebrew, as above

Words nearby teraphim

terahertz, terai, terai hat, terakihi, teraph, teraphim, teras, terat-, teratism, terato-, teratoblastoma

Example sentences from the Web for teraph

  • After all, I liked you from the first moment I saw you, and asked the teraph about you, and I got an answer—such an answer!

    Hypatia |Charles Kingsley

  • You, too, will be able to guess some day, without the teraph's help.

    Hypatia |Charles Kingsley

British Dictionary definitions for teraph

teraph
/ (ˈtɛrəf) /

noun plural -aphim (-əfɪm)

Old Testament any of various small household gods or images venerated by ancient Semitic peoples. (Genesis 31:19–21; I Samuel 19:13–16)

Word Origin for teraph

C14: from Hebrew, of uncertain origin