Astarte

[ a-stahr-tey, -tee ]

noun
  1. an ancient Semitic deity, goddess of fertility and reproduction worshiped by the Phoenicians and Canaanites.

  2. (lowercase)Also called chest·nut clam [ches-nuht klam, -nuht], /ˈtʃɛsˌnʌt ˈklæm, -nət/, chestnut shell . any of several marine bivalve mollusks of the genus Astarte, having a somewhat triangular, chestnut-brown shell.

Origin of Astarte

1
First recorded in 1590–1600 for def. 1; from Latin Astartē, from Greek Astártē, from Hebrew ʿashtōreth, from Phoenician ʿashtart; cf. Ashtoreth, Aphrodite

Words Nearby Astarte

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How to use Astarte in a sentence

  • We now leave Astarte to the judgment of posterity, for whom, in a peculiarly cruel sense, it was originally intended.

    Byron | Richard Edgcumbe
  • It seemed to him that the beautiful Jewish girl had been sent to help him in his struggle against the heathen spells of Astarte.

    The World's Greatest Books, Vol III | Arthur Mee and J.A. Hammerton, Eds.
  • No sooner were they seated at a little table when they were joined by the Duchess Astarte.

    The Title Market | Emily Post
  • It indicates that his sister, Astarte, had been self-sacrificed in the pursuit of their magical knowledge.

  • In honour of Astarte, half-frantic youths and men mutilated themselves, and wore female attire.

British Dictionary definitions for Astarte

Astarte

/ (æˈstɑːtɪ) /


noun
  1. a fertility goddess worshipped by the Phoenicians: identified with Ashtoreth of the Hebrews and Ishtar of the Babylonians and Assyrians

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012