Dracula

American  

[drak-yuh-luh] / ˈdræk yə lə /

noun

1. (italics) a novel (1897) by Bram Stoker.

2. Count, the central character in this novel: the archetype of a vampire.

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Etymology

Origin of Dracula

Origin uncertain; perhaps from Romanian Drăculea, a diminutive or patronymic of drăcul “the dragon,” and derived from a knightly order called the “Order of the Dragon” ( Ordo Draconum ), founded in 1408 by the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund ( 1368–1437 ), then king of Hungary, to defend Christianity and the Empire against the Ottoman Turks. After Vlad II Dracul (c. 1395–1447 ) was admitted to the order around 1431, he wore the dragon emblem of the order. Later, when Vlad II was prince of Wallachia (now part of Romania), his coinage bore the image of the dragon, from which the name Dracula is derived. Vlad II’s son, Vlad III (Vlad Ţepeş “Vlad the Impaler,” c.1431–c.1476 ) is most likely the model for the Bram Stoker character. dragon

Example Sentences

After lunch, Sahil and I talked about our movie project and how we were going to watch Dracula together tonight at Maddie’s.

From Literature

He must, indeed, have been that Voivode Dracula who won his name against the Turk, over the great river on the very frontier of Turkey-land.

From Literature

As we entered Montclair, he drove through the worst section of town, and finally pulled up at an abandoned structure that even Dracula wouldn’t have felt at home in.

From Literature

The big dark-wood front door had an iron knocker on it, the kind you’d expect Dracula to have, and Hazel tried to reach up for it.

From Literature

She could name it Dracula, for all he cared.

From Literature