aniconic

A1N1I1C3O1N1I1C3
UK/anʌɪˈkɒnɪk/

adjective

Of or pertaining to representations without human or animal form.

“aniconic worship”

Scrabble 12

Meanings

adjectiveaniconic (comparative more aniconic, superlative most aniconic)

comparative more aniconic · superlative most aniconic

  1. Of or pertaining to representations without human or animal form.

    aniconic worship

    2 more examples

    While Father Kronos and the world he ruled, confident that the new anthropomorphism was destroyed, clung to the stone child, the aniconic pillar worship that expressed itself in the Bethels of the Semites and the Pillar Rooms at Knossos.

    1907, Ronald M. Burrows, The Discoveries In Crete, page 25

    With the notable exceptions of the painted ceilings in the Hall of the Kings and the sculpted lions that guard the fountain in the courtyard, the Alhambra is a strikingly aniconic building.

    2004, Robert Irwin, The Alhambra, Profile Books, published 2005, page 127

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*né
  2. Proto-Indo-European*n̥-
  3. Proto-Hellenic*ə-
  4. Ancient Greekᾰ̓- (ă-)
  5. Ancient Greekἀν- (an-)
  6. Englishan-
  7. Englishiconic
  8. Englishaniconic

From an- + iconic.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

German anikonisch
  • anikonischnot having or involving icons
Portuguese anicónico, anicônico
  • anicóniconot having or involving icons
  • anicôniconot having or involving icons
Cite this entry
APA

aniconic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aniconic

MLA

“aniconic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aniconic. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “aniconic,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aniconic.

Source: aniconic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.