cosânzeană

Romanian

Etymology

Probably from sânziană, with the prefix co-, of uncertain origin. Possibly through a Late Latin Helena Cōnstantiāna, perhaps influenced by the Greek pronunciation *Cos(t)andiana. This may be due an association with Saint Helena, mother of the emperor Constantine the Great, later contaminated by sânziană.

Noun

cosânzeană f (plural cosânzene)

1. the prototype of beauty, in Romanian popular legends or traditional fairy tales, referring to the mythical female character Ileana Cosânzeana

Derived terms

• Ileana Cosânzeana

See also

• Făt-Frumos

References

• cosânzeană in DEX online—Dicționare ale limbii române (Dictionaries of the Romanian language)