uraeus

American  

[yoo-ree-uhs] / jʊˈri əs /

noun

uraeuses plural

1. the sacred asp as represented upon the headdress of divinities and royal personages of ancient Egypt, usually directly over the forehead, as an emblem of supreme power.

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uraeus British  

/ jʊˈriːəs /

noun

1. the sacred serpent represented on the headdresses of ancient Egyptian kings and gods

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• uraeuses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of uraeus

1825–35; < New Latin < Late Greek ouraîos, perhaps based ultimately on Egyptian yʿrt cobra, altered by association with Greek ouraîos of the tail; see uro- ²

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

uraeus

The human-headed uraeus is seldom bearded; and the best example of such a monster is on an Ethiopian temple, where a great uraeus has human arms and a lion's head.

From Egyptian Tales, Translated from the Papyri First series, IVth to XIIth dynasty by Petrie, W. M. Flinders (William Matthew Flinders), Sir

I will play thee three games, and stake the sacred circlet upon my brow, against the Royal uraeus on thine, and the winner shall wear both.'

From The World's Desire by Haggard, Henry Rider

O thou Cat, thy two eyes are the Eye of the Lord of the Khut uraeus, who illumineth the Two Lands with his Eye, and illumineth the face on the path of darkness.

From Legends of the Gods The Egyptian Texts, edited with Translations by Budge, E. A. Wallis (Ernest Alfred Wallis), Sir

All wisdom is in the mouth of thy majesty; Thy uraeus is on thy forehead, thou drivest away the miserable.

From Egyptian Tales, Translated from the Papyri First series, IVth to XIIth dynasty by Petrie, W. M. Flinders (William Matthew Flinders), Sir

Upon her head shone the uraeus crown, and she carried a long rod of cedar-wood topped with an apple carved in bluestone, and at her side came the appearance of a tall young man.

From Figures of Earth by Cabell, James Branch