scarab

scarab Definition

scarab (skar′əb)

noun

any of a large family (Scarabaeidae) of mostly stout-bodied, often brilliantly colored beetles with lamellicorn antennae, including the June bugs, cockchafers, and dung beetles
1. the black, winged dung beetle (Scarabaeus sacer) held sacred by the ancient Egyptians
2. an image of this beetle, cut from a stone or gem, often engraved with religious or historical inscriptions on the flat underside and, formerly, esp. in ancient Egypt, worn as a charm or used as a seal

Etymology: Fr scarabée < L scarabaeus, altered < ? Gr karabos, a horned beetle, crayfish

scarab Usage Examples

Converse of object

wing: You must use your mystical winged scarab to shoot magical spheres and destroy the approaching colored spheres by making matches of three or more.
find: The scarabs usually found are of the scroll patterns, and we now know that such belong to the XIIth dynasty.
include: Some common symbols in Ancient Egyptian religious jewelry include the scarab ( beetle ), lotus, serpent, falcon, and the eye.
collect: Some chaps have the knack and collect fiancées the way J. Preston Peters collects scarabs.
get: Okay, drop the shovel and get the scarab, then go back SW.

Adjective modifier

Egyptian: Garstang had found a continuous sequence of Egyptian scarabs at the site showing active use until about 1400 BC.
large: Some large scarabs were made specifically to be placed in graves, and were positioned on or near the heart.
golden: A young woman I was treating had, at a critical moment, a dream in which she was given a golden scarab.
royal: And, of course, they DELIBERATELY buried a valuable royal scarab in situ!

Modifies a noun

beetle: They used charms to ward off evil spirits, often in the shape of a scarab beetle.
seal: Scarab seals were based on cylinder seals from Ur.
amulet: Both these amulets are pierced longways to hang on a necklace, as typical of many scarab amulets.

Noun used with modifier

faience: Wall cases hold diverse pieces like faience scarabs, limestone seals, bone implements and engraved stone blocks.

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