aegis English · revision 2169

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈiːd͡ʒɪs/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|aegis]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|grc|αἰγίς|tr=aigís|t=the shield of Zeus]],^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate) probably from [[grc|αἴξ|tr=aíx|t=goat]] (stem ''aig-''),^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) since the shield was made of goatskin.^(Etymonline)^(RHWU) The Greek goat word comes from Proto-Indo-European ''*aig-'' “goat”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The shield of Zeus or Athena, or of their Roman counterparts Jupiter and Minerva (1581 in Merriam-Webster; 1611 in Barnhart).^(MW Collegiate)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In myth the aegis was a protective attribute, Athena's being a goatskin cloak set with a Gorgon's head;^(Etymonline)^(AHD)^(RHWU) so to be under someone's aegis came to mean being under their protection.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) The figurative sense is first recorded in 1793.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) In the 20th century the meaning widened to sponsorship or patronage, as in ''under the aegis of the museum''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1581 – the shield of Zeus or Athena.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1611 – the shield of Jupiter or Minerva.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1793 – figurative, protection.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(mythology)'' The shield or breastplate of Zeus or Athena, bearing the Gorgon's head.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Protection or support.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Sponsorship or patronage; auspices.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Guidance or control by a person or group.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}