avatar English · revision 365

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈæv.ə.tɑː(ɹ)/, /ˌæv.əˈtɑː(ɹ)/ ''(UK)''; /ˈæv.ə.tɑɹ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|sa|अवतार|tr=avatāra|t=descent]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|sa|अवतरति|tr=avatarati|t=he descends]],^(MW Collegiate) [[af|sa|अव|तरति|tr1=ava-|tr2=tarati|t1=down, away|t2=he crosses over]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In Hindu mythology, the descent of a deity to earth in bodily form (1784).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ From a god taking bodily form, the word widened to any manifestation in human shape (1815)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and then to the concrete embodiment of an abstract idea.^(Etymonline)^(AHD) By 1850 it could loosely mean a phase or presentation of something.^(OED 1989) In computing it came to name the image that represents a user;^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) Etymonline traces this use to Neal Stephenson's novel ''Snow Crash'' (1992).^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1784 – the descent of a Hindu deity to earth in incarnate form.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1815 – manifestation in human form; embodiment.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1850 – loosely, a manifestation, display or phase.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1992 – in computing, after Neal Stephenson's ''Snow Crash''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(Hinduism)'' The incarnation of a deity, especially Vishnu, in human or animal form.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An embodiment of a quality, idea or philosophy, often in a person.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # A version or phase of something that continues to exist.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # ''(computing)'' An image that represents a user online or in a game.^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}