noun · neuter
seraph
seraph n or m (genitive seraph)
Classical[ˈsɛ.rapʰ]Ecclesiastical[ˈsɛː.raf]
Meaning
- in pluralmasculineneuterseraph
Seraphim stabant iuxta eum; sex alae uni et sex alae alteri: duabus velabat faciem suam et duabus velabat pedes suos et duabus volabat.
Nova Vulgata, Isaiah 6:2&6& superior angelus inferioris ordinis, est inferior inferiori angelo superioris ordinis: & summus seraph est inferior Deo in infinitum.
and a higher angel of a lower order is inferior to a lower angel of a higher order; and the highest seraph is infinitely inferior to God.c. 1300, Richard of Middleton, Clarissimi theologi magistri Ricardi de Media Villa, published 1591:
Declension
| form | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | seraph | seraphīm seraphīn, serapheim, seraphein |
| genitive | seraph | seraphīm seraphīn, serapheim, seraphein |
| dative | seraph | seraphīm seraphīn, serapheim, seraphein |
| accusative | seraph | seraphīm seraphīn, serapheim, seraphein |
| ablative | seraph | seraphīm seraphīn, serapheim, seraphein |
| vocative | seraph | seraphīm seraphīn, serapheim, seraphein |
Origins
From Koine Greek σερᾱ́φ (serā́ph), back-formed from σερᾱφείμ (serāpheím) by analogy with Biblical Hebrew שְׂרָפִים (śərāp̄îm), the plural form of שָׂרָף (śārāp̄, “burning one”); perhaps related to the root שרף (“to burn”).