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lar

lar

1 9.9
A household spirit that watches over a Roman family and home
  • noun
  • /lɑr/
  • Literature
translation icon : lar
  • In ancient Roman households, families would often place a small statue of a lar to protect their home.

Examples

  • 37,862,000 "lar-dols."

  • "His tension vented, and relieved that she was safe, Jonda-p224 lar's anger quickly dissipated.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • And the shooter is still at lar...

  • Where are lars and felipe?

  • Now it's time to find Jonda lar," she said aloud.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • While I infiltrate and sabotage the nuke-u-lar power plant.

  • "You didn't build that" — but he stands by his lar ...

    Blog text (17)
  • lars, felipe.

  • The lar was believed to watch over the family, ensuring their safety and prosperity.

  • During rituals, Romans offered food to the lar in hopes of gaining its favor for the household.

Synonyms

Penates
vslar
  • Archaic
9.9

Household gods worshipped in ancient Rome that protect the home and family

is a single protective household spirit rather than a group

Surface Forms

lar singular
lars plural

Etymology

The word lar comes from old Latin lar meaning 'household spirit' who watched over the home, and Romans kept a small shrine called the lararium meaning 'household altar' to honor it. So a lar is like a family guardian who protects the house.