English Dictionary: bivalent | by the DICT Development Group |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
| |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Babblement \Bab"ble*ment\, n. Babble. --Hawthorne. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Babble \Bab"ble\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Babbled} ([?]);p. pr. & vb. n. {Babbling}.] [Cf.LG. babbeln, D. babbelen, G. bappeln, bappern, F. babiller, It. babbolare; prob. orig., to keep saying ba, imitative of a child learning to talk.] 1. To utter words indistinctly or unintelligibly; to utter inarticulate sounds; as a child babbles. 2. To talk incoherently; to utter unmeaning words. 3. To talk much; to chatter; to prate. 4. To make a continuous murmuring noise, as shallow water running over stones. In every babbling he finds a friend. --Wordsworth. Note: Hounds are said to babble, or to be babbling, when they are too noisy after having found a good scent. Syn: To prate; prattle; chatter; gossip. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Thrush \Thrush\, n. [OE. [thorn]rusche, AS. [thorn]rysce; akin to OHG. drosca, droscea, droscela, and E. throstle. Cf. {Throstle}.] 1. (Zo[94]l.) Any one of numerous species of singing birds belonging to {Turdus} and allied genera. They are noted for the sweetness of their songs. Note: Among the best-known European species are the song thrush or throstle ({Turdus musicus}), the missel thrush (see under {Missel}), the European redwing, and the blackbird. The most important American species are the wood thrush ({Turdus mustelinus}), Wilson's thrush ({T. fuscescens}), the hermit thrush (see under {Hermit}), Swainson's thrush ({T. Alici[91]}), and the migratory thrush, or American robin (see {Robin}). 2. (Zo[94]l.) Any one of numerous species of singing birds more or less resembling the true thrushes in appearance or habits; as the thunderbird and the American brown thrush (or thrasher). See {Brown thrush}. {Ant thrush}. See {Ant thrush}, {Breve}, and {Pitta}. {Babbling thrush}, any one of numerous species of Asiatic timaline birds; -- called also {babbler}. {Fruit thrush}, any species of bulbul. {Shrike thrush}. See under {Shrike}. {Stone thrush}, the missel thrush; -- said to be so called from its marbled breast. {Thrush nightingale}. See {Nightingale}, 2. {Thrush tit}, any one of several species of Asiatic singing birds of the genus {Cochoa}. They are beautifully colored birds allied to the tits, but resembling thrushes in size and habits. {Water thrush}. (a) The European dipper. (b) An American warbler ({Seiurus Noveboracensis}). | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
d8Babillard \[d8]Bab"il*lard\, n. [F., a babbler.] (Zo[94]l.) The lesser whitethroat of Europe; -- called also {babbling warbler}. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Babylonian \Bab`y*lo"ni*an\, a. Of or pertaining to the real or to the mystical Babylon, or to the ancient kingdom of Babylonia; Chaldean. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Babylonian \Bab`y*lo"ni*an\, n. 1. An inhabitant of Babylonia (which included Chaldea); a Chaldean. 2. An astrologer; -- so called because the Chaldeans were remarkable for the study of astrology. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Babylonic \Bab`y*lon"ic\, Babylonical \Bab`y*lon"ic*al\, a. 1. Pertaining to Babylon, or made there; as, Babylonic garments, carpets, or hangings. 2. Tumultuous; disorderly. [Obs.] --Sir J. Harrington. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Babylonic \Bab`y*lon"ic\, Babylonical \Bab`y*lon"ic*al\, a. 1. Pertaining to Babylon, or made there; as, Babylonic garments, carpets, or hangings. 2. Tumultuous; disorderly. [Obs.] --Sir J. Harrington. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Babylonish \Bab"y*lo`nish\, n. 1. Of or pertaining to, or made in, Babylon or Babylonia. [bd]A Babylonish garment.[b8] --Josh. vii. 21. 2. Pertaining to the Babylon of --Revelation xiv. 8. 3. Pertaining to Rome and papal power. [Obs.] The . . . injurious nickname of Babylonish. --Gape. 4. Confused; Babel-like. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bafflement \Baf"fle*ment\, n. The process or act of baffling, or of being baffled; frustration; check. