The etymology of the word Allāh has been discussed extensively by classical Arab philologists.[16] The majority of scholars consider it to be derived from a contraction of the Arabic definite article al- and ilāh "deity, god" to al-lāh meaning "the deity, the God".[16] In some sources, the contracted and un-contracted forms are used interchangeably.[17] The contraction of the terms is mirrored by the parallel contraction of al-ʾilāt to Allāt.[18] Originally, ʾilāh was used as an epithet for the West Semitic creator god ʾIlu (the Ugaritic version of El), before being adopted as the proper name itself for this god.