Swastika

Swastika
Swastika Swas"ti*ka, Swastica Swas"ti*ca, n. [Also {suastica}, {svastika}, etc.] [Skr. svastika, fr. svasti walfare; su well + asti being.] A symbol or ornament in the form of a Greek cross with the ends of the arms at right angles all in the same direction, and each prolonged to the height of the parallel arm of the cross. A great many modified forms exist, ogee and volute as well as rectilinear, while various decorative designs, as Greek fret or meander, are derived from or closely associated with it. The swastika is found in remains from the Bronze Age in various parts of Europe, esp. at Hissarlik (Troy), and was in frequent use as late as the 10th century. It is found in ancient Persia, in India, where both Jains and Buddhists used (or still use) it as religious symbol, in China and Japan, and among Indian tribes of North, Central, and South America. It is usually thought to be a charm, talisman, or religious token, esp. a sign of good luck or benediction. Max M["u]Ller distinguished from the swastika, with arms prolonged to the right, the {suavastika}, with arms prolonged to the left, but this distinction is not commonly recognized. Other names for the swastika are {fylfot} and {gammadion}.

Note: The swastika with arms bent to the right came to be used used as a symbol of Aryan supremacy by the Nazi party in Germany, 1933 - 1945; hence, it is now associated in the United States and European countries with Nazism or antisemitism. It is sometimes used by neo-nazis, or by antisemites as an antisemitic symbol. [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Swastĭka — (sanskr., Hakenkreuz), s. Kreuz, S. 645 …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • swastika — → esvástica …   Diccionario panhispánico de dudas

  • swastika — Greek cross with arms bent at right angles, 1871 (later specifically as emblem of the Nazi party, 1932), from Skt. svastika s, lit. being fortunate, from svasti s well being, luck, from su well + as , root of asti (he) is, from root of L. esse to …   Etymology dictionary

  • swastika — ► NOUN ▪ an ancient symbol in the form of an equal armed cross with each arm continued at a right angle, used (in clockwise form) as the emblem of the German Nazi party. ORIGIN from a Sanskrit word meaning well being …   English terms dictionary

  • swastika — [swäs′ti kə] n. [Sans svastika < svasti, well being, benediction < su, well (< IE base * su , var. of * swe , *sewe : see SUICIDE) + asti, he is: for IE base see IS1] 1. a design or ornament of ancient origin in the form of a cross with… …   English World dictionary

  • Swastika — This article is about the symbol. For the town, see Swastika, Ontario. The counter clock swastika to evoke shakti in the decorative Hindu form …   Wikipedia

  • Swastika — Hinduistisch indische Darstellung Eine Swastika (Sanskrit m. स्वस्तिक svastika „Glücksbringer“) ist ein Kreuzsymbol mit abgewinkelten oder gebogenen Armen. Solche Symbole sind in zahlreichen Formen seit etwa 6000 Jahren in Europa und Asien,… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • swastika — swastikaed, adj. /swos ti keuh/ or, esp. Brit., /swas /, n. 1. a figure used as a symbol or an ornament in the Old World and in America since prehistoric times, consisting of a cross with arms of equal length, each arm having a continuation at… …   Universalium

  • swastika — svastika ou swastika [ svastika ] n. m. • 1828; mot sanskr. « de bon augure », de svasti « salut » ♦ Symbole sacré de l Inde, en forme de croix à branches coudées. Le svastika à branches orientées vers la droite, emblème du parti nazi (cf. Croix… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Swastika — Svastika Svastika Le svastika (parfois appelé par abus de langage la svastika au lieu de la croix en forme de svastika) 卐 ou 卍 tel qu on le représente la plupart du temps, est un symbole religieux que l on retrouve de l Europe à l Océanie,… …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”