pentacle etymology

Etymology:

• Middle English: pentacle, from Old French pentaigle, from Late Latin pentaculum, from Greek penta ("five") + -culum (diminutive suffix)

Meaning and Origin:

A pentacle is a five-pointed star enclosed in a circle. It has been used for various symbolic and spiritual purposes throughout history:

• Ancient Paganism: The pentacle was associated with the ancient Greek goddess Kore (Persephone), who was said to descend into the underworld and return each spring, symbolizing the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
• Medieval Christianity: The pentacle was sometimes used as a symbol of the five wounds of Christ on the cross.
• Wicca and Paganism: In modern Wiccan and Pagan traditions, the pentacle is a symbol of the four elements (earth, air, fire, water) and the spirit. The circle surrounding the star represents the universe.
• Alchemy: The pentacle was used by alchemists to represent the four elements and the fifth element, quintessence (the celestial element).
• Occult and Esoteric Traditions: In various occult and esoteric traditions, the pentacle is associated with protection, healing, and the invocation of elemental powers.

Symbolism:

The five points of the pentacle are often interpreted as representing:

• The four elements (earth, air, fire, water)
• The five senses
• The five chakras of the body
• The five aspects of the human soul (physical, emotional, mental, intuitive, spiritual)
• The five virtues (love, wisdom, power, beauty, truth)

The circle surrounding the star represents the wholeness, unity, and protection of the divine universe.

pentacle relate terms

• pentagram

  Etymology The word pentagram is derived from two Greek words penta πέντε mea

• pentangle

  Etymology Pentangle is derived from the Greek word pentas meaning five and the E

• penta

  Etymology Greek penta five Meaning Prefix denoting five Origin The prefix

• Angle

  Etymology The word angle comes from the Old English word angel meaning hook Mea

• pentacle

  Etymology Middle English pentacle from Old French pentaigle from Late Latin pentacul

• cinquain

  Etymology Cinquain is derived from the French word cinquains which means composed

• cinque

  Etymology Cinque derives from the Old French word cinque which in turn originated fro

• cinquecento

  Etymology From Italian cinquecento 500 from Late Latin quingenti 500 from qui

• cinquefoil

  Etymology Cinquefoil is derived from the Latin words quinque five folium leaf

• fifteen

  Etymology Originating from Old English fiftiene inflected form of fif five and

• fifth

  Etymology Old English fīfta Proto Germanic fīfþō Proto Indo European pénkʷe M

• fifty

  Etymology The word fifty derives from the Old English word fiftig which is a compound

• finger

  Etymology The word finger is derived from several ancient Proto Indo European roots

• fist

  Etymology The word fist comes from the Old English word fyst which is related to th

• five

  Etymology is the study of the history of words their origins and how their form and mean

• foist

  Etymology The word foist comes from the Middle French word fouster which means to

• keno

  Etymology The word keno originates from the French word quine which refers to a lot

• parcheesi

  Etymology The name parcheesi comes from the Hindi word pachisi which means twenty f

• penta

  Etymology Greek penta five Meaning Prefix denoting five Origin The prefix

• pentacle

  Etymology Middle English pentacle from Old French pentaigle from Late Latin pentacul

• pentad

  Etymology Greek πεντάς pentas from πέντε pente meaning five Meanin

• Pentateuch

  Etymology The term Pentateuch is derived from two Greek words penta πεντα

• Pentecost

  Etymology Greek πεντηκοστή pentēkostē meaning fiftieth day Meanin

• pentagon

  Etymology The word pentagon originates from the Greek words penta meaning five a

• pentagram

  Etymology The word pentagram is derived from two Greek words penta πέντε mea

• pentameter

  Etymology Pentameter comes from the Greek words pente five and metron measure M

• pentathlon

  Etymology Greek penta five athlon contest Meaning A pentathlon is a sport

• Pompeii

  Etymology The name Pompeii is believed to have an Etruscan origin Meaning The exact

• Punjab

  Etymology and Meaning of Punjab The word Punjab is derived from the Persian words panj

• Punch

  Etymology The word punch has several origins Old Irish bun a drink Anglo India

• quinary

  Etymology The word quinary comes from the Latin word quinarius which means consisti

• quincunx

  Etymology Latin quincunx from quinque five uncia twelfth part ix adjectival suf

• quinella

  Etymology The word quinella is derived from the Italian word quina which means five

• quinque

  Etymology The word quinque originates from the Proto Indo European root kʷenkʷe m

• quinquennial

  Etymology Latin quinquennialis Proto Indo European kʷenkʷe five enn

• quint

  Etymology Latin quintus fifth Meaning The fifth in a series or sequence Ori

• quintain

  Etymology Old French quintaine Late Latin quintana a military exercise Latin quintus

• quintet

  Etymology From French quintette from Italian quintetto diminutive of quinto fifth

• quintile

  Etymology Quintile comes from the Latin word quintilis which means fifth Meaning

• quintessence

  Etymology From Late Latin quintessentia fifth essence from Latin quinta essentia

• quintillion

  Etymology Late Latin quintillio from quintus fifth suffix illion thousand From

• quintuple

  Etymology The word quintuple comes from the Latin word quintus meaning fifth The

• star

  Etymology The word star derives from the Old English word steorra which in turn orig

• exquisite

  Etymology The word exquisite comes from the Latin word exquisitus meaning chosen ou

• diaphragm

  Etymology Greek diaphragma meaning wall or partition Meaning A thin dome sha

• amen

  Etymology Amen originated from the Hebrew word ʾāmēn אָמֵן which is a transl

• prudent

  Etymology Latin prudens present participle of providere look ahead foresee from pr

• alacrity

  Etymology The word alacrity comes from the Latin word alacris which means lively

• theater

  Etymology The word theater originates from the Greek word theatron which is compose

• boycott

  Etymology The word boycott originates from the name of Charles Cunningham Boycott 18

• grace

  Etymology Latin gratia favor thankfulness grace Meaning Favor kindness or good

• reckon

  Etymology Middle English reknen from Old English reccan Proto West Germanic rakōn