aegis
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈiːd͡ʒɪs/[1]
Etymology
It is borrowed from Latin aegis,[2][3][4][5] from Ancient Greek αἰγίς (aigís, “the shield of Zeus”),[2][6][3][4] probably from Ancient Greek αἴξ (aíx, “goat”) (stem aig-),[2][6][4][5] since the shield was made of goatskin.[6][5] The Greek goat word comes from Proto-Indo-European *aig- “goat”.[6]
Earliest recorded meaning
The shield of Zeus or Athena, or of their Roman counterparts Jupiter and Minerva (1581 in Merriam-Webster; 1611 in Barnhart).[4][2][1]
Semantic evolution
In myth the aegis was a protective attribute, Athena's being a goatskin cloak set with a Gorgon's head;[6][3][5] so to be under someone's aegis came to mean being under their protection.[2][6] The figurative sense is first recorded in 1793.[2][6] In the 20th century the meaning widened to sponsorship or patronage, as in under the aegis of the museum.[3][4][5]
Timeline
- 1581 – the shield of Zeus or Athena.[4]
- 1611 – the shield of Jupiter or Minerva.[2]
- 1793 – figurative, protection.[2][6]
Modern meaning
Noun
- (mythology) The shield or breastplate of Zeus or Athena, bearing the Gorgon's head.
- Protection or support.
- Sponsorship or patronage; auspices.
- Guidance or control by a person or group.
References
- ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f g h Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
- ^ a b c d The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
- ^ a b c d e f Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
- ^ a b c d e Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
- ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com