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Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈæv.ə.tɑː(ɹ)/, /ˌæv.əˈtɑː(ɹ)/ (UK); /ˈæv.ə.tɑɹ/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Sanskrit अवतार (avatāra, “descent”),^[2][3][4] from Sanskrit अवतरति (avatarati, “he descends”),^[3] from Sanskrit अव (ava-, “down, away”) + तरति (tarati, “he crosses over”).^[2][3][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

In Hindu mythology, the descent of a deity to earth in bodily form (1784).^[6][5][3]

Semantic evolution

From a god taking bodily form, the word widened to any manifestation in human shape (1815)^[6][5] and then to the concrete embodiment of an abstract idea.^[5][2] By 1850 it could loosely mean a phase or presentation of something.^[6] In computing it came to name the image that represents a user;^[3][4] Etymonline traces this use to Neal Stephenson's novel Snow Crash (1992).^[5]

Timeline

• 1784 – the descent of a Hindu deity to earth in incarnate form.^[6][5][3]
• 1815 – manifestation in human form; embodiment.^[6][5]
• 1850 – loosely, a manifestation, display or phase.^[6]
• 1992 – in computing, after Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash.^[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. (Hinduism) The incarnation of a deity, especially Vishnu, in human or animal form.
2. An embodiment of a quality, idea or philosophy, often in a person.
3. A version or phase of something that continues to exist.
4. (computing) An image that represents a user online or in a game.

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
3. ^ a b c d e f Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ a b Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
5. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press