aleph

noun

ˈä-ˌlef How to pronounce aleph (audio)
-ləf
: the 1st letter of the Hebrew alphabet see Alphabet Table

Examples of aleph in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
At Mt. Sinai, God’s voice, in midrash, was heard communally, but was so overwhelming that only the first letter, aleph, was sounded. Jerome Groopman, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Hebrew āleph, probably from eleph ox

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aleph was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Aleph.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aleph. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

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