crescent

crescent
crescent late 14c., "crescent-shaped ornament," from Anglo-Fr. cressaunt, from O.Fr. creissant "crescent of the moon" (12c., Mod.Fr. croissant), from L. crescentum (nom. crescens), prp. of crescere "come forth, spring up, grow, thrive, swell, increase in numbers or strength," from PIE root *ker- "to grow" (Cf. L. Ceres, goddess of agriculture, creare "to bring forth, create, produce;" Gk. kouros "boy," kore "girl;" Arm. serem "bring forth," serim "be born"). Applied in Latin to the waxing moon, luna crescens, but subsequently in Latin mistaken to refer to the shape, not the stage. The original Latin sense is preserved in CRESCENDO (Cf. crescendo). A badge or emblem of the Turkish sultans (probably chosen for its suggestion of "increase"); figurative sense of "Muslim political power" is from 1580s, but modern writers often falsely associate it with the Saracens of the Crusades or the Moors of Spain. Horns of the waxing moon are on the viewer's left side; those of the waning moon are on his right.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Crescent — Crescent, OK U.S. city in Oklahoma Population (2000): 1281 Housing Units (2000): 639 Land area (2000): 1.062028 sq. miles (2.750640 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.062028 sq. miles (2.750640 sq …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • crescent — [kres′ənt] n. [altered (infl. by L) < ME cressaunt < OFr creissant, prp. of creistre, to increase < L crescere, to come forth, grow, inchoative of creare: see CREATE] 1. a phase of a planet or a moon, when it appears to have one concave… …   English World dictionary

  • Crescent — Cres cent (kr[e^]s sent), a. 1. Shaped like a crescent. [1913 Webster] Astarte, queen of heaven, with crescent horns. Milton. [1913 Webster] 2. Increasing; growing. [1913 Webster] O, I see the crescent promise of my spirit hath not set. Tennyson …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Crescent — Cres cent (kr[e^]s sent), n. [OE. cressent, cressaunt, crescent (in sense 1), OF. creissant increasing, F. croissant, p. pr. of cro[^i]tre, OF. creistre, fr. L. crescere to increase, v. incho.; akin to creare to create. See {Create}, and cf.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Crescent — ist ein Begriff für eine halbmondförmige städtebauliche Anordnung. Überblick Royal Crescent in Bath Die Bezeichnung Crescent lässt sich aus dem Englischen ableiten und bedeutet Halbmond oder Mondsichel. Ein Crescent ist eine …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Crescent — Cres cent, v. t. 1. To form into a crescent, or something resembling a crescent. [R.] Anna Seward. [1913 Webster] 2. To adorn with crescents. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Crescent, IA — U.S. city in Iowa Population (2000): 537 Housing Units (2000): 195 Land area (2000): 1.257763 sq. miles (3.257592 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.257763 sq. miles (3.257592 sq. km) FIPS code:… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Crescent, OK — U.S. city in Oklahoma Population (2000): 1281 Housing Units (2000): 639 Land area (2000): 1.062028 sq. miles (2.750640 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.062028 sq. miles (2.750640 sq. km) FIPS… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • crescent — [adj] sickle shaped bowed, bowshaped, concave, convex, crescentic, crescentiform, curved, falcate, semicircular; concept 486 crescent [n] sickle shaped object bow, concave figure, convex figure, cresentoid, curve, demilune, half moon, horned moon …   New thesaurus

  • crescent — Crescent, Le Crescent, ou croissant de la Lune, Meniscus, Luna bicornis, vel crescens. voyez Croissant …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

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