crescent

Definition

The figure of the moon as it appears between its first or last quarter and the new moon, with concave and convex edges terminating in points.

Etymology

From Middle English cressaunt, from Anglo-Norman cressaunt and Old French creissant (“crescent of the moon”) (French croissant), from Latin crēscēns, present active participle of crēscō (“arise, thrive”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱreh₁- (“to grow”). See Old Armenian սերիմ (serim, “be born”) and սերեմ (serem, “bring forth”), Ancient Greek κόρη (kórē, “girl”) and κούρος (koúros, “boy”), Latin creāre (“produce, create, bring forth”) and Ceres (“goddess of agriculture”). Doublet of croissant. The pronunciation with /z/ is a comparatively recent innovation due to the influence of words such as pheasant and present.

Example Sentences

• "The Turkish flag features a white star and crescent on red base."
• "Sebastiani receives publicly the Sultan's thanks, and is decorated with the Order of the Crescent"