abraxas
noun
abrax·as
ə-ˈbrak-səs
1
—used as a charm on an amulet or talisman in Europe, Asia Minor, and North Africa from the second century b.c. until the 13th century
2
or abraxas stone plural abraxases or abraxas stones : a gem engraved with the word abraxas
Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Late Latin Abraxas, a Gnostic deity, borrowed from Greek Abrasax, Abraxas; perhaps regarded as a charm from the numerical value of the Greek letters, which is 365
First Known Use
1698, in the meaning defined at sense 1
- cut through red tape
- cut time
- cut to length
- cut to size
- cut to size/length
- cut to the bone
- cut to the chase
- cut to the quick
- cut up
- cut up rough
- cut velvet
- cut-and-come-again
- cut-and-cover
- cut-and-dried
- cut-and-dry
- cut-and-paste
- cut-and-try
- cut-card work
- cut-grass
- cut-in
- cut-leaf
- cut-leaf philodendron
- cut-leaf philodendrons
- cut-leaved
- cut-price