Tetragrammaton

American  

[te-truh-gram-uh-ton] / ˌtɛ trəˈgræm əˌtɒn /

noun

1. the Hebrew word for God, consisting of the four letters yod, he, waw, and he, transliterated consonantally usually as YHWH, now pronounced as Adonai or Elohim in substitution for the original pronunciation forbidden since the 2nd or 3rd century b.c.

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Tetragrammaton British  

/ ˌtɛtrəˈɡræmətən /

noun

1. Sometimes shortened to: Tetragram.  Bible the Hebrew name for God revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 3), consisting of the four consonants Y H V H (or Y H W H) and regarded by Jews as too sacred to be pronounced. It is usually transliterated as Jehovah or Yahweh

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Etymology

Origin of Tetragrammaton

1350–1400; Middle English < Greek tetragrámmaton, noun use of neuter of tetragrámmatos having four letters, equivalent to tetra- tetra- + grammat- (stem of grámma ) letter + -os adj. suffix

Example Sentences

But anyway, I was in California, and had just signed to Tetragrammaton, and they asked me, “well, OK, we’ve got to find you a producer.”

From Salon • Jul. 6, 2015

In mine, it is the Tetragrammaton, the Name so holy that those who know it dare not say it.

From Time Magazine Archive

Seven, which are called the eyes of Tetragrammaton, and the inspection, proceed from the black color of the eyes; as we have said.

From Hebrew Literature by Wilson, Epiphanius

The Jews further believed that the Tetragrammaton was possessed of unbounded powers.

From Secret Societies And Subversive Movements by Webster, Nesta H.

Tetragrammaton forbidden to be pronounced except once each year, 620-u.

From Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry by Pike, Albert