flamen

[ fley-muh n, -men ]

/ ˈfleɪ mən, -mɛn /

noun, plural fla·mens, fla·mi·nes [flam-uh-neez] /ˈflæm əˌniz/.

(in ancient Rome) a priest.

Nearby words

Origin of flamen

1300–50; < Latin flamen (perhaps earlier *flādmen; akin to Old English blōtan to sacrifice); replacing Middle English flamin < Latin flāmin- (stem of flāmen)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for flamen

That there was something in the iron which interfered with the religious efficacy of the Flamen seems likely; cp.
The Religious Experience of the Roman People|W. Warde Fowler
Money was raised, and Flamen Ball, Sr., was secured to make an application for mandamus.
History of the Negro Race in America from 1619 to 1880. Vol. 2 (of 2)|George Washington Williams
The election of members was by co-optation on the motion of the president, who, with a flamen, was himself elected for one year.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 7|Various
It may be as well to point out that iron, like wheat in the taboos of the Flamen, was considered dangerous, as being a novelty.
The Religious Experience of the Roman People|W. Warde Fowler

Those cities which had a flamen, or archiereus, are those which later had an archbishop: the flamen civitatis became the bishop.
English Conferences of Ernest Renan|Ernest Renan

British Dictionary definitions for flamen

flamen

/ (ˈfleɪmɛn) /

noun plural flamens or flamines (ˈflæmɪˌniːz)

(in ancient Rome) any of 15 priests who each served a particular deity

Word Origin for flamen

C14: from Latin; probably related to Old English blōtan to sacrifice, Gothic blotan to worship

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for flamen

flamen

"ancient Roman priest," 1530s, from Latin flamen, of unknown origin, perhaps from PIE root *bhlad- "to worship" (cf. Gothic blotan, Old English blotan "to sacrifice"). Also used from early 14c. in reference to the ancient pre-Christian British priests, in imitation of Geoffrey of Monmouth.