pharaoh

See also: Pharaoh

English

Alternative forms

  • pharao (the supreme ruler of ancient Egypt)
  • Pharaoh (the supreme ruler of ancient Egypt)

Etymology

From Middle English pharao (also as pharaon, farao, faraon, etc.), from Old English pharao, from Late Latin Pharaō, from Ancient Greek Φαραώ (Pharaṓ), from Hebrew פַּרְעֹה (par‘ōh), from Egyptian pr ꜥꜣ (palace, pharaoh, literally pr (house) + ꜥꜣ (great, big)).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈfæɹəʊ/, /ˈfeɪ.ɹəʊ/, /ˈfɛːɹəʊ/
  • Homophones: faro, Faroe

Noun

pharaoh (plural pharaohs)

  1. The supreme ruler of ancient Egypt; a formal address for the sovereign seat of power as personified by the 'king' in an institutional role of Horus son of Osiris; often used by metonymy for Ancient Egyptian sovereignty
  2. (uncountable) The card game faro.
    • 1945, Robert Hardy Andrews, Burning gold
      "I pray, when I play pharaoh at White's, that the cards fall as they have come to my hand in this large gamble," Anstis said.

Derived terms

Translations

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