(Hebrew Ach-, אִהאּ , or ACHI, אֲחַיאּ , brother of) occurs as the former part of many Hebrew proper names, with a signification of relationship or property, similar to that contained in AB- (q.v.) or ABI-, father (Gesenius, Thes. Heb. p. 64), e.g. the names following; and likewise applied to females, e.g. AHINOAM (See AHINOAM) , comp. ABINOAM (See ABINOAM) ; indeed in some cases they are nearly interchangeable, e.g. ABIMELECH (See ABIMELECH) , AHIMELECH (See AHIMELECH) .