uraeus

See also: uræus

English

WOTD – 21 September 2009

Bust of Tutankhamun with uraeus above the forehead.

Alternative forms

• uræus
• ouræus

Etymology

From Latin uraeus, from Ancient Greek οὐραῖος (ouraîos). This is traditionally assumed to be from Egyptian jꜥrt (“cobra in threat posture”), , from jꜥr (“to rise, climb”); however, on phonetic grounds, Gundacker, following Fecht, argues for an origin in Egyptian wrrt (“White Crown, uraeus”, literally “the great one”) instead.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /jʊˈɹiː.əs/

  • Audio (Southern England)

    (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /juˈɹi.əs/, /juˈɹeɪ.əs/

Noun

uraeus (plural uraei or uraeuses)

1. A representation of the sacred asp, symbolising supreme power in ancient Egypt.
   • 20 May 1914, The Times, col. A, page 7:

     In front is an inlaid cobra, the Royal uræus, and around the band are attached 15 rosettes, each composed of four flowers and four leaves of openwork inlaid.

   • 1983, Norman Mailer, Ancient Evenings:

     even a fair amount of the gold His caravans returned from the Granite Mountains near the Red Sea, were now being fashioned by royal artisans into amulets, breast pieces, gold collars, bracelets, scarabs, uraei, even gold and silver shabti […] .

   • 2004, Michael Haag, Egypt, page 305:

     In the small chamber opposite are Isis and Selket, and Nefertari's cartouche between two uraeuses.

Translations

representation of the sacred asp

• Czech: ureus m
• French: uræus (fr), uraeus (fr)
• German: Uräusschlange
• Greek:

  Ancient: οὐραῖος m (ouraîos)

• Italian: ureo (it) m
• Polish: ureusz (pl) m, ureus (pl) m
• Portuguese: ureu m
• Spanish: ureo (es) m, uraeus m

Anagrams

• aureus

Latin

Etymology 1

From Ancient Greek οὐραῖος (ouraîos, “of the tail”).

Adjective

ūraeus (feminine ūraea, neuter ūraeum); first/second-declension adjective

1. of the tail

Declension

First/second-declension adjective.

Number	Singular				Plural
Case / Gender	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter		Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	ūraeus	ūraea	ūraeum		ūraeī	ūraeae	ūraea
Genitive	ūraeī	ūraeae	ūraeī		ūraeōrum	ūraeārum	ūraeōrum
Dative	ūraeō		ūraeō		ūraeīs
Accusative	ūraeum	ūraeam	ūraeum		ūraeōs	ūraeās	ūraea
Ablative	ūraeō	ūraeā	ūraeō		ūraeīs
Vocative	ūraee	ūraea	ūraeum		ūraeī	ūraeae	ūraea

Etymology 2

From Ancient Greek οὐραῖος (ouraîos, “uraeus”), from Egyptian.

Alternative forms

• ūreus
• *ūbaeus (The accusative form ūbaeum is attested as a Latin translation of Ancient Greek οὐβαῖον (oubaîon). See alternative forms at οὐραῖος (Etymology 2).)

Noun

ūraeus m (genitive ūraeī); second declension

1. (New Latin) uraeus, sacred asp

Declension

Second-declension noun.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	ūraeus	ūraeī
Genitive	ūraeī	ūraeōrum
Dative	ūraeō	ūraeīs
Accusative	ūraeum	ūraeōs
Ablative	ūraeō	ūraeīs
Vocative	ūraee	ūraeī