flamen
pronunciation
How to pronounce flamen in British English:
UK ['fleɪmen]
How to pronounce flamen in American English:
US ['fleɪmen]
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- Noun:
- a priest who served a particular deity in ancient Rome
Word Origin
- flamen (n.)
- "ancient Roman priest," 1530s, from Latin flamen "a priest of one deity," which is of unknown origin, perhaps from PIE root *bhlad- "to worship" (cognates: Gothic blotan, Old English blotan "to sacrifice"). Also used from early 14c., in imitation of Geoffrey of Monmouth, in reference to ancient pre-Christian British priests. Related: Flamineous. The old connection of flamen with Skt. brahman- is highly problematic, and has been dismissed by Schrijver. As WH surmise, the ending -en points to an archaism, probably a n[euter] noun "sacrificial act" which changed its semantics to 'priest'; for a similar shift, cf. augur "bird-observer" .... The only viable comparanda are found in [Germanic], but they show root-final (or suffixal) *-d~. [de Vaan]
Example
- 1. Seeing the pig struggling and wailing , the flamen could not help but think what he would choose , if he were the pig .
- 2. Oh , that is you say flamen gentleman : ' anything but can pilfer'when , I remember my stickpin disappeared suddenly .