Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
graven

graven

4 9.8
Cut into stone or wood to make letters and designs
  • adjective
  • /ˈɡreɪvən/
  • Archaic
translation icon : grabado
  • Thou shalt not bow down before any graven image.
  • graven images

And they forbid the making of graven images.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • "To make no graven image of the Lord or the form of any figure or of man or woman or of anything that looks like anything, because He's not like anything."

    The Believer (2001)

  • The artist skillfully created graven inscriptions on the stone wall of the cathedral.

  • We keep no graven images.

    Joseph (1995)

  • You fill your palace... ...with graven images, and you forget your God.

    Jesus (1999)

  • I am the LORD: that is my name; and my glory will I not give to graven images.

    Blog text (34)

  • Thou shalt not make any graven image.

    Lex Fridman

  • Our religion forbids graven images in the Temple.

    Jesus (1999)

  • No false idols or graven images.

    Commandments (1997)

  • Their stance comes from Exodus 20:4 in the Bible, which reads, "You shall not make for yourself a graven image or a likeness of anything."

    Academic text (2004)

  • 26:1 Ye shall make you no idols nor graven images; neither rear you up a standing image; neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land to bow down unto it: For I am the Lord your God.

    Academic text (2005)

Synonyms

engraved
vsgraven
4.3

Cut into a surface to form a design or letters

is the broad term for something cut into stone or wood
incised
vsgraven
7.0

Cut into a surface with a sharp tool to make lines or patterns

covers cuts or carvings generally, not only fine incisions
carved
vsgraven
3.1

Made by cutting into wood, stone, or metal to form a shape

focuses more on surface markings rather than full three dimensional shaping
carven
vsgraven
  • Archaic
9.9

Cut into wood or stone to form a shape

uses the same physical process but in a neutral modern term
inscribed
vsgraven
5.1

Written or carved on a surface like a stone

is about any cut or carving, not only text or names
etched
vsgraven
5.1

Cut into a surface or fixed strongly in someone's memory

is a general term that includes decorative cuts but also plain ones
sculpted
vsgraven
3.9

Shaped or carved to have clear, smooth lines

is narrower, focusing on surface cutting rather than full shaping
sculptured
vsgraven
5.7

Carved or shaped with careful design and fine detail

is more specific to surface cuts in stone or wood rather than sculpting

Antonyms

smooth
256 1.0

A surface that is even and not rough

Compounds

graven image
  • Archaic
3 9.3

A statue or object that people worship instead of a god

How Deep

carved
3.1
graven
  • Archaic
4 9.8
incised
7.0
etched
5.1
score
13 7.8

Surface Forms

graven positive

Morphology

graven = grave (semi-transparent) = grave + en

Formed from the verb 'grave' + adjectival/past-participial '-en', but the verb 'grave' and the form 'graven' are archaic/rare and may be confused with 'grave' (serious).

Etymology

The word graven comes from an old word meaning 'to dig' or 'to carve', the same idea you see in engrave. So picture someone cutting deep lines into stone or wood, and you will remember that a graven image is one carved into a surface.