quincunx

1 of 2

noun

quin·​cunx ˈkwin-ˌkəŋ(k)s 

: an arrangement of five things in a square or rectangle with one at each corner and one in the middle

quincuncial

kwin-ˈkən(t)-shəl 

adjective

or quincunxial

kwin-ˈkəŋk-sē-əl 

quincuncial

2 of 2

adjective

quin·​cun·​cial (ˈ)kwin¦kənchəl 

variants or quincunxial

-əŋ(k)sēəl 

1

: relating to, consisting of, or arranged in a quincunx or quincunxes

2

a

: having the members so imbricated that two are exterior, two are interior, and the other has one edge exterior and one interior

—used of a pentamerous calyx or corolla

quincuncial estivation

b

: pentastichous

quincuncially

-chəlē

adverb

Did you know?

Give Me Five for Quincunx

In ancient Rome, a quincunx was a coin with a weight equal to five twelfths of a libra, a unit of weight similar to our pound. The coin's name comes from the Latin roots quinque, meaning "five," and uncia, meaning "one twelfth."  The ancients used a pattern of five dots arranged like the pips on a die as a symbol for the coin, and English speakers applied the word to arrangements similar to that distinctive five-dot mark.

Examples of quincunx in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

An intuitive Moon crosses your 10th House of Career while Saturn, planet of lessons, rests in your 5th House of Creativity, and their quincunx nudges you to refine spotlight plans with care. —Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2026

Exploration calls as pleasure-seeking Venus forms a quincunx to jovial Jupiter, activating your 9th House of Learning with a nudge to adjust expensive plans. —Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026

Venus in Leo creates a quincunx with Saturn retrograde in Pisces, minimising our confidence and wallets. —Lisa Stardust, refinery29.com, 10 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin quincunc-, quincunx, literally, five twelfths, from quinque five + uncia twelfth part — more at five, ounce

Adjective

quincuncial from Latin quincuncialis, from quincunc-, quincunx + -alis -al; quincunxial from Latin quincunx + English -al

First Known Use

Noun

1545, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for quincunx

• bunks
• chunks
• drunks
• hunks
• junks
• monks
• punks
• skunks
• trunks

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