Ahab

[ ey-hab ]

noun

1. Bible. a king of Israel and husband of Jezebel, reigned 874?–853? b.c. Douay Bible, A·chab [].
2. Literature. the captain of the ship Pequod and tragic hero of Melville's Moby Dick, obsessed with the pursuit of the white whale.

Ahab

/ ˈeɪhæb /

noun

1. Old Testament the king of Israel from approximately 869 to 850 bc and husband of Jezebel: rebuked by Elijah (I Kings 16:29–22:40)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Ahab¹

From Hebrew Aḥʾābh, probably “father's brother”

Example Sentences

Her very strength is rooted in an Ahab-like quest that risks overwhelming her.

From The Daily Beast

GOP politicians on both the state and federal level attack legal abortion with an obsession rivaling Captain Ahab.

From The Daily Beast

Individuals abstain from food to express contrition (Ahab) or to prepare for divine revelation (Moses).

From The Daily Beast

Indeed, Ahab has always been rather a hero of mine; I mean since the years of discretion.

From Project Gutenberg

He seems inspired with the same fierce, inveterate cunning with which Captain Ahab has followed the traces of his mortal foe.

From Project Gutenberg

He would, like Ahab, walk softly; he was not ready to walk uprightly: his forgiveness he would postpone!

From Project Gutenberg

This is the ancient Shomron, where you may still trace the site of the palace of Ahab, king of Israel.

From Project Gutenberg

Next Sunday he preached about his eternal Ahab, and Kirkcaldy was offended by the historical parallel.

From Project Gutenberg