calvary

See also: Calvary

English

Etymology 1

From Late Latin calvāria (“skull”). Doublet of calavera and calvaria.

Noun

calvary (plural calvaries)

1. A life-size representation of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on a piece of raised ground.
2. A series of representations of Christ’s Passion in a church.
3. A type of monumental public Christian cross, sometimes encased in an open shrine.

   Calvaries are typical of Galicia (Spain) and Portugal.

4. (by extension, figuratively) A strenuous experience.

Translations

a life-size representation of the crucifixion

• French: calvaire (fr)
• Italian: calvario (it) m
• Portuguese: calvário (pt) m
• Romanian: calvar (ro)
• Spanish: calvario (es) m

a type of public monument

• French: calvaire (fr) m
• Galician: cruceiro (gl) m
• German: Calvaire
• Portuguese: cruzeiro (pt) m
• Spanish: crucero (es) m

See also

• nativity
• Stations of the Cross

References

• OED 2nd edition 1989

Etymology 2

Noun

calvary (plural calvaries)

1. Misspelling of cavalry.

Anagrams

• cavalry