Tophet

or To·pheth

[ toh-fit, -fet ]

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

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of Tophet¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of Tophet¹

from Hebrew Tōpheth

Example Sentences

The place was smotheringly hot, and below, the firemen were asleep, so used to it that they would have slumbered in tophet itself.

From Project Gutenberg

This valley of Tophet was the "Clamart" of Paris, the place where they deposited all the rubbish and carrion of the city.

From Project Gutenberg

Tophet, where the Israelites made their children pass through fire to Moloch, was a mount of this form.

From Project Gutenberg

I walked over; there was a little crystal about the size of an egg, fluorescing to beat Tophet.

From Project Gutenberg

Mossbacks are always ready to believe that a man that's travelled any has been raising seventeen kinds of tophet all his life.

From Project Gutenberg