Tophet

American  

[toh-fit, -fet] / ˈtoʊ fɪt, -fɛt /

Or Topheth

noun

Bible.

1. a place in the valley of Hinnom, near Jerusalem, where, contrary to the law, children were offered as sacrifices, especially to Moloch. It was later used as a dumping ground for refuse.

2. the place of punishment for the wicked after death; hell.

3. some place, condition, etc., likened to hell.

---

Tophet British  

/ ˈtəʊfɛt /

noun

1. Old Testament a place in the valley immediately to the southwest of Jerusalem; the Shrine of Moloch, where human sacrifices were offered

---

Etymology

Origin of Tophet

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, ultimately derived from Hebrew tōpheth a placename

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Tophet

A domain larger than Belgium, wilder than Abyssinia, more visited than Rome, colder than Moose Factory and hotter than Tophet, a fabulously scenic empire scattered over half a continent, quietly changed hands last week.

From Time Magazine Archive

I have lived in Tophet for the last six months.

From The Boys of '61 or, Four Years of Fighting, Personal Observations with the Army and Navy by Coffin, Charles Carleton

"Ours on the Tophet weighed twelve hundredweight; this one is about the same size."

From The Nameless Island A Story of some Modern Robinson Crusoes by Westerman, Percy F. (Percy Francis)

Monsters from Tophet, driv'n in shapes of men: Few pension'd scribblers left the daring head, Some have turn'd lunatics and some have fled— Some, late converted, scarce their pensions hold.

From The Poems of Philip Freneau, Volume I (of III) by Freneau, Philip

"It's hotter than Tophet in that room of mine," he protested, "and I've been monkeying with that dod-gasted window of yours for the last hour, and the dinged thing won't give an inch!"

From From Pillar to Post Leaves from a Lecturer's Note-Book by Bangs, John Kendrick