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av·a·tar

(ăvə-tär′)

1. The incarnation of a Hindu deity, especially Vishnu, in human or animal form.

2. An embodiment or manifestation, as of a quality or concept:"Reagan was at his strongest as the avatar of American consensus, peddling a sunny normalcy, a happy-go-lucky and ultimately accommodating attitude"(Gil Troy).

3. A temporary manifestation or aspect of a continuing entity:occultism in its present avatar.

4. An icon, graphic, or other image by which a person represents himself or herself on a communications network or in a virtual community, such as a chatroom or multiplayer game.

[Sanskritavatāraḥ, descent (of a deity from heaven), avatar : ava, down + tarati, he crosses; see terə-² in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

(click for a larger image)

avatar

Vishnu as Matsya (top) and as Varaha (bottom)

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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