Symbols

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈsɪmbəlz/

Definitions

  1. Characters or marks used to represent ideas, sounds, or feelings | Signs or figures that convey meaning in a visual form or through an act | Objects or representations that stand for qualities, concepts, or relationships in communication
  2. Marks or figures utilized to signify concepts, sounds, or emotions
  3. Characters or graphics employed to express meanings, ideas, or sentiments visually

Etymology: The story of "symbols" begins with humanity's deep need to represent ideas, objects, and feelings through marks and signs. The singular "symbol" first appears in English in the late Middle Ages, around the 15th century, and quickly found its plural form as "symbols." The concept, though, is far older, stretching back to the days when people used stones, tokens, or marks to stand for things unseen, from religious mysteries to the simplest of trades. The English word comes through Old French "simbole," borrowed from Latin "symbolum," which itself was taken from the Greek "symbolon." In ancient Greece, a "symbolon" was originally a tangible token — often a shard of pottery or a half-coin — that two parties would break and later reunite to confirm identity, seal a pact, or recognize kinship. The physical object thus became a stand-in for a relationship or agreement, embodying meaning beyond its material form. Over time, the sense of "symbolon" shifted from a literal object to a more abstract representation. In religious and philosophical contexts, it began to mean a sign, mark, or emblem that points to something deeper or more profound — a pattern that survives in the modern use of "symbols" for everything from mathematical notations to national flags. This expansion of meaning followed the word through Latin and French before arriving fully fledged in English. Today, the plural form "symbols" carries all these layers: it is a word built from the Greek roots "syn-" (together) and "ballein" (to throw), reflecting the original idea of two halves thrown together to make a whole. The journey from a broken coin to the vast array of signs we use today is encoded in the very shape and sound of the term.

Synonyms: signs, icons, emblems, representations, tokens