Avatar Definition

ăvə-tär
avatars
noun
avatars
The incarnation of a Hindu deity, especially Vishnu, in human or animal form.
American Heritage
A god appearing on earth in bodily form; incarnation of a god.
Webster's New World
An embodiment or manifestation, as of a quality or concept.
American Heritage
Any incarnation or embodiment, as of a quality or concept in a person.
Webster's New World
A temporary manifestation or aspect of a continuing entity.
Occultism in its present avatar.
American Heritage
Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Avatar

Noun

Singular:
avatar
Plural:
avatars

Origin of Avatar

  • In computing use, saw some use in 1980s videos games – 1985 online role-playing game Habitat by Lucasfilm Games (today LucasArts), by Chip Morningstar and Randy Farmer, later versions of the Ultima series (following religious use in 1985 Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar), and 1989 pen and paper role-playing game Shadowrun. Popularized by 1992 novel Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson.

    From Wiktionary

  • 1784, from Hindustani (Hindi-Urdu) अवतार / اوتار (avatār), from Sanskrit अवतार (ava-tāra, “descent of a deity from a heaven”), a compound of अव (ava, “off, away, down”) and the vṛddhi-stem of the root √tṝ (“to cross”).

    From Wiktionary

  • Sanskrit avatāraḥ descent (of a deity from heaven), avatar ava down tarati he crosses terə-2 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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