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Balaam

[ bey-luhm ]
/ ˈbeɪ ləm /
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noun
a Mesopotamian diviner who, when commanded by Balak to curse the Israelites, blessed them and uttered favorable prophecies after having been rebuked by the ass he rode. Numbers 22–23.
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Origin of Balaam

From Late Latin Balaam, from Greek Balaám, from Hebrew Bilʿām, of uncertain origin

OTHER WORDS FROM Balaam

Ba·laam·ite [bey-luh-mahyt], /ˈbeɪ ləˌmaɪt/, nounBa·laam·it·i·cal [bey-luh-mit-i-kuhl], /ˌbeɪ ləˈmɪt ɪ kəl/, adjective

Words nearby Balaam

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Balaam in a sentence

  • Uncle, you and Brother Balaam are bosom friends—why don't you get his paper to persecute us, too?

    The Gilded Age, Complete|Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner
  • "I reckon you can, Charley Balaam, if you are friendly," said Yancy.

    The Prodigal Judge|Vaughan Kester
  • Squire Balaam removed his spectacles and leaned back in his chair.

    The Prodigal Judge|Vaughan Kester

British Dictionary definitions for Balaam

Balaam
/ (ˈbeɪlæm) /

noun
Old Testament a Mesopotamian diviner who, when summoned to curse the Israelites, prophesied future glories for them instead, after being reproached by his ass (Numbers 22–23)
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
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