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Mo·loch

(mōlŏk′, mŏlək) also Mo·lech (mōlĕk′, mŏlək)

1. In the Bible, the god of the Canaanites and Phoenicians to whom children were sacrificed.

2. Something possessing the power to exact severe sacrifice.

[Late Latin Moloch, from Greek Molokh, from Hebrew Mōlek, of Canaanite origin; see mlk in the Appendix of Semitic roots.]

mo·loch

(mōlŏk′, mŏlək)

See thorny devil.

[New Latin Moloch, thorny devil genus name, from Late Latin Moloch, the deity Moloch; see MOLOCH.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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