lion
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Old French lion, from Latin leō, (genitive: leōnis), from Ancient Greek λέων (leōn), likely a borrowing from a Semitic language; compare Proto-Semitic *labiʾ-.
Pronunciation [edit]
Noun [edit]
- A big cat, Panthera leo, native to Africa, India and formerly to much of Europe. The term may apply to the species as a whole, to individuals, or to male individuals. It also applies to related species like mountain lions.
- Tigers and lions share a common ancestor from a few million years ago.
- (heraldry) A stylized representation of a large cat, used on a coat of arms.
- The arms of the University of the West Indies are Barry wavy of six Argent and Azure an open Book proper bound Gules garnished Or on a Chief of the third a Lion passant guardant Erminois. Crest: A Pelican proper. (in other words a spotted lion lying down). See talk page.
- A Chinese foo dog.
- An individual who shows strength and courage, attributes associated with the lion.
- It was said of [Edward Plantaganet] that 'he was a lion for pride and ferocity but a pard for inconstancy and changeableness, not keeping his word or promise but excusing himself with fair words'. 2003 Peter Armstrong & Angus McBride Stirling Bridge & Falkirk 1297-98: William Wallace's Rebellion.
- A famous person.
- 1919, W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence, ch. 4
- Rose Waterford was a cynic. She looked upon life as an opportunity for writing novels and the public as her raw material. Now and then she invited members of it to her house if they showed an appreciation of her talent and entertained with proper lavishness. She held their weakness for lions in good-humoured contempt, but played to them her part of the distinguished woman of letters with decorum.
- 1919, W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence, ch. 4
Coordinate terms [edit]
Holonyms [edit]
- (individual Panthera leo): pride
Derived terms [edit]
Terms derived from lion
Related terms [edit]
Terms etymologically related to lion
Translations [edit]
big cat Panthera leo
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heraldic charge
Chinese foo dog
person with strength and courage
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
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See also [edit]
Lion on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
Panthera leo on Wikispecies. Wikispecies: Panthera leo
Lion on Wikimedia Commons. Wikimedia Commons- Appendix:Animals
- Appendix:English collective nouns
Anagrams [edit]
French [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Old French, from Latin leō, leonis.
Pronunciation [edit]
Noun [edit]
lion m (plural lions; feminine lionne, plural lionnes)
- lion (animal)
- (specifically) male lion
- (figuratively) lion (brave person)
- Se défendre comme un lion, - to defend oneself with great courage
- (heraldry) lion
- (figuratively, dated) lion (celebrity; famous person)
- (dated) a style of elegant young man that came after the dandy
Anagrams [edit]
Old French [edit]
Alternative forms [edit]
Etymology [edit]
Latin leō.
Noun [edit]
lion m (oblique plural lions, nominative singular lions, nominative plural lion)
- lion (animal)
Categories:
- English terms derived from Old French
- English terms derived from Latin
- English terms derived from Ancient Greek
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- en:Heraldic charges
- en:Panthers
- French terms derived from Old French
- French terms derived from Latin
- French nouns
- French masculine nouns
- French countable nouns
- fr:Heraldic charges
- French dated terms
- fr:Cats
- Old French terms derived from Latin
- Old French nouns
- Old French masculine nouns
- fro:Animals
