ankhn.
/aŋk/, U.S. /ɑŋk/ A figure or object resembling a cross with a loop in place of the upper vertical arm; the symbol ☥. Cf. crux ansata at crux n. 1, tau n. 1b.The ankh is the character for ‘life’ in hieroglyphic writing and was used widely in ancient Egyptian art as a symbol of life.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > representation > physical representation of abstraction > symbolizing > [noun] > a symbol > specific symbols > ankh
tau1785
crux ansata1841
ankh1861
ansata1868
1861 E. A. Beaufort Egyptian Sepulchres & Syrian Shrines I. v. 99 Horus..wears the royal head-dress, and holds the anch, the sign of pure life, in his hand.
1870 T. Nichols Handy-bk. Brit. Museum ii. 65 We may observe the representations of Pasht,..Bubastis, or Diana... She almost invariably..grasps in one hand the ankh, an emblem of life.
1910 A. Churchward Signs & Symb. Primord. Man xix. 409 The cross on the church of Amba Derho is a form of the Ank-cross.
1988 B. Sterling Islands in Net (1989) i. 14 The margins were dotted with ankh symbols.
2000 R. J. Evans Entertainment vii. 105 She wore black jeans and a small ankh round her neck.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2022).
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n.1861- to the wind
- to the winds
- to the windward
- to the world
- to the world's end
- to the worldward
- to the worse
- to thin off, down
- to thin out
- to thin out away
- to thin out off
- to think about the unthinkable
- to think again
- to think ahead
- to think aloud
- to think amiss
- to think amiss of
- to think away
- to think back
- to think back on
- to think back to
- to think badly of
- to think better of
- to think better of it
- to think big