pendragon

¹ American  

[pen-drag-uhn] / pɛnˈdræg ən /

noun

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

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Pendragon ² American  

[pen-drag-uhn] / pɛnˈdræg ən /

noun

1. either of two kings of ancient Britain.

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pendragon British  

/ pɛnˈdræɡən /

noun

1. a supreme war chief or leader of the ancient Britons

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Other Word Forms

• pendragonish adjective
• pendragonship noun

Etymology

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

Explanation

In ancient times, one type of British or Welsh king was known as a pendragon. This pendragon was typically a warrior and powerful leader. When you come across the word pendragon, it's typically capitalized and referring to a specific prince or king, either in history or literature. Most famously, the legendary King Arthur is sometimes described with the title pendragon. The word shows up today in fantasy novels and role playing games. In Welsh, pendragon or Pen Ddraig means "chief war leader."

Example Sentences

Her father was Uther the pendragon, and her mother Ygerna, widow of Gorloïs.

From Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama, Vol. 1 A Revised American Edition of the Reader's Handbook by Brewer, Ebenezer Cobham

There is a table so called at Winchester, and Henry VIII. showed it to François I. as the very table made by Merlin for Uther the pendragon.

From Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama, Vol. 1 A Revised American Edition of the Reader's Handbook by Brewer, Ebenezer Cobham

Aurelius, elder brother of Uther the pendragon, and uncle of Arthur, but he died before the hero was born.

From Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama, Vol. 1 A Revised American Edition of the Reader's Handbook by Brewer, Ebenezer Cobham

He would have gratefully given all his patrimonial domains to one who should inform him what pendragon or druid it was who set up the first stone on Salisbury plain.

From Memoirs of Carwin, the Biloquist by Brown, Charles Brockden