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Moloch

[ moh-lok, mol-uhk ]

noun

  1. (in the Bible) a deity whose worship was marked by the sacrifice of children by their own parents.
  2. anything conceived of as requiring appalling sacrifice:

    the Moloch of war.

  3. moloch, a spiny agamid lizard, Moloch horridus, of Australian deserts, that resembles the horned lizard.


Moloch

1

/ ˈməʊlɒk; ˈməʊlɛk /

noun

  1. Old Testament a Semitic deity to whom parents sacrificed their children
“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


moloch

2

/ ˈməʊlɒk /

noun

  1. a spiny Australian desert-living lizard, Moloch horridus, that feeds on ants: family Agamidae (agamas) Also calledmountain devilspiny lizard
“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

Moloch

  1. A Canaanite idol who demanded the sacrifice of first-born children. The Old Testament prophets railed against the worship of Moloch by the Israelites .


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Notes

Moloch also appears as one of the fallen angels in Milton's Paradise Lost and as a malevolent figure in other allegorical works of literature.
By extension, a “Moloch” is something that has the power to exact extreme sacrifice.
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Word History and Origins

Origin of Moloch1

From Late Latin, from Greek Molóch, from Hebrew Mōlekh, which has the consonants of melekh “king” and the vowels of bōsheth “shame” (caused by idolatry and human sacrifice)
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Example Sentences

While Ichabod is checking for non-existent cell service, Abbie learns that Moloch is planning to release a demon army on earth.

But you carried a tabernacle for your Moloch, and the image of your idols, the star of your god, which you made to yourselves.

These finally seduced him into permitting temples to be built to Moloch and their other false gods.

Hath he not said ergo to the poor saints, to your sons and your daughters, whom he hath burned in the fire to Moloch?

He seemed like the minister of some dark rite of heathenism, preparing to offer up a victim to the Moloch of his superstition.

Ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them.

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