quincunx

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 

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

The Moon will leave heated Aries for steady Taurus next, while loving Venus and dreamy Neptune form an odd quincunx. —Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 21 Sep. 2024

Mercury will make its own quincunx to Chiron later on, so the potential for healing is here. —Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 21 Sep. 2024

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

The Moon in Capricorn jumps into an opposition to Venus in Cancer, and then the Sun, also in Cancer, will make an uncomfortable quincunx to Pluto in Aquarius at 8:01 am EDT. —Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1545, in the meaning defined above

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