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Baffling \Baf"fling\ (b[acr]f"fl[icr]ng), a. Frustrating; discomfiting; disconcerting; as, baffling currents, winds, tasks. -- {Baff"ling*ly}, adv. -- {Baff"ling*ness}, n. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Baffle \Baf"fle\ (b[acr]f"f'l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Baffled} (-f'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Baffling} (-fl[icr]ng).] [Cf. Lowland Scotch bauchle to treat contemptuously, bauch tasteless, abashed, jaded, Icel. b[be]gr uneasy, poor, or b[be]gr, n., struggle, b[91]gja to push, treat harshly, OF. beffler, beffer, to mock, deceive, dial. G. b[84]ppe mouth, beffen to bark, chide.] 1. To cause to undergo a disgraceful punishment, as a recreant knight. [Obs.] He by the heels him hung upon a tree, And baffled so, that all which passed by The picture of his punishment might see. --Spenser. 2. To check by shifts and turns; to elude; to foil. The art that baffles time's tyrannic claim. --Cowper. 3. To check by perplexing; to disconcert, frustrate, or defeat; to thwart. [bd]A baffled purpose.[b8] --De Quincey. A suitable scripture ready to repel and baffle them all. --South. Calculations so difficult as to have baffled, until within a . . . recent period, the most enlightened nations. --Prescott. The mere intricacy of a question should not baffle us. --Locke. {Baffling wind} (Naut.), one that frequently shifts from one point to another. Syn: To balk; thwart; foil; frustrate; defeat. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Baffle \Baf"fle\ (b[acr]f"f'l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Baffled} (-f'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. {Baffling} (-fl[icr]ng).] [Cf. Lowland Scotch bauchle to treat contemptuously, bauch tasteless, abashed, jaded, Icel. b[be]gr uneasy, poor, or b[be]gr, n., struggle, b[91]gja to push, treat harshly, OF. beffler, beffer, to mock, deceive, dial. G. b[84]ppe mouth, beffen to bark, chide.] 1. To cause to undergo a disgraceful punishment, as a recreant knight. [Obs.] He by the heels him hung upon a tree, And baffled so, that all which passed by The picture of his punishment might see. --Spenser. 2. To check by shifts and turns; to elude; to foil. The art that baffles time's tyrannic claim. --Cowper. 3. To check by perplexing; to disconcert, frustrate, or defeat; to thwart. [bd]A baffled purpose.[b8] --De Quincey. A suitable scripture ready to repel and baffle them all. --South. Calculations so difficult as to have baffled, until within a . . . recent period, the most enlightened nations. --Prescott. The mere intricacy of a question should not baffle us. --Locke. {Baffling wind} (Naut.), one that frequently shifts from one point to another. Syn: To balk; thwart; foil; frustrate; defeat. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Baffling \Baf"fling\ (b[acr]f"fl[icr]ng), a. Frustrating; discomfiting; disconcerting; as, baffling currents, winds, tasks. -- {Baff"ling*ly}, adv. -- {Baff"ling*ness}, n. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Baffling \Baf"fling\ (b[acr]f"fl[icr]ng), a. Frustrating; discomfiting; disconcerting; as, baffling currents, winds, tasks. -- {Baff"ling*ly}, adv. -- {Baff"ling*ness}, n. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Baubling \Bau"bling\, a. See {Bawbling}. [Obs.] | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bawbling \Baw"bling\, a. Insignificant; contemptible. [Obs.] | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Befall \Be*fall"\, v. t. [imp. {Befell}; p. p. {Befallen}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Befalling}.] [AS. befeallan; pref. be- + feallan to fall.] To happen to. I beseech your grace that I may know The worst that may befall me. --Shak. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Befall \Be*fall"\, v. t. [imp. {Befell}; p. p. {Befallen}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Befalling}.] [AS. befeallan; pref. be- + feallan to fall.] To happen to. I beseech your grace that I may know The worst that may befall me. --Shak. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Befool \Be*fool"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Befooled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Befooling}.] [OE. befolen; pref. be- + fol fool.] 1. To fool; to delude or lead into error; to infatuate; to deceive. This story . . . contrived to befool credulous men. --Fuller. 