Ankh
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 A cross shaped like a T with a loop at the top, the Egyptian hieroglyph representing the Egyptian triliteral ꜥnḫ (“life”) and often used as an amulet or charm for this concept.
"On temple wall paintings, the ankh is often seen being carried by gods who hold it up to the nose of the pharaoh. This gesture symbolizes the offering of the "breath of life" or eternity. Sometimes the pharaoh is also depicted with a stream of water in the form of ankhs being poured over him during a purification ritual."
- 2 A tau cross.
Example
More examples"On temple wall paintings, the ankh is often seen being carried by gods who hold it up to the nose of the pharaoh. This gesture symbolizes the offering of the "breath of life" or eternity. Sometimes the pharaoh is also depicted with a stream of water in the form of ankhs being poured over him during a purification ritual."
Etymology
From Egyptian anx-Z1 (ꜥnḫ, “life, to live, symbol for life”).
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.