uraeus
/juˈɹi.əs/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.22 in modern English
6
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
1
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A representation of the sacred asp, symbolising supreme power in ancient Egypt.
Example Sentences
- "In front is an inlaid cobra, the Royal uræus, and around the band are attached 15 rosettes, each composed of four flowers and four leaves of openwork inlaid."
- "even a fair amount of the gold His caravans returned from the Granite Mountains near the Red Sea, were now being fashioned by royal artisans into amulets, breast pieces, gold collars, bracelets, scarabs, uraei, even gold and silver shabti […]."
- "In the small chamber opposite are Isis and Selket, and Nefertari's cartouche between two uraeuses."
Etymology
From Latin uraeus, from Ancient Greek οὐραῖος (ouraîos). This is traditionally assumed to be from Egyptian jꜥrt (“cobra in threat posture”), i-a:r:*t-I12, from jꜥr (“to rise, climb”); however, on phonetic grounds, Gundacker, following Fecht, argues for an origin in Egyptian wrrt (“White Crown, uraeus”, literally “the great one”) instead.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: jꜥrt, wrrt
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /juˈɹi.əs/
- British English: /jʊˈɹiː.əs/