Beelzebub

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See also: Beëlzebub

English

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English Wikipedia has an article on:
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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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First attested as Old English Belzebub,[1] from Latin Beelzebūb, the Vulgate's form of Ancient Greek Βεελζεβούλ (Beelzeboúl), from Hebrew בעל זבוב (ba‘al-z'vúv, fly-lord), mentioned in 2 Kings chapter 1 as “the god of Ekron”.

Pronunciation

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Proper noun

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Beelzebub

  1. (biblical) A Canaanite deity worshipped at Ekron.
  2. (Christianity) Satan, the Devil.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:Satan
    • 1975, Freddie Mercury (lyrics and music), “Bohemian Rhapsody”, in A Night at the Opera, performed by Queen:
      Mamma mia, let me go / Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me, for me, for me!
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Translations

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “Beelzebub”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Further reading

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German

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Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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Noun

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Beelzebub m (strong, genitive Beelzebubes or Beelzebubs or Beelzebub, plural Beelzebube)

  1. (singular only, Christianity, Judaism) Beelzebub
    • 1995, “Über Sex kann man nur auf Englisch singen”, in Digital ist Besser, performed by Tocotronic:
      Doch gibt's ein Verlangen zu beschreiben / Den Teufel mit dem Beelzebub vertreiben
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)
  2. demon, devil

Declension

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Latin

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Translating Ancient Greek Βεελζεβούλ (Beelzeboúl) and Biblical Hebrew בעל זבוב (Ba‘al-z'būb, fly-lord); perhaps a corruption of Beelzebul, meaning Lord of the Dwelling, with -bul altered to -bub to change the meaning to Lord of the Flies.

Pronunciation

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Proper noun

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Beelzebub m (indeclinable)

  1. (biblical) the god of the Philistine city of Ekron.
  2. (derogatory) Beelzebul

References

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  • Beelzebub”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  • Beelzebub in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.