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caducean

 - 5 dictionary results

ca⋅du⋅ce⋅us

  [kuh-doo-see-uhs, -syoos, -shuhs, -dyoo-]
Use caducean in a Sentence
–noun, plural -ce⋅i  [-see-ahy] .
1. Classical Mythology. the staff carried by Mercury as messenger of the gods.
2. a representation of this staff used as an emblem of the medical profession and as the insignia of the U.S. Army Medical Corps.

Origin:
1585–95; < L, var. of cādūceum < Gk (Doric) kārȳ́keion herald's staff, equiv. to kārȳk- (s. of kârȳx) herald + -eion, neut. of -eios adj. suffix

Related forms:
ca⋅du⋅ce⋅an, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To caducean
ca·du·ce·us   (kə-dōō'sē-əs, -shəs, -dyōō'-)   


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n.   pl. ca·du·ce·i (-sē-ī')

    1. A herald's wand or staff, especially in ancient times.

    2. Greek Mythology A winged staff with two serpents twined around it, carried by Hermes.

  2. An insignia modeled on Hermes's staff and used as the symbol of the medical profession.


[Latin cādūceus, alteration of Greek dialectal kārūkeion, from kārūx, herald.]
ca·du'ce·an (-sē-ən, -shən) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

caduceus 
1591, from L. caduceus, alt. of Doric Gk. karykeion "herald's staff," from karyx (gen. karykos) "a herald." Especially the wand carried by Mercury, messenger of the gods, usually represented with two serpents twined round it.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ca·du·ceus
Pronunciation: k&-'d(y)ü-sE-&s, -sh&s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural ca·du·cei /-sE-"I/
: a medical insignia bearing a representation of a staff with two entwined snakes and two wings at the top: a : one ofthe symbols of a physician —compare STAFF OF AESCULAPIUS b : the emblem of a medical corps ora department of the armed services (as of the U.S. Army)
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

caduceus ca·du·ce·us (kə-d&oomacr;'sē-əs, -shəs, -dy&oomacr;'-)
n. pl. ca·du·ce·i (-sē-ī')

  1. A winged staff with two serpents twined around it, carried by Hermes.

  2. An insignia modeled on Hermes' staff and used as the symbol of the medical profession.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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