unicorn
/ˈju.nɪ.kɔɹn/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.54 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
3
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A mythical, horselike creature with a horn on its forehead, supposed to be extremely rare and to be drawn to virgins and other chaste maidens.
noun
In various Bible translations, used to render the Latin unicornis or rhinoceros (representing Hebrew רְאֵם): a reem or wild ox.
noun
A howitzer.
Example Sentences
- "[Seb.] A liuing Drolerie: now I will beleeue / That there are Vnicornes:[…]"
- "The unicorn who may be touched and tamed only by a chaste virgin is a lunar symbol of the ancient religion of Europe."
- "God brought him forth out of Egypt, he hath as it were the ſtrength of an Vnicorne: he ſhall eate vp the nations his enemies, and ſhall breake their bones, and pierce them thorow with his arrowes."
- "The Sixth Inniskilling Dragoons and the First Battalion Royal Scots will be in attendance, and there will be unicorns, carricks, pursuivants, heralds, mace-bearers, ushers, and pages, together with the Purse-bearer, and the Lyon King-of-Arms, and the national anthem, and the royal salute"
- "On Capitol Hill, Mr. Manchin is something of a unicorn — the only national Democrat from his ruby-red state — and acts and votes accordingly."
- "But I also think, “They’re looking for a unicorn — a magical designer who can solve all their problems.” It’s too bad unicorns don’t exist. … I have never met a designer who is an expert in all those skill areas. … Even if you find a unicorn designer with all those skills, actually doing all those things at your company is a huge amount of work."
Etymology
From Middle English unicorne, unikorn, from Anglo-Norman unicorne, Old French unicorne, and their source, Latin ūnicornis, (from ūnus (“one”) + cornū (“horn”)), a calque of Ancient Greek μονόκερως (monókerōs, “having one horn”, (from μόνος (mónos, “one”) + κέρας (kéras, “horn”))). Displaced native Old English ānhorn, itself a calque of the Latin term. First attested in the early 13th c. * Other senses from either rarity (e.g., possessing multiple skills) or by physical resemblance to having a horn (e.g., howitzer). The finance sense was coined by American investor Aileen Lee and first used in a 2013 article.
Origin
- Source language: Middle English
- First known use: First attested in the early 13th c.
Word Breakdown
- Root: unicorne, ūnicornis
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈju.nɪ.kɔɹn/
- British English: /ˈjuː.nɪ.kɔːn/