uraeus

Meanings

nounuraeus (plural uraei or uraeuses)

plural uraei · plural uraeuses · alternative uræus · alternative ouræus

A representation of the sacred asp, symbolising supreme power in ancient Egypt.
In the small chamber opposite are Isis and Selket, and Nefertari's cartouche between two uraeuses.
2004, Michael Haag, Egypt, page 305
2 more examples
In front is an inlaid cobra, the Royal uræus, and around the band are attached 15 rosettes, each composed of four flowers and four leaves of openwork inlaid.
20 May 1914, The Times, col. A, page 7
even a fair amount of the gold His caravans returned from the Granite Mountains near the Red Sea, were now being fashioned by royal artisans into amulets, breast pieces, gold collars, bracelets, scarabs, uraei, even gold and silver shabti […].
1983, Norman Mailer, Ancient Evenings

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see

seraph

Origin

Egyptianwrrt“White Crown, uraeus”
Egyptianjꜥrt“cobra in threat posture”
Ancient Greekοὐραῖος
Latinuraeus
Englishuraeus

From Latin uraeus, from Ancient Greek οὐραῖος (ouraîos). This is traditionally assumed to be from Egyptian jꜥrt (“cobra in threat posture”), i-a:r:*t-I12, from jꜥr (“to rise, climb”); however, on phonetic grounds, Gundacker, following Fecht, argues for an origin in Egyptian wrrt (“White Crown, uraeus”, literally “the great one”) instead.

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek, Egyptian

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek οὐραῖος

οὐραῖος (ouraîos)representation of the sacred asp

Czech ureus

ureusrepresentation of the sacred asp

French uræus, uraeus

uræusrepresentation of the sacred asp
uraeusrepresentation of the sacred asp

German Uräusschlange

Uräusschlangerepresentation of the sacred asp

Italian ureo

ureorepresentation of the sacred asp

Polish ureusz, ureus

ureuszrepresentation of the sacred asp
ureusrepresentation of the sacred asp

Portuguese ureu

ureurepresentation of the sacred asp

Spanish ureo, uraeus

ureorepresentation of the sacred asp
uraeusrepresentation of the sacred asp

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

aureus

Cite this entry

APA

uraeus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/uraeus

MLA

“uraeus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/uraeus. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “uraeus,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/uraeus.

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