swastika

/'swæstikə/

Thân thiện

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A symbol consisting of a cross with arms bent at right angles, all in the same direction: The swastika is an ancient symbol found in many cultures, often representing concepts like good fortune, well-being, and the sun.
   • The official emblem of the Nazi Party and the Third Reich: In the 20th century, the swastika was adopted by the Nazi Party in Germany, becoming a symbol of Nazism, antisemitism, and racial hatred. This usage has profoundly altered its global perception.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Archaeologists discovered a swastika symbol on ancient pottery at the site. (Here, "swastika" refers to its ancient, pre-Nazi usage.)
  • The display of the swastika is prohibited by law in several countries due to its association with Nazi ideology. (Here, "swastika" refers to its modern, Nazi-associated meaning.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be marked with a swastika": to have the symbol drawn or displayed on something.
  • The wall was defaced with graffiti, including a swastika.
• Contextual Sensitivity: The word "swastika" almost invariably evokes its 20th-century Nazi usage in Western contexts. When discussing its ancient or religious significance (e.g., in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism), it is often specified as an "ancient swastika" or by its Sanskrit name, "svastika," to distinguish it from the Nazi symbol.

Variants and Related Words

• Hakenkreuz (n): The German term for the swastika, meaning "hooked cross," used specifically for the Nazi symbol.
• Svastika (n): A transliteration of the Sanskrit term, often used in academic or religious contexts to refer to the ancient sacred symbol.
• Gammadion or fylfot (n): Less common historical names for the swastika symbol in European contexts.

Synonyms

• Emblem (when referring specifically to its function as the Nazi Party's symbol).
• Symbol (a general term; the specific meaning of "swastika" must be derived from context).

Related Phrases

• Nazi swastika: A common phrase used to specify the symbol as used by the Nazis, distinguishing it from other forms.
• Broken cross: A descriptive term sometimes used for the symbol.

Related Idioms

There are no common idioms in English that use the word "swastika" due to its highly specific and charged nature. It is primarily used in literal, historical, or political contexts.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the official emblem of the Nazi Party and the Third Reich; a cross with the arms bent at right angles in a clockwise direction

Từ đồng nghĩa

• hakenkreuz