HOW TO PRONOUNCE
leviathan
/ləˈvaɪəθ(ə)n/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:05
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What does leviathan mean?
noun
- A vast sea monster of tremendous strength, either imaginary or real, described as the most dangerous and powerful creature in the ocean.
- (figuratively) A thing which is monstrously great in size, strength, etc. (especially a ship); also, a person with great power or wealth.
- (figuratively) Sometimes in the form Leviathan: based on the writings of Thomas Hobbes, the political state, especially a domineering and totalitarian one.
More meanings (3)
adjective
- Very large; enormous, gargantuan.
noun
- Alternative letter-case form of leviathan.
- (figuratively, obsolete) Synonym of Satan (“the supreme evil spirit in the Abrahamic religions, who tempts humanity into sin; the Devil”).
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ləˈvaɪəθ(ə)n/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
The real purpose of leviathan is to be served up as a dainty to the pious in the world to come.
Mingling their mumblings with his own mastications, thousands on thousands of sharks, swarming round the dead leviathan, smackingly feasted on its fatness.
More book examples (3)
With me, also, it has proved as early as that old standard, Early Leviathan, but this may have been a chance occurrence.
Mr. Ware followed her finger, and beheld with dismay that it pointed toward the largest instrument in the room--a veritable leviathan among pianos.
The other apartments are very lofty, and in quantity, though I had suspected that this leviathan hall must have devoured half the other chambers.