moabite stone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowFormal, Academic, Historical
Quick answer
What does “moabite stone” mean?
An ancient archaeological artifact.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An ancient archaeological artifact; a stele (inscribed stone slab) erected in the 9th century BCE by King Mesha of Moab, recounting his victories.
A key historical and linguistic artifact for understanding Moabite culture, early alphabetic scripts, and Near Eastern history. It often serves as a primary example in archaeology and epigraphy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. Spelling of related terms may differ (e.g., 'archaeology' vs. 'archeology').
Connotations
Identical. Carries connotations of antiquity, scholarship, and Biblical archaeology in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare in general usage but equally standard in academic archaeological and historical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “moabite stone” in a Sentence
The Moabite Stone + verb (is, dates to, recounts, contains)scholars + verb (study, analyse, translate) + the Moabite Stonereference to + the Moabite StoneVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “moabite stone” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Moabite Stone replica
- Moabite Stone inscription
American English
- Moabite Stone fragment
- Moabite Stone discovery
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Primary usage. Used in archaeology, history, linguistics, and religious studies to discuss ancient Near Eastern epigraphy and history.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might appear in high-quality journalism, documentaries, or specialist non-fiction.
Technical
Used as a specific term in epigraphy (study of inscriptions) and archaeology to refer to this particular artifact and its text.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “moabite stone”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “moabite stone”
- Using lowercase ('moabite stone').
- Omitting the definite article 'the'.
- Confusing it with the Rosetta Stone (different artifact, culture, and time period).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Rosetta Stone is from Egypt (196 BCE) and was key to deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs. The Moabite Stone is from Jordan (9th century BCE) and is written in the Moabite language using a Phoenician-derived alphabet.
The original Moabite Stone is housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.
It mentions 'Omri, king of Israel' and the 'house of David,' providing an extra-biblical, contemporaneous reference to figures and kingdoms described in the Hebrew Bible.
It is inscribed in the Moabite language, a Canaanite dialect closely related to Biblical Hebrew, using a variant of the Phoenician alphabet.
An ancient archaeological artifact.
Moabite stone is usually formal, academic, historical in register.
Moabite stone: in British English it is pronounced /ˈməʊəbaɪt stəʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmoʊəbaɪt stoʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: MOAB-ITE STONE. MOAB was an ancient kingdom; the stone is a MESSAGE carved in STONE from its king.
Conceptual Metaphor
A WINDOW INTO THE PAST; A ROSETTA STONE (for Moabite language and history).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary significance of the Moabite Stone?