Ouroboros

American  

[oor-uh-bur-uhs, oor-oh-bawr-uhs, yoor-] / ˌur əˈbɜr əs, ˌur oʊˈbɔr əs, ˌyʊər- /

Also Uroboros, or ouroboros

noun

1. a representation of a snake or dragon eating its own tail, originating in Ancient Egyptian and Greek iconography and used as a symbolic representation of wholeness, eternity, or death and rebirth.

2. anything that resembles or calls to mind a snake or dragon eating its own tail.

   The arguments and debate about transcendence can all too easily become an Ouroboros of circular logic.

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Etymology

Origin of Ouroboros

First recorded in 1920–25; from Greek ourobóros (drákōn) “tail-devouring (snake),” from our(á) “tail” + -o- ( def. ) + -bóros (noun derivative of bibrṓskein “to devour”); see dragon ( def. )

Explanation

The ouroboros is an ancient spiritual symbol dating back to the 14th century BCE. Depicted as a snake or dragon consuming its own tail, it forms a circular shape representing infinity and the cyclic nature of the universe. Also sometimes spelled uroboros, this term comes from a Greek word meaning "tail-eater." It was first used in Ancient Egypt and is seen in the tomb of Tutankhamun. It later became a staple of medieval mysticism, representing the eternal cycle of destruction and rebirth. It also illustrates the "All is One" philosophy of alchemy, an ancient practice that combined chemistry and philosophy in a quest to transform and perfect matter.

Example Sentences

A well-deserved Oscar followed, along with a supporting role in Disney's "American Born Chinese" adaptation, as the voice of a pangolin in "King Fu Panda 4" and as the MCU's Ouroboros in "Loki."

From Salon • Feb. 7, 2025

By Ke Huy Quan’s account, his starring role as Ouroboros in Season 2 of ‘Loki,’ his MCU debut, was the realization of a dream and the cap to a year filled with triumph.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 4, 2024

Image: Nintendo To add an additional element of combat to an already overloaded system, characters have the ability to fuse into beings called Ouroboros, granting them stronger attacks for a limited amount of time.

From The Verge • Jul. 26, 2022

Peter Ibruegger Studio London-based artist and designer Peter Ibruegger introduced Ouroboros, a new range of tiles named after the ancient symbol of eternity: a snake consuming its own tail.

From Architectural Digest • Feb. 13, 2015

He remarked, “The alchemical worm Ouroboros that encircles the world devours itself.”

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson