pendragon

[ pen-drag-uhn ]

/ pɛnˈdræg ən /

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noun

the supreme leader: the title of certain ancient British chiefs.

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Origin of pendragon

1470–80; <Medieval Latin (Geoffrey of Monmouth) Uthyrpendragun Uther Pendragon, taken as Medieval Welsh pen(n) head + *dragun<Late Latin dracōnēs, plural of dracō military standard, Latin: serpent, dragon (hence, chief or head standard), though the compound is unattested in Welsh sources outside of translations of Geoffrey of Monmouth

OTHER WORDS FROM pendragon

pen·drag·on·ish, adjectivepen·drag·on·ship, noun

Words nearby pendragon

Penderecki, pending, Pendleton, Pendolino, Pend Oreille, pendragon, pen drive, pendu, pendular, pendular nystagmus, pendule

Other definitions for pendragon (2 of 2)

Pendragon

[ pen-drag-uhn ]

/ pɛnˈdræg ən /

noun

either of two kings of ancient Britain.Compare Arthur (def. 2), Uther.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use pendragon in a sentence

This place belongs to Old Pendragon, whom we call the Admiral; though he retired before getting the rank.
The Wisdom of Father Brown|G. K. Chesterton
"I don't believe in anything," answered Pendragon very briskly, with a bright eye cocked at a red tropical bird.
The Wisdom of Father Brown|G. K. Chesterton
Pendragon sprang to his feet and paced swiftly to and fro across the window, from which the face had instantly vanished.
The Wisdom of Father Brown|G. K. Chesterton
His appearance gave a new idea to Charlie Pendragon, who, although he was now sadly out of breath, once more upraised his voice.
The Boy Scouts Book of Stories|Various

Her father was Uther the pendragon, and her mother Ygerna, widow of Gorloïs.
Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama, Vol 1|The Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D.

British Dictionary definitions for pendragon

pendragon

/ (pɛnˈdræɡən) /

noun

a supreme war chief or leader of the ancient Britons

Derived forms of pendragon

pendragonship, noun

Word Origin for pendragon

Welsh, literally: head dragon

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