2. To cause to behave like a fool; to make foolish. [bd]Some befooling drug.[b8] --G. Eliot. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Befoul \Be*foul"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Befouled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Befouling}.] [Cf. AS. bef[?]lan; pref. be- + f[?]lan to foul. See {Foul}, a.] 1. To make foul; to soil. 2. To entangle or run against so as to impede motion. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Beplumed \Be*plumed"\, a. Decked with feathers. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bevel \Bev"el\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Beveled} ([?]) or {Bevelled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Beveling} or {Bevelling}.] To cut to a bevel angle; to slope the edge or surface of. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bevel \Bev"el\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Beveled} ([?]) or {Bevelled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Beveling} or {Bevelling}.] To cut to a bevel angle; to slope the edge or surface of. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bevelment \Bev"el*ment\, n. (Min.) The replacement of an edge by two similar planes, equally inclined to the including faces or adjacent planes. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bibliomancy \Bib"li*o*man`cy\, n. [Gr. [?] book + -mancy: cf. F. bibliomancie.] A kind of divination, performed by selecting passages of Scripture at hazard, and drawing from them indications concerning future events. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bibliomania \Bib`li*o*ma"ni*a\, n. [Gr. [?] book + [?] madness: cf. F. bibliomanie.] A mania for acquiring books. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bibliomaniac \Bib`li*o*ma"ni*ac\, n. One who has a mania for books. -- a. Relating to a bibliomaniac. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bibliomaniacal \Bib`li*o*ma*ni"ac*al\, a. Pertaining to a passion for books; relating to a bibliomaniac. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bipalmate \Bi*pal"mate\, a. [Pref. bi- + palmate.] (Bot.) Palmately branched, with the branches again palmated. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Biplane \Bi"plane\, n. [Pref. bi- + plane.] (A[89]ronautics) An a[89]roplane with two main supporting surfaces one above the other. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Biplane \Bi"plane\, a. (A[89]ronautics) Having, or consisting of, two superposed planes, a[89]rocurves, or the like; of or pertaining to a biplane; as, a biplane rudder. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bivalency \Biv"a*len*cy\, n. (Chem.) The quality of being bivalent. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bivalent \Biv"a*lent\, a. [L. bis twice + valens, p. pr. See {Valence}.] (Chem.) Equivalent in combining or displacing power to two atoms of hydrogen; dyad. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bobolink \Bob"o*link`\, n. (Zo[94]l.) An American singing bird ({Dolichonyx oryzivorus}). The male is black and white; the female is brown; -- called also, {ricebird}, {reedbird}, and {Boblincoln}. The happiest bird of our spring is the bobolink. --W. Irving. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bobolink \Bob"o*link`\, n. (Zo[94]l.) An American singing bird ({Dolichonyx oryzivorus}). The male is black and white; the female is brown; -- called also, {ricebird}, {reedbird}, and {Boblincoln}. The happiest bird of our spring is the bobolink. --W. Irving. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bubaline \Bu"ba*line\, a. (Zo[94]l.) Resembling a buffalo. {Bubaline antelope} (Zo[94]l.), the bubale. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bubaline \Bu"ba*line\, a. (Zo[94]l.) Resembling a buffalo. {Bubaline antelope} (Zo[94]l.), the bubale. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bubble \Bub"ble\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Bubbled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Bubbling}.] [Cf. D. bobbelen, Dan. boble. See {Bubble}, n.] 1. To rise in bubbles, as liquids when boiling or agitated; to contain bubbles. The milk that bubbled in the pail. --Tennyson. 2. To run with a gurgling noise, as if forming bubbles; as, a bubbling stream. --Pope. 3. To sing with a gurgling or warbling sound. At mine ear Bubbled the nightingale and heeded not. --Tennyson. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Bubbling Jock \Bub"bling Jock`\(Zo[94]l.) The male wild turkey, the gobbler; -- so called in allusion to its notes. | |
