heraldry
Americannoun
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the science of armorial bearings.
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the art of blazoning armorial bearings, of settling the rights of persons to bear arms or to use certain bearings, of tracing and recording genealogies, of recording honors, and of deciding questions of precedence.
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the office or duty of a herald.
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a heraldic device, or a collection of such devices.
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a coat of arms; armorial bearings.
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heraldic symbolism.
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heraldic pomp or ceremony.
The coronation was marked by all the magnificence of heraldry.
noun
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the occupation or study concerned with the classification of armorial bearings, the allocation of rights to bear arms, the tracing of genealogies, etc
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the duties and pursuit of a herald
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armorial bearings, insignia, devices, etc
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heraldic symbols or symbolism
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the show and ceremony of heraldry
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of heraldry
Explanation
Heraldry is the study of designs on coats of arms — the official symbols or emblems of royal and noble families — which have appeared on flags and shields throughout history. Heraldry is the art of designing emblems that are meant to represent families, states, or organizations, as well as the study of the significance behind the designs, including family genealogies. The original function of heraldry was to distinguish troops from each other, making it clear who soldiers were fighting with and against. The ancient root of the word heraldry means "war."
Vocabulary lists containing heraldry
Six Crimson Cranes
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The Horse and His Boy
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"A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare, Act 3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Six potential designs have apparently already been created by the Army Institute of Heraldry.
From Slate • Aug. 2, 2012
Then up to the coffin strode Sweden's brawny Master of Heraldry.
From Time Magazine Archive
Army Institute of Heraldry, which has only two trained sculptors on its staff.
From Time Magazine Archive
There was nothing in Heraldry which he did not know.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
Who would open his County History, or his books on Brasses or Church Plate, Memorials or Heraldry or Glass?
From Mushroom Town by Onions, Oliver
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
