avatar
UK[ˈævətɑː]US[ˈævətɑːr]
n
An icon or figure representing a particular person in a video game, internet forum, etc.
n
A manifestation or embodiment of a deity or released soul in bodily form on earth; an incarnation.
Morpheme Breakdown
ava
tar
ava
down
tar
crossing
Etymology
The word 'avatar' entered English in the late 18th century, borrowed directly from Sanskrit 'avatāraḥ', which means 'a descent'. This Sanskrit term is a compound of 'ava-' ('down') and the root 'tṝ-' ('to cross over, pass'). In Hindu philosophy, it originally referred to the deliberate descent of a deity from heaven to earth, a crossing down into the mortal realm. The modern computing sense, first used in the 1980s, logically extends this ancient concept: a user's digital representation is a form that 'descends' or crosses from the physical world into a virtual landscape.
Analysis
Structure: ava (down) + tar (crossing)
- ava: From Sanskrit 'ava', meaning 'down, off, away'. It functions as a prefix indicating descent or a downward movement.
- tar: From Sanskrit 'tṛ', meaning 'to cross over, to pass through'. It functions as a root indicating crossing or traversing.
Examples
Users can customize their avatars with different clothing and accessories.
In Hindu tradition, Vishnu is said to have appeared in ten major avatars, including Rama and Krishna.
She chose a cartoon cat as her avatar for the online discussion board.