aegis
pronunciation
How to pronounce aegis in British English:
UK [ˈi:dʒɪs]
How to pronounce aegis in American English:
US [ˈidʒɪs]
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- Noun:
- kindly endorsement and guidance
- armor plate that protects the chest; the front part of a cuirass
Word Origin
- aegis
- aegis: [18] The notion of ‘protection’ contained in this word goes back to classical mythology, in which one of the functions or attributes of the Greek god Zeus (and later of Roman Jupiter or Minerva) was the giving of protection. This was usually represented visually as a shield, traditionally held to be made of goatskin – hence Greek aigís, the name of the shield, came to be associated in the popular imagination with aix (aig- in its stem form), the Greek word for ‘goat’. English borrowed the word directly from Latin.
- aegis (n.)
- "protection," 1793, from Latin aegis, from Greek Aigis, the name of the shield of Zeus, said by Herodotus to be related to aix (genitive aigos) "goat," from PIE *aig- "goat" (cognates: Sanskrit ajah, Lithuanian ozys "he-goat"), as the shield was of goatskin. Athene's aigis was a short goat-skin cloak, covered with scales, set with a gorgon's head, and fringed with snakes. The exact use and purpose of it is not now clear. The goatskin would be worn with the two forelegs tied in front of the wearer's breast, or possibly with the head passed through an opening made at the neck, by the removal of the animal's head. [F. Warre Cornish, ed., "Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities," London, 1898]
Example
- 1. The establishments are managed by a quasi-private group under the aegis of the finance ministry itself .
- 2. Some malians want troops under the aegis of the economic community of west african states ( ecowas ) to come in .
- 3. The anc under his aegis has sought to undermine the independence of the courts , the police , the prosecuting authorities and the press .
- 4. Figures like martin luther and john calvin recognized marriage as a civil matter , a worldly affair , and not under the aegis of the church .
- 5. Twice an omnibus bill passed the house of representatives under the aegis of its managers , congressmen from western states in which agricultural interests were dominant .