pentagram
UK[ˈpentəɡræm]US[ˈpentəɡræm]
n
A five-pointed star, often drawn as a continuous interlaced line, used as a magical or religious symbol.
Morpheme Breakdown
penta
gram
penta
five
gram
something written or drawn
Etymology
The word 'pentagram' is a direct borrowing from the Greek 'pentagrammon', a compound of 'pente' (five) and 'grammē' (line). It entered English in the 19th century via scholarly and occult writings. The term's logic is purely descriptive, literally meaning "a five-lined figure," which evolved to specify the iconic star shape formed by five straight lines. This geometric symbol, historically used in various cultural and religious contexts for protection and representation, retains its core meaning tied directly to its constituent parts: the number five and the concept of a drawn mark.
Analysis
Structure: penta (five) + gram (something written or drawn)
'penta' originates from Greek 'pente', meaning 'five', and functions as a numerical combining form. 'gram' originates from Greek 'gramma', meaning 'something written, a letter', and functions as a suffix denoting something drawn or recorded.
Examples
The ancient symbol of a pentagram is often associated with magic and mysticism.
She drew a perfect pentagram inside the circle as part of the ritual diagram.
In geometry, a pentagram is the shape formed by connecting the vertices of a regular pentagon.