English edit

Etymology edit

penta- +‎ -cephalous

Adjective edit

pentacephalous (not comparable)

  1. Having five heads.
    If you meet a pentacephalous alien, get ready to have five very long conversations one after another.
    • 1997, M. A. Dhaky, “Arhat Pārśva with Dharaṇendra in Hymnic Literature”, in M. A. Dhaky, editor, Arhat Pārśva and Dharaṇendra Nexus, Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Institute of Indology, →ISBN, page 64:
      The above-cited portrayals of Arhat Parsva canopied by the pentacephalous or septacepalous Dharanendra [...] are symptomatic of the authors' exalted visualization of the unshakable, dignified, and tranquilly awesome image of the Jina standing in deep trance...
    • 2010, Parul Pandya Dhar, The Toraṇa in Indian and Southeast Asian Architecture, D.K. Printworld, →ISBN, page 219:
      The right end of the arch is effaced beyond recognition but the left end presents the raised hood of a pentacephalous serpent.
    • 2021, Anna Westin, Eric Piffret, “Old large Sukunda cult oil lamp decorated with a representation of Ganesh - Bronze - Nepal - 19th century”, in Catawiki[1], archived from the original on January 27, 2021:
      It is composed of a container vase for the oil, a spout for the wick decorated with a chevet illustrating Ganesh and an illuminated handle of the pentacephalous snake ânanda.

See also edit