mammon

/'mæmən/

Thân thiện

A man chooses mammon over charity.

Definition

Noun: 1. Wealth or material possessions regarded as having a corrupting or evil influence: In religious and moral contexts, "mammon" personifies wealth and greed as a false idol or a negative spiritual force that distracts from spiritual values. 2. (Capitalized, Mammon) A personification of greed and avarice as an evil spirit or deity: This usage originates from the New Testament of the Christian Bible, where Mammon is depicted as a master or power opposed to God.

Usage

The word is often used in a critical or moralizing context to describe the pursuit of wealth as a corrupting goal. It is frequently found in religious, philosophical, and literary discussions about materialism. - It is commonly used with the definite article "the" (e.g., the mammon of unrighteousness). - When personified as an evil force, it is often capitalized (Mammon).

Examples

1. As a concept of corrupting wealth:
   • He spent his life chasing mammon, neglecting his family and friends.
   • The novel critiques a society enslaved by mammon.
2. As a personified evil force (often capitalized):
   • The sermon warned against serving Mammon instead of God.
   • "Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (A direct reference from the Bible, Matthew 6:24, often quoted in English).

Advanced Usage

• "The mammon of unrighteousness": A biblical phrase meaning ill-gotten gains or wealth acquired through dishonest means.
  • The parable warns that one cannot trust in the mammon of unrighteousness.
• To serve/worship Mammon: To be devoted to the pursuit of wealth above all else.
  • The corporation was accused of worshipping Mammon, with no regard for ethical practices.

Variants and Related Words

• Mammonish (adjective, archaic): Resembling or characteristic of mammon; greedy.
• Mammonism (noun): The greedy pursuit of material wealth.
• Mammonist (noun): A person devoted to the pursuit of wealth.

Synonyms

• Wealth (when used neutrally, without the negative connotation)
• Riches
• Lucre (often with negative connotations, as in )
• Materialism
• Avarice (specifically for the greed aspect)

Idioms and Phrases

• To serve God and Mammon: To try to be devoted to both spiritual values and the pursuit of material wealth, which is presented as an impossibility. This idiom comes directly from the Bible.
  • He was torn between his charitable ideals and his business ambitions, trying unsuccessfully to serve God and Mammon.

Học thuật

Noun

1. (New Testament) a personification of wealth and avarice as an evil spirit
   • ye cannot serve God and Mammon
2. wealth regarded as an evil influence

Từ đồng nghĩa

• mammon