pendragon

¹

[ pen-drag-uhn ]

noun

1. the supreme leader: the title of certain ancient British chiefs.

Pendragon

²

[ pen-drag-uhn ]

noun

1. either of two kings of ancient Britain. Compare Arthur ( def 2 ), Uther.

pendragon

/ pɛnˈdræɡən /

noun

1. a supreme war chief or leader of the ancient Britons

Derived Forms

• penˈdragonˌship, noun

Other Words From

• pen·dragon·ish adjective
• pen·dragon·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pendragon¹

1470–80; < Medieval Latin (Geoffrey of Monmouth) Uthyrpendragun Uther Pendragon, taken as Medieval Welsh pen ( n ) head + *dragun < Late Latin dracōnēs, plural of dracō military standard, Latin: serpent, dragon (hence, chief or head standard), though the compound is unattested in Welsh sources outside of translations of Geoffrey of Monmouth

Word History and Origins

Origin of pendragon¹

Welsh, literally: head dragon

Example Sentences

There is a table so called at Winchester, and Henry VIII. showed it to François I. as the very table made by Merlin for Uther the pendragon.

From Project Gutenberg

He would have gratefully given all his patrimonial domains to one who should inform him what pendragon or druid it was who set up the first stone on Salisbury plain.

From Project Gutenberg

Aurelius, elder brother of Uther the pendragon, and uncle of Arthur, but he died before the hero was born.

From Project Gutenberg