Baalism
/ˈbeɪ.əˌlɪz.əm/noun
The worship or cultic devotion associated with Baal, a title used for various ancient Near Eastern deities.
Did you know?Baal is a Northwest Semitic title meaning roughly “lord” or “master,” and the Bible’s polemics against Baal worship helped turn the name into a symbol of rival divine power.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Northwest Semitic
PNS
*baʿl-
“lord, master, owner”
Ancient West Semitic
Semitic
baʿlu / baʿal
“lord; a title for a god or divine patron”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
baʿal
“Baal; also lord, master, husband”
Post-Biblical / Scholarly English
English
baalism
“the worship or cult of Baal”
Modern English
English
Baalism
“devotion to or worship of Baal”