Nineveh

English

Etymology

From Old English Niniue (under influence from Biblical Hebrew נִינְוֵה (nīnəwē)), from Latin Nīnevē, from Ancient Greek Νινευή (Nineuḗ), ultimately from Akkadian 𒌷𒉌𒉡𒀀 𒀏 (/⁠Ninua⁠/) or Old Babylonian 𒌷𒉌𒉡𒀀 (/⁠Ninuwā⁠/) of uncertain origin, but is clearly a variation of 𒀏 (/⁠ninâ⁠/, “fish”).[1] The cuneiform seems to denote "House of Fish", although whether this referred to literal fish, an aspect of Ishtar, a separate Hurrian goddess, or something else entirely is unclear.[2]

The traditional folk etymology in classical antiquity derived it from an eponymous founder Ninus (Greek: Νίνος (Nínos)).[1]

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈnɪnɪvə/, /ˈnɪnəvə/

Proper noun

Nineveh

  1. (historical) The capital of ancient Assyria, now Mosul, Iraq.

Synonyms
  • Mosul (present settlement)

Translations

References
  1. Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd ed. "Ninevite, n. and adj." Oxford University Press (Oxford), 2013.
  2. "Nineveh" in the Encyclopaedia Judaica.
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