Moloch

New Latin, from Μολόχ (Molókh), Greek rendition of Hebrew מולך (mólekh, “Moloch”), borrowed from Ammonite 𐤌𐤋𐤊 (mlk), an Ammonite god mentioned in the Pentateuch, worshipped by Canaanites and Phoenicians, said to have demanded child-sacrifice.

Moloch m

1. A taxonomic genus within the family Agamidae – thorny dragon, of Australia.

• (genus): Eukaryota – superkingdom; Animalia – kingdom; Bilateria – subkingdom; Deuterostomia – infrakingdom; Chordata – phylum; Vertebrata – subphylum; Gnathostomata – infraphylum; Tetrapoda – superclass; Reptilia – class; Diapsida - subclass; Lepidosauromorpha - infraclass; Lepidosauria - superorder; Squamata - order; Iguania - order; Agamidae - family; Amphibolurinae – subfamily

• (genus): Moloch horridus – sole known species

• Moloch horridus on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• Moloch on Wikispecies.Wikispecies
• Moloch on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons

From the Proto-Semitic *malk- (“king”). The figurative sense derives from the Old Testament, in which it is alleged that the cult of Moloch involved the sacrifice of human children.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈməʊlɒk/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈmoʊlɑk/, /ˈmɑlək/

Moloch

1. An ancient Ammonite deity worshiped by the Canaanites, Phoenician and related cultures in North Africa and the Levant, often depicted with the head of a bull.
2. (figuratively) A person or thing demanding or requiring a very costly sacrifice.
   • 1706, [John Rushworth], “The Speaker’s Speech to the King [marginal note]”, in Historical Collections from the Year 1638. to the Year 1641. Abridg’d and Improv’d. [...] With a Particular and More Methodical Account of the Trial of the Earl of Strafford than has been yet Publish’d, volume III, London: [s.n.], →OCLC, page 248:

     [W]e can't without wonder remember that horrid Invention projected in this place, but thanks be to God diſappointed, wherein there was not Reverence to the ſacred Bones of Princes, but all were at one blaſt to be offer'd up to Moloch.

   • 1857 November, “The Present Panic”, in Tait's Edinburgh Magazine, volume XXIV, Edinburgh: William Tait, →OCLC, page 644:

     They [bankers] would do what has been done by the Bank of France—buy bullion at a premium, on the approach of danger, and keep peril at a safe and respectable distance. Any expenditure that might be incurred for that purpose would be small indeed when contrasted with the immense loss and suffering caused by the present system, and the continual fear in which the public now live of some new crisis—because it has been out of one and into another for a long period now; and that will be the case hereafter, until we have no interval to gather strength, and recruit for the next struggle with Mammon, or Moloch, or whatever other name of evil import belongs to the "Tutelarity" of Lombard-street and its precincts.

   • 1859, Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC:

     […] poor Johnny Tetterby staggering under his Moloch of an infant, the Juggernaut that crushes all his enjoyments.

• Molochian
• Molochize, Molochise

• Moloch on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

• IPA^(key): /moˈlɔχ/, /ˈmolɔχ/

Moloch m

1. (biblical) Moloch (deity)
   • (Can we date this quote?), W. F. Niedermann, edited by O. Sutermeister, Zwei einaktigi Lustspiel. Liecht ufz'füehre i Verein und Familie (Sammlung deutsch-schweizerischer Mundart-Literatur: Aus dem Kanton Zürich. Siebentes Heft)‎, Orell Füßli, →OCLC, Terzett mit Hindernisse. Lustspielszene, page 11:

     Frau: Soll ich myn arme Bueb dem Moloch Mammon opfere?

     Wife: Should I sacrifice my poor boy to the Moloch Mammon?

   • 2018 February 1, Jürg Meier ["uf Baaseldütsch überdräit und uusegää vom Jürg Meier"], “In dr Wieschti duet s Volgg nid foolge”, in S Wiirgge vo den Aboschdle, brichted vom Lukas (Dasch dr Hammer!: S nöie Teschdamänt uf Baaseldütsch; 3)‎, BoD – Books on Demand, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 41:

     43 Nääi, iir händ im Moloch sy Zälthäiligdum und s Stäärnbild vom Gott Räfan mitgfiert. Sottigi Götzebilder händ iir öich gmacht, as er sy könned aabätte. Wägedämm wiird yych öich in d Verbannig fiere — no vyyl wyter als nach Babylon.›

     43 No, you have carried along Moloch's tent sanctuary and the star sign of the God Remphan. Such graven images have you made for yourselves, so that you can praise them. Therefore, I will lead you into exile — even much farther than to Babylon.›

2. something big; monstrosity, monster
   • 2011, Daniel Aeschlimann, Eriz - zwischen alter und neuer Zeit: Geschichte und Geschichten aus dem Leben von 12 Generationen Bauern, Küher und Bergbauern während 400 Jahren‎, Weber AG Verlag, →ISBN, page 153:

     I dr Grasdeeri het me denn aube no ds Gras u nid ds Trocheguet gwoge. «Du bischt es schöns donner Chaub. Wiischt, wi viu das de hesch glade? Brutto 4860 Kilo, fascht 5 Tone! Sövu ladi ja nid emau d Bure hie nide mit de grosse Traktore. U du chunnscht mit däm liechte Jeepli u mit eme settige Moloch us em Erix use», het dr Grasdeeri-Chef gsiit, won er das Fueder het gwoge.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

   • 2021 March 26, Roland Zoss, Hippie-Härz: e Trip dür d Seventies‎, 2nd edition, BoD – Books on Demand, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 9:

     Aber als Bärner bisch ja sowiso gärn chli hingerdry. Läck Bobby da muesch ufpasse, das nüüt a dir lasch la verby gah! Wül L.A. – das darfsch mer gloube – isch e Moloch, es Monschter vo re Stadt.

     But, as a Bernese, you like being a bit behind anyway. Dear Lord, there you have to be careful, so that let nothing get past you! Because L.A. - this you can believe me - is a monstrosity, a monster of a city.

Borrowed from Late Latin moloch, from Hebrew.

• IPA^(key): /ˈmɔlɔχ/, /ˈmoːlɔχ/

• Audio

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Moloch m (strong, genitive Molochs, plural Moloche)

1. behemoth
   • 2010, Tocotronic (lyrics and music), “Keine Meisterwerke mehr”, in Schall und Wahn:

     Keine Meisterwerke mehr / Die Zeit ist längst schon reif dafür / Was wir niemals zu Ende bringen / Kann kein Moloch je verschlingen

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

2. (figuratively) Moloch (person or thing demanding or requiring a very costly sacrifice)
   • 1920, Hermione von Preuschen, Yoshiwara:

     Nun umgab sie der Moloch Berlin, der ihr alles von ferne zeigte und nichts gönnte.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

• Moloch on the German Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^de

• Moloque

Moloch m

1. Moloch (ancient Ammonite deity)