caduceus

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See also: Caduceus

English

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A caduceus

Etymology

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Via Latin cādūceus, cādūceum, adaptation of Doric Ancient Greek καρύκειον (karúkeion, herald’s wand or staff). This and Attic Greek κηρύκειον (kērúkeion) are derived from κῆρυξ (kêrux, herald, public messenger). Related to κηρύσσω (kērússō, I announce).

Pronunciation

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  • (US) IPA(key): /kəˈdu.si.əs/, /kəˈdjuː.si.əs/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

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caduceus (plural caducei)

  1. The official wand carried by a herald in ancient Greece and Rome, specifically the one carried in mythology by Hermes, the messenger of the gods, usually represented with two snakes twined around it.
    Synonym: golden wand
  2. A symbol () representing a staff with two snakes wrapped around it, used to indicate merchants and messengers. It is also sometimes incorrectly substituted for the rod of Asclepius as a symbol of medicine.

Translations

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See also

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Further reading

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Anagrams

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Latin

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Pronunciation

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Noun

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cādūceus m (genitive cādūceī); second declension

  1. Alternative form of cādūceum

Declension

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Second-declension noun.

Case Singular Plural
Nominative cādūceus cādūceī
Genitive cādūceī cādūceōrum
Dative cādūceō cādūceīs
Accusative cādūceum cādūceōs
Ablative cādūceō cādūceīs
Vocative cādūcee cādūceī

Descendants

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  • English: caduceus
  • German: Caduceus, Kaduzeus
  • Polish: kaduceusz

References

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  • caduceus”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
  • caduceus”, in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898), Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers
  • caduceus”, in William Smith et al., editor (1890), A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London: William Wayte. G. E. Marindin