אחשורוש

Hebrew

Etymology

From Old Persian 𐎧𐏁𐎹𐎠𐎼𐏁𐎠 (x-š-y-a-r-š-a /⁠xšayāršā⁠/, “who rules over heros”), compound of 𐎧𐏁𐎹 (x-š-y /⁠xšaya-⁠/, “rule”) +‎ 𐎠𐎼𐏁𐎠 (a-r-š-a, “man, hero”). Doublet of חְשְׁיָארְשָׁ (ḥəšəyâršā).

Pronunciation

• (Modern Israeli Hebrew) IPA^(key): /(ʔ)aχaʃveˈʁoʃ/

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Proper noun

אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ • (Akhashverósh) m

1. Ahasuerus (biblical character)
   • Tanach, Esther 1:1, with translation of the Jewish Publication Society:

     וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ הוּא אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ הַמֹּלֵךְ מֵהֹדּוּ וְעַד כּוּשׁ שֶׁבַע וְעֶשְׂרִים וּמֵאָה מְדִינָה.

     Va-yhí bi-yméi Aḥashverósh hu Aḥashverósh ha-molékh me-hodú v-ad kush shéva' v-'esrím u-meah m'diná.

     Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus — this is Ahasuerus who reigned from India even unto Ethiopia, over a hundred and seven and twenty provinces...

   • a. 500 C.E., Babylonian Talmud, Megillah 14a:

     הָכָא הַלְלוּ עַבְדֵי ה׳ וְלֹא עַבְדֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ אַכַּתִּי עַבְדֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ אֲנַן

     Hakhá "hal'lú 'avdéi Adonái," v-lo 'avdéi Aḥashverósh, akatí 'avdéi Aḥashverósh anán!

     But here, we would say "give praise, servants of the Lord," implying not servants of Ahasuerus, but we are still servants Ahasuerus!

Descendants

• → English: Ahasuerus

Yiddish

Etymology

From Hebrew אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ.

Proper noun

אחשורוש • (akhashveyresh) m

1. Ahasuerus (biblical character)