ʿṯtr

Common Semitic masculine noun *ʿaṯtar-, feminine *ʿaṯtart-, gods representing the morning and evening stars.

1. Ashtoreth, from Hebrew ʿaštōret, taboo-deformation (with the vowels of bōšet, shame, shameful thing) of earlier *ʿašteret.

2.

a. Astarte, from Greek Astartē, from Phoenician *ʿaštart;

b. Aphrodite, from Greek Aphrodītē, probably ultimately from Phoenician *ʿaštart, Astarte (influenced by Greek aphros, foam).

3.

a. Ishtar, from Akkadian ištar;

b. Esther, from Hebrew ʾestēr, perhaps from Akkadian ištar, Ishtar (or from Persian sitareh, star; see ster-³ in Appendix I).

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