crescent
|cres-cent|
/ˈkrɛsənt/
growing, curved shape
Etymology
'crescent' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'crescens', the present participle of 'crescere', where 'crescere' meant 'to grow'.
'crescent' passed into English via Old French 'crescent' and Middle English 'crescent', eventually becoming the modern English word 'crescent'.
Initially, it meant 'growing' (as a present participle of 'to grow'), but over time it came to refer especially to the curved shape of the waxing or waning moon and objects resembling that shape.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a curved, sickle-like shape; specifically, the shape of the moon when only a sliver of it is illuminated (the waxing or waning moon).
We could see a thin crescent high in the evening sky.
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Noun 2
an object or ornament that has a crescent shape (e.g., a piece of jewelry or architectural motif).
She wore a gold pendant in the shape of a crescent.
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Idioms
Last updated: 2025/11/08 22:16