azrael
|az-ra-el|
/ˈæzreɪəl/
angel of death
Etymology
'Azrael' originates from Hebrew and Arabic, specifically the name 'Azra'el' (Hebrew) / 'Izra'il' (Arabic), where 'azar' meant 'help' (Hebrew) and 'El' meant 'God'.
'Azrael' changed from the Hebrew name 'Azra'el' and the Arabic form 'Izra'il' and was adopted into medieval Latin and European languages as the modern English form 'Azrael'.
Initially, the name meant 'help of God' or 'whom God helps', but over time it became specifically identified as the proper name of the angel of death.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the name of the angel of death in some Jewish, Islamic, and later Christian traditions; a personification of death.
In the folk tale, Azrael appears to carry the soul to the afterlife.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a literary or cultural reference to death personified; used as a symbolic name in fiction and art.
The poet invoked Azrael to explore themes of mortality and loss.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/08 12:24