Balaam

See also: Barlaam

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbeɪləm/

Etymology 1

From Hebrew בִּלְעָם (bil'am).

Proper noun

Balaam

1. A diviner in the Torah.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Numbers 22:28:

     And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?

   • 2017 December 19, LaMar Smith, Poetic Scripture: Genesis to Ruth Stories of the Bible in Poetic Form‎^[1], WestBow Press, →ISBN, →OCLC:

     Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey. God said, “They summoned you, but you listen to me.” Balaam riding his donkey and his two servants with him, The angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him, The angel with a […]

2. A surname.

Derived terms

• Balaamite

Etymology 2

The Biblical miracle of Balaam's ass speaking (Numbers 22:27-30); see talk out one's ass.

Noun

Balaam (plural Balaams)

1. (slang, archaic, journalism) A paragraph describing something wonderful, used to fill out a newspaper column.

Derived terms

• Balaam basket
• Balaam box

References

• “Balaam”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• Alabam', Ambala