Pharaoh

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈfæɹəʊ/, /ˈfeɪ.ɹəʊ/
• Homophones: faro, Faroe

Alternative forms

• pharao

Origin

From Middle English pharao, from Old English, from Late Latin pharaō, from Ancient Greek φαραώ, from Hebrew פַּרְעֹה, from Egyptian

pr ˤ3 ("palace, pharaoh"), literally pr ("house") + ˤ3 ("great, big").

Full definition of pharaoh

Noun

1. The supreme ruler of ancient Egypt; a formal address for the sovereign seat of power as personified by the 'king' in an institutional role of Horus son of Osiris; often used by metonymy for Ancient Egyptian sovereignty
2. (uncountable) The card game faro.
• 1945, Robert Hardy Andrews, Burning gold"I pray, when I play pharaoh at White's, that the cards fall as they have come to my hand in this large gamble," Anstis said.

Derived terms

• pharoah ant
• pharaonic