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Buffalo \Buf"fa*lo\, n.; pl. {Buffaloes}. [Sp. bufalo (cf. It. bufalo, F. buffle), fr. L. bubalus, bufalus, a kind of African stag or gazelle; also, the buffalo or wild ox, fr. Gr. [?] buffalo, prob. fr. [?] ox. See {Cow} the animal, and cf. {Buff} the color, and {Bubale}.] 1. (Zo[94]l.) A species of the genus {Bos} or {Bubalus} ({B. bubalus}), originally from India, but now found in most of the warmer countries of the eastern continent. It is larger and less docile than the common ox, and is fond of marshy places and rivers. 2. (Zo[94]l.) A very large and savage species of the same genus ({B. Caffer}) found in South Africa; -- called also {Cape buffalo}. 3. (Zo[94]l.) Any species of wild ox. 4. (Zo[94]l.) The bison of North America. 5. A buffalo robe. See {Buffalo robe}, below. 6. (Zo[94]l.) The buffalo fish. See {Buffalo fish}, below. {Buffalo berry} (Bot.), a shrub of the Upper Missouri ({Sherherdia argentea}) with acid edible red berries. {Buffalo bird} (Zo[94]l.), an African bird of the genus {Buphaga}, of two species. These birds perch upon buffaloes and cattle, in search of parasites. {Buffalo bug}, the carpet beetle. See under {Carpet}. {Buffalo chips}, dry dung of the buffalo, or bison, used for fuel. [U.S.] {Buffalo clover} (Bot.), a kind of clover ({Trifolium reflexum} and {T.soloniferum}) found in the ancient grazing grounds of the American bison. {Buffalo cod} (Zo[94]l.), a large, edible, marine fish ({Ophiodon elongatus}) of the northern Pacific coast; -- called also {blue cod}, and {cultus cod}. {Buffalo fish} (Zo[94]l.), one of several large fresh-water fishes of the family {Catostomid[91]}, of the Mississippi valley. The red-mouthed or brown ({Ictiobus bubalus}), the big-mouthed or black ({Bubalichthys urus}), and the small-mouthed ({B. altus}), are among the more important species used as food. {Buffalo fly}, [or] {Buffalo gnat} (Zo[94]l.), a small dipterous insect of the genus {Simulium}, allied to the black fly of the North. It is often extremely abundant in the lower part of the Mississippi valley and does great injury to domestic animals, often killing large numbers of cattle and horses. In Europe the Columbatz fly is a species with similar habits. {Buffalo grass} (Bot.), a species of short, sweet grass ({Buchlo[89] dactyloides}), from two to four inches high, covering the prairies on which the buffaloes, or bisons, feed. [U.S.] {Buffalo nut} (Bot.), the oily and drupelike fruit of an American shrub ({Pyrularia oleifera}); also, the shrub itself; oilnut. {Buffalo robe}, the skin of the bison of North America, prepared with the hair on; -- much used as a lap robe in sleighs. | |
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]: | |
Babylon, NY (village, FIPS 3408) Location: 40.69595 N, 73.32715 W Population (1990): 12249 (4536 housing units) Area: 6.2 sq km (land), 0.9 sq km (water) | |
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]: | |
Buffalo Mills, PA Zip code(s): 15534 | |
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]: | |
babbling error than 1518 data bytes - the largest allowed Ethernet {packet}. This is why the {Maximum Transmission Unit} for {IP} traffic on Ethernet is 1500. [Why 1518?] (1998-03-13) | |
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]: | |
BABYLON A development environment for {expert system}s. It includes {frame}s, {constraint}s, a {prolog}-like logic formalism, and a description language for diagnostic applications. It requires {Common Lisp}. {(ftp://ftp.gmd.de/gmd/ai-research/Software/)}. (1995-02-08) | |
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]: | |
