agalma

noun

agal·​ma

ə-ˈgal-mə

plural agalmata

ə-ˈgal-mə-tə

: memorial

specifically : a primitive Greek statue of a god

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Greek ágalma "ornament, finery, statue offered to a god, any statue," from agal-, stem of agállein "to glorify, exalt, pay honor to" and agállesthai "to glory, exult in" + -ma, resultative noun suffix

First Known Use

circa 1773, in the meaning defined above

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