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au·ra

(ôrə)

n. pl. au·ras or au·rae (ôrē)

1. An invisible emanation or field of energy believed to radiate from a person or object.

2. A distinctive but intangible quality that seems to surround a person or thing; an atmosphere: An aura of defeat pervaded the candidate's headquarters.

3. Medicine A sensation, as of a cold breeze or a bright light, that precedes the onset of certain disorders, such as an epileptic seizure or an attack of migraine.

[Middle English, gentle breeze, from Latin, from Greek aurā, breath; see wer-¹ in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

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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