bubble memory A storage device built using materials such as gadolinium gallium garnet which are can be magnetised easily in only one direction. A film of these materials can be created so that it is magnetisable in an up-down direction. The magnetic fields tend to join together, some with the north pole facing up, some with the south. When a veritcal magnetic field is imposed on this, the areas in opposite alignment to the field shrink to circles, or 'bubbles'. A bubble can be formed by reversing the field in a small spot, and can be destroyed by increasing the field. Bubble memory is a kind of {non-volatile storage} but {EEPROM}, {Flash Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory} and ferroelectric technologies, which are also non-volatile, are faster. ["Great Microprocessors of the Past and Present", V 4.0.0, John Bayko (1995-02-03) | |
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: | |
Babylon the Greek form of BABEL; Semitic form Babilu, meaning "The Gate of God." In the Assyrian tablets it means "The city of the dispersion of the tribes." The monumental list of its kings reaches back to B.C. 2300, and includes Khammurabi, or Amraphel (q.v.), the contemporary of Abraham. It stood on the Euphrates, about 200 miles above its junction with the Tigris, which flowed through its midst and divided it into two almost equal parts. The Elamites invaded Chaldea (i.e., Lower Mesopotamia, or Shinar, and Upper Mesopotamia, or Accad, now combined into one) and held it in subjection. At length Khammu-rabi delivered it from the foreign yoke, and founded the new empire of Chaldea (q.v.), making Babylon the capital of the united kingdom. This city gradually grew in extent and grandeur, but in process of time it became subject to Assyria. On the fall of Nineveh (B.C. 606) it threw off the Assyrian yoke, and became the capital of the growing Babylonian empire. Under Nebuchadnezzar it became one of the most splendid cities of the ancient world. After passing through various vicissitudes the city was occupied by Cyrus, "king of Elam," B.C. 538, who issued a decree permitting the Jews to return to their own land (Ezra 1). It then ceased to be the capital of an empire. It was again and again visited by hostile armies, till its inhabitants were all driven from their homes, and the city became a complete desolation, its very site being forgotten from among men. On the west bank of the Euphrates, about 50 miles south of Bagdad, there is found a series of artificial mounds of vast extent. These are the ruins of this once famous proud city. These ruins are principally (1) the great mound called Babil by the Arabs. This was probably the noted Temple of Belus, which was a pyramid about 480 feet high. (2) The Kasr (i.e., "the palace"). This was the great palace of Nebuchadnezzar. It is almost a square, each side of which is about 700 feet long. The little town of Hillah, near the site of Babylon, is built almost wholly of bricks taken from this single mound. (3) A lofty mound, on the summit of which stands a modern tomb called Amran ibn-Ali. This is probably the most ancient portion of the remains of the city, and represents the ruins of the famous hanging-gardens, or perhaps of some royal palace. The utter desolation of the city once called "The glory of kingdoms" (Isa.13:19) was foretold by the prophets (Isa.13:4-22; Jer. 25:12; 50:2, 3; Dan. 2:31-38). The Babylon mentioned in 1 Pet. 5:13 was not Rome, as some have thought, but the literal city of Babylon, which was inhabited by many Jews at the time Peter wrote. In Rev. 14:8; 16:19; 17:5; and 18:2, "Babylon" is supposed to mean Rome, not considered as pagan, but as the prolongation of the ancient power in the papal form. Rome, pagan and papal, is regarded as one power. "The literal Babylon was the beginner and supporter of tyranny and idolatry...This city and its whole empire were taken by the Persians under Cyrus; the Persians were subdued by the Macedonians, and the Macedonians by the Romans; so that Rome succeeded to the power of old Babylon. And it was her method to adopt the worship of the false deities she had conquered; so that by her own act she became the heiress and successor of all the Babylonian idolatry, and of all that was introduced into it by the immediate successors of Babylon, and consequently of all the idolatry of the earth." Rome, or "mystical Babylon," is "that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth" (17:18). | |
