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Stonehenge

Stonehenge

15 5.3
A very old circle of large stones in southern England used for ceremonies
  • proper noun
  • /ˈstoʊnˌhɛndʒ/
: Stonehenge
  • The avenue begins at Stonehenge with a straight section aligned with the site's solar axis.
  • Stonehenge Avenue
  • Stonehenge excavations
  • site of Stonehenge

And they call the center of Stonehenge a cell, and it's called the altar stone.

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Examples

  • I'm here at Stonehenge for what has been an interesting unfolding of events today.

  • And they call the center of Stonehenge a cell, and it's called the altar stone.

  • Clark, do you think we'll have time to see Stonehenge?

  • Ideas about why Stonehenge was built need to account for Neolithic politics.

    Academic text (2008)
  • And for centuries, historians have puzzled over the purpose of Stonehenge.

  • Among the hundreds, if not thousands, of ancient sites British pagans hold sacred, Stonehenge occupies a special place.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Mike Pitts, the editor of British Archaeology, has also directed excavations at Stonehenge.

    Academic text (2010)
  • During last June's summer solstice, I joined the crowd at Stonehenge, estimated to be 24,000.

    Academic text (2008)
  • For Britain's modern-day pagans, sites like Stonehenge are sacred ground.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Stonehenge is an ancient stone circle monument in southern England, known for its ceremonial significance.

Synonyms

megalithic structure
vsStonehenge
1 9.2

A monument of very large stones that dates from long ago

is a single southern England stone circle believed to have ceremonial use
henge
vsStonehenge
1 9.9

A round ancient place with a bank and ditch that often has standing stones

is a specific ancient stone circle used for ritual or ceremonial purposes

Surface Forms

Stonehenge main

Morphology

Stonehenge = stone + henge (semi-transparent) = stone + henge

The components 'stone' and 'henge' are identifiable, but 'henge' is a specialized archaeological term and the compound functions as a specific place name rather than a freely compositional description.

Etymology

Stonehenge comes from old English parts stān 'stone' and hencg 'hinge' or 'hang'. A helpful way to remember it is to think of 'hanging' or 'linked' stones, which fits because Stonehenge is a circle of large stones that seem joined together.