Pentagram

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈpɛn.təˌɡɹæm/

Definitions

  1. a five-pointed star formed by connecting every second vertex of a regular pentagon, often used as a geometric symbol or mystical emblem
  2. a geometric figure consisting of five points arranged in a star pattern created by extending the sides of a pentagon or drawing five intersecting lines
  3. a five-sided star shape produced by linking alternating corners of a five-cornered polygon, commonly employed in occult, religious, and decorative contexts

Etymology: The word "pentagram" is a modern coinage assembled from two Greek elements: "penta-", meaning "five", and "-gram", meaning "a written or drawn figure". The prefix "penta-" comes from ancient Greek "pénte" (πέντε), which is the numeral five and appears in numerous English scientific and mathematical terms. The suffix "-gram" derives from the Greek "gráphein" (γράφειν), meaning "to write" or "to draw", and entered English as a productive suffix during the 19th century, used to denote written records, diagrams, or drawn representations—as in "telegram", "diagram", and "anagram". The term "pentagram" itself appears to have been coined in English during the 19th century, though the geometric figure it describes—a five-pointed star formed by connecting the vertices of a regular pentagon—was known and studied in antiquity. Ancient Greek mathematicians and philosophers, particularly the Pythagoreans, were familiar with this shape and valued it for its geometric properties. However, they did not use the word "pentagram" to describe it; that terminology is a product of modern English scientific nomenclature. The pentagram gained cultural prominence in medieval and Renaissance Europe, where it became associated with mysticism, magic, and occult symbolism, though these associations developed long after the word itself was coined. The geometric figure's mathematical elegance—particularly the appearance of the golden ratio in its proportions—ensured its continued study and use in both artistic and scientific contexts. Today, the term is applied equally to the abstract geometric shape, its appearance in various cultural and religious contexts, and its use as a symbol in diverse traditions.

Synonyms: five-pointed star, star, symbol, sigil, emblem