cierge

== English == === Etymology === From earlier cerge, from Middle English serge, cerge, from Old French cierge, cerge from Latin cereus (“waxy”), from cera (“wax”). The current pronunciation is learnedly taken from modern French cierge (with varying degrees of nativisation). === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /sɪə̯dʒ/, /sɪˈɛə̯ʒ/ (General American) IPA(key): /sɪɹd͡ʒ/, /siˈɛɹʒ/ Rhymes: -ɪə(ɹ)dʒ, -ɛə(ɹ)ʒ, -ɛə(ɹ)dʒ === Noun === cierge (plural cierges) A wax candle used in religious rites. === References === “cierge”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. == French == === Etymology === Inherited from Old French cierge, cirge, from Latin cereus (“waxy”), from cera (“wax”). The French word has an irregular development, possibly due to its contact with liturgical Latin or perhaps influence from vierge. Compare Dalmatian cir and Italian cero. Sense 2 is a semantic loan from translingual Cereus, from the same etymon of Latin cereus (“waxy, waxen”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /sjɛʁʒ/ === Noun === cierge m (plural cierges) (religion) cierge (wax candle used in religious rites) (botany) cereus ==== Derived terms ==== arriver à la fumée des cierges === Further reading === “cierge”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012