canephore

noun

can·​e·​phore
ˈkanəˌfō(ə)r,
-ȯ(ə)r
variants or less commonly canephor
-ȯ(ə)r
or canephora
kəˈnefərə
or canephoros
⸗ˈ⸗ərəs,
-ˌräs
or canephorus
⸗ˈ⸗ərəs
plural canephores
ˈ⸗⸗ˌ⸗
also canephorae
⸗ˈ⸗⸗ˌrē,
-ˌrī
or canephori
⸗ˈ⸗⸗ˌrī,
-ˌrē
1
: a maiden bearing a basket on her head in an early Greek religious festival
2
: a caryatid supporting a basketlike member that serves as a capital

Word History

Etymology

Latin canephoros, canephora, from Greek kanēphoros, from kaneon reed basket (from kanna reed) + -phoros -phorous

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Cite this Entry

“Canephore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canephore. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

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