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Aegis Has Greek and Latin Roots
English borrowed aegis from Latin, but the word ultimately comes from the Greek noun aigís, meaning “goatskin.” In ancient Greek mythology, an aegis was something that offered physical protection. It has been depicted in various ways, including as a magical protective cloak made from the skin of the goat that suckled Zeus as an infant, and as a shield fashioned by Hephaestus that bore the severed head of the Gorgon Medusa. The word first entered English in the 15th century as a noun referring to the shield or breastplate associated with Zeus or Athena. It later took on a more general sense of “protection” and, by the late-19th century, it had acquired the extended senses of “auspices” and “sponsorship.”
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Examples of aegis in a Sentence
Joelle Diderich, WWD, 23 June 2024
The company is believed to have an agreement in place to take over a significant number of NBA games that have been under the aegis of Warner Bros. Discovery — a deal that is expected to be costly.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 13 June 2024
In recent years, Beijing has tried to lump various projects and relationships into the top-down aegis of its Belt and Road Initiative, an approach that has sometimes led to backlash and tension.
—Paul Staniland, Foreign Affairs, 2 May 2024
Twelve wrestlers listed between 210 and 397 pounds squared off under the aegis of World Championship Sumo, which is organizing a series of exhibitions in the United States.
—Victor Mather Todd Heisler, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Aegis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aegis. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
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aegis
noun
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