effigy

American  

[ef-i-jee] / ˈɛf ɪ dʒi /

noun

plural

effigies

1. a representation or image, especially sculptured, as on a monument.

2. a crude representation of someone disliked, used for purposes of ridicule.

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idioms

1. in effigy, in public view in the form of an effigy.

   a leader hanged in effigy by the mob.

effigy British  

/ ɪˈfɪdʒɪəl, ˈɛfɪdʒɪ /

noun

1. a portrait of a person, esp as a monument or architectural decoration

2. a crude representation of someone, used as a focus for contempt or ridicule and often hung up or burnt in public (often in the phrases burn or hang in effigy )

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effigy More Idioms  

1. see in effigy.

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Other Word Forms

• effigial adjective

Etymology

Origin of effigy

1530–40; (< Middle French ) < Latin effigia, equivalent to effig- ( ef- ef- + fig- shape, form; figure ) + -ia -y ³

Example Sentences

But the dunking spawned the legend of the "Curse of the Colonel" that said the Tigers would never win another title until the effigy was recovered.

From Barron's

He said there were "lots of ideas of how it first started" but looking back through history, "most of it was to do with 1605 when bonfires and effigies were burnt and barrels were plentiful".

From BBC

True to the festival’s name, every structure at Burning Man is temporary, as many buildings, along with the effigy, are set on fire by the end of the festival.

From Salon

True to its name, every structure is temporary as many buildings, along with the effigy, are burned to the ground by the end of the festival.

From Salon

The man’s body was discovered shortly after the giant effigy of “Burning Man” was lighted on fire.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• likeness
• statue