The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000.
Appendix II
Semitic Roots
ENTRY:
l
DEFINITION:
God. I. Common Semitic basic form *il-, god. 1a.Azazel, from Hebrew czzl, perhaps corrupt for czaz-l, God has been strong (personal name); b.bethel, from Hebrew bêtl, house of God; c. Daniel, from Hebrew dnl,dnyl, my judge (is) God (alternatively, God has judged); d. Ezekiel, from Hebrew yezql, God has strengthened; e.Gabriel, from Hebrew gabrîl, my strong one (is) God (see gpr); f. Ishmael, from Hebrew yimcl, God has heard (see mc); g. Israel, from Hebrew yirl, God has striven, God has saved; h. Joel, from Hebrew yôl, Yahweh (is) God; i.Michael, from Hebrew mîkl, who (is) like God?; j.Nathanael, from Hebrew ntanl, God has given (see ntn); k. Raphael, from Hebrew rpl, God has healed (rp, he has healed; see rp); l. Samuel, from Hebrew mûl, name of God (alternatively, the name (is) God; see m); m.schlemiel, perhaps from Hebrew personal name lmîl, my well-being (is) God. a–m all from Hebrew l, God; n.Elijah, from Hebrew lîyhû, my God (is) Yahweh, from lî, my God, from l (see above) + -î, my; o.Elisha, from Hebrew lîc, God (is) salvation, from l, shortened form of l, God (see above; -îc, salvation; see wc); p. Elizabeth, from Hebrew lîebac, my God (is) an oath, from lî, reduced form of lî, my God (see above; -ebac, oath; see bc); q.Lazarus, from Hebrew elczr, God has helped, from el, reduced form of l, God (see above; czr, he has helped; see cr). 2a. Babylon, from Akkadian bbili, gate of the god, from ilu, god; b.Babel, from Hebrew bbel, from Akkadian bb ili, Babylon (see above). 3.Enlil, from Sumerian refashioning of Semitic *ilil, probably “god of gods,” reduplication of *il-. II. Central Semitic extended form ilh-, god. 1.Elohim, from Hebrew lhîm, God, plural (used as singular) of lah, god. 2a.Allah, from Arabic allh, the god, God, from al-, the + ilh, god; b.ayatollah, from Arabic yatu llh, sign of God; c.Bahaullah, from Arabic bahu llh, splendor of God; d.olé, from Spanish, perhaps from Arabic wa-llh, by God!. b–d all from Arabic llh, elided form of allh (see above).
l
z
l, perhaps corrupt for c
ezq
m
r
mî
lî
c); p. Elizabeth, from Hebrew 
r). 2a. Babylon, from Akkadian b
hîm, God, plural (used as singular) of 
