Termagant

See also: termagant

English

Etymology

From Middle English Termagaunt, from Old French Tervagant, from Old Italian Trivagante, interpreted as being from Latin tri- + vagari (“wander”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈtɜːməɡənt/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈtɚməɡənt/

Proper noun

Termagant

1. (archaic) A fictitious deity with a violent temperament who featured in medieval mystery plays, represented as being worshiped by Muslims.
   • 1600, [Torquato Tasso], “(please specify |book=1 to 20)”, in Edward Fairefax [i.e., Edward Fairfax], transl., Godfrey of Bulloigne, or The Recouerie of Ierusalem. […], London: […] Ar[nold] Hatfield, for I[saac] Iaggard and M[atthew] Lownes, →OCLC:

     The lesser part on Christ believed well, / On Termagant the more, and on Mahound.

Anagrams

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