ariel

plural ariels

1. A kind of mountain gazelle, native to Arabia.

1. misspellingMisspelling of aerial.

plural Ariels · alternative Arielle

1. biblicalA name for the city of Jerusalem, the claimed (and de-facto) capital city of modern Israel, and the claimed capital city of modern Palestine.

   Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Isaiah 29:1

2. A male given name from Hebrew, also ascribed to spirits and angels in English literature.

   Of these am I, who thy Protection claim, / A watchful Sprite, and Ariel is my Name.

   1712 May, [Alexander Pope], “The Rape of the Locke. An Heroi-comical Poem.”, in Miscellaneous Poems and Translations. […], London: […] Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, canto

   4 more examples

   Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Ezra 8:16

   All hail, great master! grave sir, hail! I come / To answer thy best pleasure; be't to fly, / To swim, to dive into the fire, to ride / On the curl'd clouds; to thy strong bidding task / Ariel and all his quality.

   Scene ii

   Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy / The Atheist crew, but with redoubl’d blow / Ariel and Arioc, and the violence / Of Ramiel scorcht and blasted overthrew.

   1667, John Milton, “Book CLX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

   You don't look like a Daniel (your pre-chosen name). There's something fierce and tawny about you. You're the Lion! You're Ariel: God's Lion. You'll be my father Leon's namesake — and for your father, you'll have a Hebrew name. I dub thee Ariel, faery spirit of my tempest. You'll be my Jerusalem...

   1979, Phyllis Chesler, With Child, Crowell, →ISBN, page 121

3. A female given name from Hebrew, used mainly since the 1980s.

   All the miniature Cinderellas, Belles, and Ariels who fill the streets every Halloween are essentially paying homage to characters that will slowly and inevitably chip away at their sense of worth in years to come.

   2018, Jen Kim, Love and…: Bad Boys, “The One” & Other Fun Ways to Sabotage Your Relationship, Skyhorse Publishing, →ISBN

   1 more example

   "I'm going to name her Ariel," Laura said, ignoring them completely as she stared down at the baby. "The boys like the name because it's the same as the girl in the Little Mermaid movie. And I like it, because it's pretty."

   1992, Kristina Logan, The Right Man for Loving, Thorndike Press, →ISBN, page 190

4. astronomyThe brightest moon of the planet Uranus.
5. An Israeli settlement and city in the central West Bank.