effigy
UK[ˈef.ɪ.dʒi]US[ˈef.ə.dʒi]
n
A sculpture or model of a person, especially one made to be destroyed in protest or ridicule.
n
A crude representation of someone disliked, used for purposes of mockery or attack.
Morpheme Breakdown
ef
fig
y
ef
out
fig
shape, form
y
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'effigy' originates from the Latin 'effigies', itself derived from the verb 'effingere', meaning 'to fashion or portray'. 'Effingere' is a compound of the prefix 'ex-' ('out') and the root 'fingere' ('to shape'). The literal sense is thus "to shape out" or "to form into a likeness." This concrete meaning of a crafted likeness evolved in English to carry a specific connotation, often of a representation made for the purpose of scorn or symbolic destruction, as in burning someone in effigy. The journey from the Latin act of artistic creation to the modern concept of a symbolic, often vilified, figure illustrates a semantic narrowing focused on representation for demonstrative or punitive purposes.
Analysis
Structure: ef (out) + fig (shape, form) + y (noun suffix)
- ef: A variant of the Latin prefix 'ex-', meaning 'out'. It assimilates to 'ef-' before 'f'.
- fig: From the Latin root 'fig-', related to 'fingere' meaning 'to shape, form, or fashion'.
- y: A noun-forming suffix of Latin origin, often indicating a state or quality.
Examples
The angry mob burned an effigy of the corrupt politician.
His likeness was hung in effigy from the lamppost.
The museum displayed a wax effigy of the famous historical leader.