Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A king of ancient Egypt.
  • noun A tyrant.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A title given by the Hebrews to the ancient kings of Egypt; hence, an Egyptian sovereign.
  • noun [lowercase] A corrupt form faro.
  • noun [lowercase] A very strong ale or beer.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A title by which the sovereigns of ancient Egypt were designated.
  • noun See Faro.
  • noun (Zoöl.) the gier-eagle, or Egyptian vulture; -- so called because often sculpured on Egyptian monuments. It is nearly white in color.
  • noun (Zoöl.) the common ichneumon.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • proper noun Any specific pharaoh.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the title of the ancient Egyptian kings

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English Pharao, from Late Latin Pharaō, from Greek, from Hebrew par‘ō, from Egyptian pr-‘’ : pr, house + ‘’, great.]

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Examples

  • Banneker told him the word Pharaoh meant “Star Child” or “Children of the Stars.”

    The Atlantis Prophecy Thomas Greanias 2008

  • First acting as regent for her young nephew Thutmose III, in 1473 BCE she assumed the title Pharaoh and exercised the full powers of the throne as senior co-ruler, reestablishing trade networks and undertaking such colossal building projects as her mortuary temple complex at Deir el-Bahri.

    The First Great Woman in History 2006

  • First acting as regent for her young nephew Thutmose III, in 1473 BCE she assumed the title Pharaoh and exercised the full powers of the throne as senior co-ruler, reestablishing trade networks and undertaking such colossal building projects as her mortuary temple complex at Deir el-Bahri.

    Yale Press Log: 2006

  • I imagine that the term Pharaoh itself is compounded of Phi-Ourah, Vox Ori, sive Dei.

    A New System; or, an Analysis of Antient Mythology. Volume I. Jacob Bryant 1759

  • -- The first mention in the Bible of a proper name with the title Pharaoh is the case of Pharaoh-necho, who is also called Necho simply.

    Smith's Bible Dictionary 1884

  • Also in this issue, the “Wounded Man” who looks like a creepy mummified Pharaoh is talking riddles and throwing people around.

    Comic Review: The Anchor #4 | Fandomania 2010

  • The chiefs of their primary tribe, the Montauk Indians, were known as Pharaoh, like their ancient Egyptian cousins 10,000 years ago.

    The Atlantis Prophecy Thomas Greanias 2008

  • The chiefs of their primary tribe, the Montauk Indians, were known as Pharaoh, like their ancient Egyptians cousins.

    The Atlantis Prophecy Thomas Greanias 2008

  • I'm not sure what he thought of this curious fellow trailing him through Buffalo Billiards but I wager he didn't expect me to question him about his portrayal of a magician in Pharaoh's Curse, an episode of the Twilight Zone.

    GreenCine Daily: Interview. Xander Berkeley. 2006

  • The excavators at Lachish found in the destruction layer a metal fragment—probably a fitting for the main gate of the city— bearing the name of Pharaoh Ramesses III.

    The Bible Unearthed Israel Finkelstein 2001

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