Abraham

Abra·ham

noun \ˈā-brə-ˌham\

Definition of ABRAHAM

: an Old Testament patriarch regarded by Jews as the founder of the Hebrew people through his son Isaac and by Muslims as the founder of the Arab peoples through his son Ishmael

Origin of ABRAHAM

Late Latin, from Greek Abraam, from Hebrew 'Abhrāhām

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with ABRAHAM

aerogram, Amsterdam, anagram, Birmingham, Boulder Dam, cablegram, centigram, Christogram, chronogram, cofferdam, cryptogram, decagram, deprogram, diagram, diaphragm, epigram, fluid dram, giant clam, hard-shell clam, hexagram, histogram, Hohokam, hologram, kilogram, logogram, mammogram, milligram, Minicam, monogram, nomogram, oriflamme, pentagram, phonogram, pictogram, reprogram, Rotterdam, scattergram, self-exam, skiagram, soft-shell clam, sonogram, subprogram, telegram, tetradrachm, thank-you-ma'am, tinker's damn, Uncle Sam

Abraham

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

(flourished early 2nd millennium BC) First of the Hebrew patriarchs, revered by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Genesis tells how Abraham, at 75, left Ur with his barren wife, Sarai (later Sarah), and others to found a new nation in Canaan. There God made a covenant with him, promising that his descendants would inherit the land and become a great nation. Abraham fathered Ishmael by Sarah's maidservant Hagar; Sarah herself bore Isaac, who inherited the covenant. Abraham's faith was tested when God ordered him to sacrifice Isaac; he was prepared to obey but God relented. In Judaism he is a model of virtue, in Christianity he is the father of all believers, and in Islam he is an ancestor of Muhammad and a model (in Sufism) of generosity.