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scarabaeus |
4 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Scarabaeus \Scar`a*b[ae]"us\, n. [L.] (Zo["o]l.) Same as {Scarab}. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Scarabaeus \Scar*a*b[ae]"us\, n. (Egypt. Arch[ae]ol.) A conventionalized representation of a beetle, with its legs held closely at its sides, carved in natural or made in baked clay, and commonly having an inscription on the flat underside. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: scarabaeus n : scarabaeid beetle considered divine by ancient Egyptians [syn: {scarab}, {Scarabaeus sacer}] From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]: SCARABAEUS, n. The sacred beetle of the ancient Egyptians, allied to our familiar "tumble-bug." It was supposed to symbolize immortality, the fact that God knew why giving it its peculiar sanctity. Its habit of incubating its eggs in a ball of ordure may also have commended it to the favor of the priesthood, and may some day assure it an equal reverence among ourselves True, the American beetle is an inferior beetle, but the American priest is an inferior priest.
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