caduceus

== English == === Etymology === Via Latin cādūceus, cādūceum, adaptation of Doric Ancient Greek καρύκειον (karúkeion, “herald’s wand or staff”). This and Attic Greek κηρύκειον (kērúkeion) are derived from κῆρυξ (kêrux, “herald, public messenger”). Related to κηρύσσω (kērússō, “to announce”). === Pronunciation === (US) IPA(key): /kəˈdu.si.əs/, /kəˈdjuː.si.əs/ === Noun === caduceus (plural caducei) The official wand carried by a herald in ancient Greece and Rome, specifically the one carried in mythology by Hermes, the messenger of the gods, usually represented with two snakes twined around it. Synonym: golden wand A symbol (☤) representing a staff with two snakes wrapped around it, used to indicate merchants and messengers. It is also sometimes incorrectly substituted for the rod of Asclepius as a symbol of medicine. For quotations using this term, see Citations:caduceus. ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== Aesculapian staff Star of Life === Further reading === Caduceus on Wikipedia.Wikipedia Caduceus as a symbol of medicine on Wikipedia.Wikipedia Rod of Asclepius on Wikipedia.Wikipedia === Anagrams === caucused == Latin == === Pronunciation === (Classical Latin) IPA(key): [kaːˈduː.ke.ʊs] (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): [kaˈduː.t͡ʃe.us] === Noun === cādūceus m (genitive cādūceī); second declension alternative form of cādūceum ==== Declension ==== Second-declension noun. ==== Descendants ==== → English: caduceus → German: Caduceus, Kaduzeus → Polish: kaduceusz === References === “caduceus”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891), An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers “caduceus”, in Harry Thurston Peck, editor (1898), Harper’s Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers “caduceus”, in William Smith et al., editor (1890), A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London: William Wayte. G. E. Marindin