Jezebel

[ jez-uh-bel, -buhl ]

noun
  1. Also Douay Bible, Jez·a·bel . the wife of Ahab, king of Israel. 1 Kings 16:31.

  2. (often lowercase) a wicked, shameless woman.

Origin of Jezebel

1
First recorded in 1550–60 for def. 2; from Hebrew Izebhel, of uncertain origin and meaning, -zebhel perhaps representing the divine title “prince”

Other words from Jezebel

  • Jez·e·be·li·an [jez-uh-bee-lee-uhn, -beel-yuhn], /ˌdʒɛz əˈbi li ən, -ˈbil yən/, Jez·e·bel·ish [jez-uh-bel-ish], /ˈdʒɛz əˌbɛl ɪʃ/, adjective

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British Dictionary definitions for Jezebel

Jezebel

/ (ˈdʒɛzəˌbɛl, -bəl) /


noun
  1. Old Testament the wife of Ahab, king of Israel: she fostered the worship of Baal and tried to destroy the prophets of Israel (I Kings 18:4–13); she was killed by Jehu (II Kings 9:29–37)

  2. (sometimes not capital) a shameless or scheming woman

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for Jezebel

Jezebel

[ (jez-uh-bel) ]


In the Old Testament, an immoral, cruel queen of Israel who attempted to kill Elijah and other prophets of God.

Notes for Jezebel

A “jezebel” is a scheming and shamelessly evil woman.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.