like some pharaoh of a third-world country, more interested in building monuments to himself than in creating a future for his people
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The find marked the first time archaeologists have unearthed a pharaoh’s tomb since 1922, when King Tutankhamun’s burial site was identified.—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 May 2025 And some of the pharaohs after Khufu include Khafre, Djedefra and Menkaure — the latter of whom was likely Shepsekaf's father.—Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 29 Mar. 2025 The city, about 300 miles south of Cairo, was a burial place for early pharaohs, and a necropolis developed at Anubis Mountain to the city’s south.—Alan Yuhas, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025 Serving first as regent before assuming the title of pharaoh outright, Hatshepsut is one of only a few female pharaohs across ancient Egyptian history; after her death, Thutmose III ruled alone.—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for pharaoh
Word History
Etymology
Middle English pharao, from Old English, from Late Latin pharaon-, pharao, from Greek pharaō, from Hebrew parʽōh, from Egyptian pr-ʽʾ̹
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of pharaoh was
before the 12th century
Old English pharao "pharaoh," from Latin pharaon-, pharao (same meaning), from Greek pharaō (same meaning), from Hebrew par'ōh "pharaoh," of Egyptian origin
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