pears very probable that this usage was the foundation of the
statement made by Chamberlayne and by Mr. Christopher Wren: but that the
title of Defender of the Faith was used as part of the royal style before
1521, is, I believe, quite untrue.

W.S.G.

* * * * *

MEANING OF JEZEBEL.

(Vol. ii., p. 357.)

There appear to be two serious objections to the idea of your correspondent
W.G.H. respecting the appearance of _Baal_ in this word: 1. The original
orthography ([Hebrew: 'iyzebel]); whereas the name of the deity is found on
all Phoenician monuments, where it enters largely into the composition of
proper names, written [Hebrew: b`l]: and, 2. The fact of female names being
generally on these same monuments (as tombstones and so forth) compounded
of the name of a _goddess_, specially Astarth ([Hebrew: 'atiorit] or
[Hebrew: `a]). I do not know that we have any example of a female name into
which _Baal_ enters.

The derivation of the word appears to be that given by Gesenius (s.v.);
that it is compounded of the root [Hebrew: zabal] (habitavit, cohabitavit)
and the negative [Hebrew: 'eiyn], and that its meaning is the same as
[Greek: alochos], casta: comp. _Agnes_. _Isabel_, in fact, would be a name
nearer the original than the form in which we have it.

SC.

Carmarthen, Oct. 29. 1850.

_Jezebel._--W.G.H. has been misled by the ending _bel_. The Phoenician god
_Bel_ or _Baal_ has nothing to do with this name,--the component words
being _Je-zebel_, not _Jeze-bel_. Of the various explanations given, that
of Gesenius (_Heb. Lex._, s. voc.) appears, as usual, the simplest and most
rational. The name [Hebrew: 'iyzebel] (Jezebel) he derives from [Hebrew:
'iy] (_i_) "not" (comp. I-chabod, "In-glorious") and [Hebrew: zabal]
(zabal), "to dwell, cohabit with."

The name will then mean "without cohabitation," _i.e._ [Greek: alochos]
(Plat. _Theaet._) "chaste, modest." Comp. _Agnes_, _Katherine_, &c.

Less satisfactory explanations may be found in Calmet's _Dictionary_, and
the _Cyclopaedia of Biblical Literature_, edited by Dr. Kitlo.

R.T.H.G.

_Jezebel._--The Hebrew spelling [Hebrew: 'iyzebel] presents so much
difficulty, that I fear such a derivation as W.G.H. wishes to obtain for
the name is not practicable by any known etymology. Nothing that I am aware
of, either in Hebrew, Syriac, or Arabic, will help us. The nearest verb
that I can find is the Chaldee [Hebrew: 'aza'], signifying, "