Diadem

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈdaɪ.ədɛm/

Definitions

1. A crown or ornamental circlet worn on the head as a symbol of sovereign power or high rank
2. A jeweled or decorative crown that signifies sovereignty and is typically worn by those in positions of power or nobility
3. A decorative headband that signifies rank and power, typically worn by monarchs or dignitaries

Etymology: The Greek original was humbler than the crown it later named. "Diadēma" meant a band or fillet, a strip of cloth bound around the head, and the verb behind it, "diadeō," simply meant "to bind around." Over time the Greek word was applied to the ribbon-like headbands worn by Persian and Hellenistic rulers, and then to the jeweled circlet that marked royal status. The word passed into Latin as "diadēma" and from there into Old French as "diademe," reaching English in Middle English as "diademe" or "dyademe." Its early sense stayed close to the original: a head ornament, usually of precious metal or gems, set on a monarch's brow. The bind-around meaning survives only in the etymology, hidden beneath centuries of gold and jewels.

Synonyms: crown, tiara, headpiece, coronet, circlet