- skip - Brewer’s

Abraham

.

His parents. According to Mohammedun mythology, the parents of Abraham were Prince Azar and his wife, Adna.

His infancy. As King Nimrod had been told that one shortly to be born would dethrone him, he commanded the death of all such; so Adna retired to a cave where Abraham was born. He was nourished by sucking two of her fingers, one of which supplied milk and the other honey.

His boyhood. At the age of fifteen months he was equal in size to a lad of fifteen, and very wise; so his father introduced him to the court of King Nimrod.—Herbelot: Bibliothèque Orientale.

His offering. According to Mohammedan tradition, the mountain on which Abraham offered up his son was Arfaday; but is more generally thought to have been Morīah.

His death. The Ghebers say that Abraham was thrown into the fire by Nimrod’s order, but the flame turned into a bed of roses, on which the child Abraham went to sleep.—Tavernier.

“Sweet and welcome as the bed

For their own infant prophet spread,

When pitying Heaven to roses turned

The death-flames that beneath him burned.”


To Sham Abraham. To pretend illness or distress, in order to get off work. (See Abram-Man.)


“I have heard people say Sham Abram you may,

But must not sham Abraham Newland.”


T. Dibdin or Upton.

Abraham Newland was cashier of the Bank of England, and signed the notes.

 

previous entry · index · next entry

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

previous entry · index · next entry

Abou ebn Sina
Abou-Bekr
Abou Jahia
Aboulomri (in Mohammedan mythology)
Above
Above-board
Above par
Above your hook
Abracadabra
Abracax
Abraham
Abraham’s Bosom
Abraham Newland (An)
Abrahamic Covenant
Abrahamites
Abram-colour
Abram-Man
Abraxas Stones
Abreast
Abridge
Abroach

See Also:

Abraham