crucifix
crucifix Lexical Profile
crucifix Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A representation of a cross bearing a sculpted or painted figure of Jesus Christ, used primarily as a religious symbol.
"An antique wooden crucifix hung above the doorway of the small rural chapel."
A piece of jewelry or an ornament in the shape of a cross featuring the figure of Jesus.
"She wore a small silver crucifix on a delicate chain around her neck."
A demanding gymnastic position on the rings where the athlete holds their body perfectly vertical with arms extended straight out to the sides.
"The gymnast maintained a flawless crucifix on the rings for several seconds to secure the gold medal."
Word Nuance & Usage
While the terms 'cross' and 'crucifix' are often used interchangeably, a crucifix specifically includes a three-dimensional representation of the body of Jesus (the corpus), whereas a cross is typically bare.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'crucifix', derived from Late Latin 'crucifixus' meaning 'one fastened to a cross', from the Latin phrase 'cruci fixus' (fastened to a cross).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.