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lionlike

 - 2 dictionary results

li⋅on

  [lahy-uhn]
Use lionlike in a Sentence
–noun
1. a large, usually tawny-yellow cat, Panthera leo, native to Africa and southern Asia, having a tufted tail and, in the male, a large mane.
2. any of various related large wildcats, as the cougar.
3. a man of great strength, courage, etc.
4. a person of great importance, influence, charm, etc., who is much admired as a celebrity: a literary lion.
5. the lion as the national emblem of Great Britain.
6. (initial capital letter) Astronomy, Astrology. the constellation or sign of Leo.
7. (initial capital letter) a member of any one of the internationally affiliated service clubs (International Association of Lions Clubs) founded in 1917 and dedicated to promoting responsible citizenship, sound government, and community, national, and international welfare.
8. Numismatics.
a. a silver, Anglo-Gallic denier, issued during the reign of Henry III, bearing the figure of a lion.
b. a gold coin of Scotland, issued c1400–1589, bearing the figure of a lion.
c. any of various other coins bearing the figure of a lion.
d. hardhead 2 .
9. British. an object of interest or note.
—Idioms
10. beard the lion in its den, to confront or attack someone, esp. a powerful or feared person, in that person's own familiar surroundings.
11. twist the lion's tail, to tax the patience of or provoke a person, group, nation, or government, esp. that of Great Britain.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME < OF, var. of leon < L leōn- (s. of leō) < Gk léōn; r. ME, OE lēo < L, as above

Related forms:
li⋅on⋅esque, adjective
li⋅on⋅like, li⋅on⋅ly, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

lion 
c.1175, from O.Fr. lion, from L. leonem (nom. leo), from Gk. leon (gen. leontos), from a non-I.E. language, perhaps Semitic (cf. Heb. labi "lion," pl. lebaim; Egyptian labai, lawai "lioness"). A general Gmc. borrowing (cf. Ger. Löwe) found in most European languages, often via Germanic (cf. O.C.S. liva, Pol. lew, Czech lev, O.Ir. leon, Welsh lew). Used figuratively from c.1200 in an approving sense, "one who is fiercely brave," and a disapproving one, "tyrannical leader, greedy devourer." Verb lionize "to treat (someone) as a celebrity" was used by Scott, 1809, and preserves lion in the sense of "person of note who is much sought-after" (1715), originally in ref. to the lions formerly kept in the Tower of London (referred to thus from late 16c.), objects of general curiosity that every visitor in town was taken to see. Lion's share "the greatest portion" is attested from 1790.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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