tetraskelion

9.9

A design with four bent arms or lines that come out from a central point

noun
/ˌtɛtrəˈskɛliən/

Literature

: tetraskelion

The ancient coins featured a tetraskelion at their center, symbolizing movement and unity.

Examples

The logo was inspired by the tetraskelion, representing the four directions.
A tetraskelion design is often found in Mediterranean archaeological sites.
The tetraskelion is an ancient symbol of unity.
Many cultures have used the tetraskelion in their art.
A tetraskelion design is often found in Mediterranean archaeological sites.
The ancient coins featured a tetraskelion at their center, symbolizing movement and unity.
Many cultures have used the tetraskelion in their art.

Synonyms

tetraskele

vstetraskelion

Literature

9.9

A design with four bent arms or legs coming from the center

is the same fourfold design described mainly as a plain geometric figure

Surface Forms

tetraskelion singular

tetraskelions plural

tetraskelion's singular

Morphology

tetraskelion = skelion (semi-transparent) = tetra + skelion

The prefix 'tetra-' signals 'four', but the root 'skelion' is obscure in modern English, so learners can partly infer the notion of 'four limbs' but not the conventional symbolic usage.

Etymology

Tetraskelion comes from Greek parts tetra, meaning 'four', and skelion, meaning 'leg'. So it names a design of four arms or legs that come out from a central point, which is exactly what the word means today.