name
Ishmael
IHSH-may-uhl
name
1
In the Bible, the eldest son of Abraham, traditionally regarded as an ancestor of the Arab peoples.
"Ishmael is honoured in Islamic tradition as a prophet."
2
A male given name from Hebrew.
"His name was Ishmael, after his grandfather."
noun
1
(literary) An outcast, someone excluded from society.
"After the scandal, he lived as an ishmael among his former colleagues."
How to Use Ishmael
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA biblical figure and given name, sometimes used figuratively to mean an outcast.
Word Forms
Ishmaels plural
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_____ is honoured in Islamic tradition as a prophet.
Etymology
From Hebrew yishma'el ("God hears").