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: | |
Babylon, kingdom of called "the land of the Chaldeans" (Jer. 24:5; Ezek, 12:13), was an extensive province in Central Asia along the valley of the Tigris from the Persian Gulf northward for some 300 miles. It was famed for its fertility and its riches. Its capital was the city of Babylon, a great commercial centre (Ezek. 17:4; Isa. 43:14). Babylonia was divided into the two districts of Accad in the north, and Summer (probably the Shinar of the Old Testament) in the south. Among its chief cities may be mentioned Ur (now Mugheir or Mugayyar), on the western bank of the Euphrates; Uruk, or Erech (Gen. 10:10) (now Warka), between Ur and Babylon; Larsa (now Senkereh), the Ellasar of Gen. 14:1, a little to the east of Erech; Nipur (now Niffer), south-east of Babylon; Sepharvaim (2 Kings 17:24), "the two Sipparas" (now Abu-Habba), considerably to the north of Babylon; and Eridu, "the good city" (now Abu-Shahrein), which lay originally on the shore of the Persian Gulf, but is now, owing to the silting up of the sand, about 100 miles distant from it. Another city was Kulunu, or Calneh (Gen. 10:10). The salt-marshes at the mouths of the Euphrates and Tigris were called Marratu, "the bitter" or "salt", the Merathaim of Jer. 50:21. They were the original home of the Kalda, or Chaldeans. The most famous of the early kings of Babylonia were Sargon of Accad (B.C.3800) and his son, Naram-Sin, who conquered a large part of Western Asia, establishing their power in Palestine, and even carrying their arms to the Sinaitic peninsula. A great Babylonian library was founded in the reign of Sargon. Babylonia was subsequently again broken up into more than one state, and at one time fell under the domination of Elam. This was put an end to by Khammu-rabi (Amraphel), who drove the Elamites out of the country, and overcame Arioch, the son of an Elamite prince. From this time forward Babylonia was a united monarchy. About B.C. 1750 it was conquered by the Kassi, or Kosseans, from the mountains of Elam, and a Kassite dynasty ruled over it for 576 years and 9 months. In the time of Khammu-rabi, Syria and Palestine were subject to Babylonia and its Elamite suzerain; and after the overthrow of the Elamite supremacy, the Babylonian kings continued to exercise their influence and power in what was called "the land of the Amorites." In the epoch of the Kassite dynasty, however, Canaan passed into the hands of Egypt. In B.C. 729, Babylonia was conquered by the Assyrian king Tiglath-pileser III.; but on the death of Shalmaneser IV. it was seized by the Kalda or "Chaldean" prince Merodach-baladan (2 Kings 20:12-19), who held it till B.C. 709, when he was driven out by Sargon. Under Sennacherib, Babylonia revolted from Assyria several times, with the help of the Elamites, and after one of these revolts Babylon was destroyed by Sennacherib, B.C. 689. It was rebuilt by Esarhaddon, who made it his residence during part of the year, and it was to Babylon that Manasseh was brought a prisoner (2 Chr. 33:11). After the death of Esarhaddon, Saul-sumyukin, the viceroy of Babylonia, revolted against his brother the Assyrian king, and the revolt was suppressed with difficulty. When Nineveh was destroyed, B.C. 606, Nabopolassar, the viceroy of Babylonia, who seems to have been of Chaldean descent, made himself independent. His son Nebuchadrezzar (Nabu-kudur-uzur), after defeating the Egyptians at Carchemish, succeeded him as king, B.C. 604, and founded the Babylonian empire. He strongly fortified Babylon, and adorned it with palaces and other buildings. His son, Evil-merodach, who succeeded him in B.C. 561, was murdered after a reign of two years. The last monarch of the Babylonian empire was Nabonidus (Nabu-nahid), B.C. 555-538, whose eldest son, Belshazzar (Bilu-sar-uzur), is mentioned in several inscriptions. Babylon was captured by Cyrus, B.C. 538, and though it revolted more than once in later years, it never succeeded in maintaining its independence. | |
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]: | |
Babylonish garment a robe of rich colours fabricated at Babylon, and hence of great value (Josh.7:21). | |
From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]: | |
Babylon, same as Babel |