Apollyon

English

Etymology

Ancient Greek Ἀπολλύων (Apollúōn, “Apollyon, the destroyer”), from ἀπόλλυμι (apóllumi, “utterly destroy”) via phono-semantic matching with Biblical Hebrew אֲבַדּוֹן (ʾaḇaddôn, “destruction, ruin”).

Proper noun

Apollyon

1. (Christianity) The destroying angel of the abyss, the undoer or disintegrator.
   • 1855, Robert Browning, chapter 27, in “Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came”:

     A great black bird, Apollyon's bosom-friend, / Sailed past, nor beat his wide wing dragon-penned / That brushed my cap—perchance the guide I sought.

Related terms

• Abaddon

Translations

The destroying angel of the abyss, the undoer or disintegrator

• Dutch: Apollyon
• French: Apollyon (fr) m
• German: Apollyon (de) m
• Greek:

  Ancient: Ἀπολλύων m (Apollúōn)

• Korean: 아폴리온 (apollion)
• Portuguese: Apolião m, Apolion m