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januses

 - 3 dictionary results

Ja⋅nus

  [jey-nuhs]
Use januses in a Sentence
–noun
1. an ancient Roman god of doorways, of beginnings, and of the rising and setting of the sun, usually represented as having one head with two bearded faces back to back, looking in opposite directions.
2. Astronomy. a moon of the planet Saturn, located just outside the rings.
Origin:
< L, special use of jānus doorway, archway, arcade
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Cultural Dictionary

Janus [(jay-nuhs)]

The Roman god of doors and gateways and hence of beginnings.

Note: Janus was pictured with two faces looking in opposite directions, one young and one old. Consequently, a hypocritical person is often called “Janus-faced.”
Note: The month of January is named after Janus.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

Janus 
ancient It. deity, guardian god of portals, patron of beginnings and endings, 1508, from L., lit. "gate, arched passageway," perhaps from PIE base *ei- "to go" (cf. Skt. yanah "path," O.C.S. jado "to travel"). He is shown as having two faces, one in front the other in back. His temple in Rome was closed only in times of peace.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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