Belshazzar

American  

[bel-shaz-er] / bɛlˈʃæz ər /

noun

1. a prince of Babylon, son of Nabonidus and co-regent with him, referred to in the Bible as a king of Babylon and son of Nebuchadnezzar.

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Belshazzar British  

/ bɛlˈʃæzə /

noun

1. 6th century _bc , the son of Nabonidus, coregent of Babylon with his father for eight years: referred to as king and son of Nebuchadnezzar in the Old Testament (Daniel 5:1, 17; 8:1); described as having received a divine message of doom written on a wall at a banquet ( Belshazzar's Feast )

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Etymology

Origin of Belshazzar

From Hebrew Belshaṣṣar, from Akkadian Bēl-shar-uṣur “may Bel guard the king”

Example Sentences

Another Maius illumination shows the Babylonian ruler Belshazzar, despised as a tyrant in Jewish tradition, feasting in a Muslim-style palace.

From New York Times • Feb. 3, 2022

Step back into the distant past with this musical play about Daniel’s confrontation of Belshazzar — composed eight centuries ago in Beauvais, France, and now staged by early-music authority Anne Azéma.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 27, 2019

The tenor James Ruff brought a virile voice and dignity to the role of Daniel, held captive by King Belshazzar, here the stentorian bass-baritone Peter Walker.

From New York Times • Dec. 28, 2014

The singers were adequate to excellent on Friday, the most notable being James Ruff as Daniel, Peter Walker as Belshazzar and Habakkuk, and Sarah Pillow as Belshazzar’s queen and Habakkuk’s angel.

From New York Times • Dec. 30, 2013

Belshazzar followed him, and this time took the reins himself, leaving Nebo-Ailû to reach home on foot; for there were few chariots that afforded comfortable standing-room for more than two people.

From Istar of Babylon A Phantasy by Potter, Margaret Horton