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Aegis Has Greek and Latin Roots
English borrowed aegis from Latin, but the word ultimately comes from the Greek noun aigís, meaning “goatskin.” In ancient Greek mythology, an aegis was something that offered physical protection. It has been depicted in various ways, including as a magical protective cloak made from the skin of the goat that suckled Zeus as an infant, and as a shield fashioned by Hephaestus that bore the severed head of the Gorgon Medusa. The word first entered English in the 15th century as a noun referring to the shield or breastplate associated with Zeus or Athena. It later took on a more general sense of “protection” and, by the late-19th century, it had acquired the extended senses of “auspices” and “sponsorship.”
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Examples of aegis in a Sentence
Dade Hayes, Deadline, 25 Oct. 2024
The two partnered on a shower head, launched under the aegis of L’Oréal Professionnel, which has the capacity to decrease water consumption in hair salons by 69 percent.
—Jenny B. Fine, WWD, 18 Oct. 2024
National newsgathering has been put under the aegis of Adrienne Roark, an executive with experience primarily tied to management of local stations.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 15 Oct. 2024
There are incredible stories on both sides, buy only one team will be able to lift the aegis and become world champions.
—Mike Stubbs, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Aegis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aegis. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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aegis
noun
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