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Webster 1913 Edition

Crescent

Cres′cent

(krĕs′sent)
,
Noun.
[OE.
cressent
,
cressaunt
, crescent (in sense 1), OF.
creissant
increasing, F.
croissant
, p. pr. of
croître
, OF.
creistre
, fr. L.
crescere
to increase, v. incho.; akin to
creare
to create. See
Create
, and cf.
Accrue
,
Increase
,
Crescendo
.]
1.
The increasing moon; the moon in her first quarter, or when defined by a concave and a convex edge; also, applied improperly to the old or decreasing moon in a like state.
2.
Anything having the shape of a crescent or new moon.
3.
A representation of the increasing moon, often used as an emblem or badge
; as:
(a)
A symbol of Artemis, or Diana.
(b)
The ancient symbol of Byzantium or Constantinople.
Hence:
(c)
The emblem of the Turkish Empire, adopted after the taking of Constantinople.
The cross of our faith is replanted,
The pale, dying
crescent
is daunted.
Campbell.
4.
Any one of three orders of knighthood; the first instituted by Charles I., king of Naples and Sicily, in 1268; the second by René of Anjou, in 1448; and the third by the Sultan Selim III., in 1801, to be conferred upon foreigners to whom Turkey might be indebted for valuable services.
Brande & C.
5.
(Her.)
The emblem of the increasing moon with horns directed upward, when used in a coat of arms; – often used as a mark of cadency to distinguish a second son and his descendants.

Cres′cent

(krĕs′sent)
,
Adj.
1.
Shaped like a crescent.
Astarte, queen of heaven, with
crescent
horns.
Milton.
2.
Increasing; growing.
O, I see the
crescent
promise of my spirit hath not set.
Tennyson.

Cres′cent

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To form into a crescent, or something resembling a crescent.
[R.]
Anna Seward.
2.
To adorn with crescents.

Webster 1828 Edition

Crescent

CRESCENT

,
Adj.
[L., to grow. See Grow.] Increasing; growing; as crescent horns.

CRESCENT

,
Noun.
1.
The increasing or new moon, which, when receding from the sun, shows a curving rim of light, terminating in points or horns. It is applied to the old or decreasing moon, in a like state, but less properly.
2.
The figure or likeness of the new moon; as that borne in the Turkish flag or national standard. The standard itself, and figuratively, the Turkish power.
3.
In heraldry, a bearing in the form of a half moon.
4.
The name of a military order, instituted by Renatus of Anjou, king of Sicily; so called from its symbol or badge, a crescent of gold enameled.

CRESCENT

,
Verb.
T.
To form into a crescent.

Definition 2024

crescent

crescent

English

a crescent shape
a crescent (street)

Alternative forms

  • (curved street): cres. abbreviation

Noun

crescent ‎(plural crescents)

  1. The figure of the moon as it appears in its first or last quarter, with concave and convex edges terminating in points.
  2. Something shaped like a crescent, especially:
    1. A curved pastry.
    2. A curved street, often presenting a continuous façade, as of row houses.
  3. (Islam) A representation of the symbol used by Islamic caliphates (Can we add an example for this sense?)
  4. (New Zealand) A crescent spanner.
  5. (historical) Any of three orders of knighthood conferred upon foreigners to whom Turkey might be indebted for valuable services.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Brande & C to this entry?)
  6. (heraldry) The emblem of the waxing Moon with horns directed upward, when used in a coat of arms; often used as a mark of cadency to distinguish a second son and his descendants.
  7. A crescentspot butterfly.

Derived terms

Translations

Adjective

crescent ‎(not comparable)

  1. (dated, rare) marked by an increase; waxing, like the Moon.
    • Tennyson
      O, I see the crescent promise of my spirit hath not set.
  2. Shaped like a crescent.
    • Milton
      Astarte, queen of heaven, with crescent horns.

Translations

Verb

crescent ‎(third-person singular simple present crescents, present participle crescenting, simple past and past participle crescented)

  1. (transitive) To form into a crescent, or something resembling a crescent.
    • 1809, Anna Seward, “Letter VI. 195”, in (Please provide the title of the work):
      A dark wood crescents more than half the lawn
  2. (transitive) To adorn with crescents.

Latin

Verb

crēscent

  1. third-person plural future active indicative of crēscō

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman cressaunt, from Old French creissant ‎(“crescent of the moon”) (French croissant), from Latin crēscēns, present active participle of crēscō ‎(“arise, thrive”), from Proto-Indo-European *ker ‎(“to grow”). See Old Armenian սերիմ ‎(serim, “be born”) and սերեմ ‎(serem, “bring forth”), Ancient Greek κόρη ‎(kórē, “girl”) and κούρος ‎(koúros, “boy”), Latin creare ‎(“produce, create, bring forth”) and Ceres ‎(“goddess of agriculture”).

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈkɹɛz.n̩t/, /ˈkɹɛs.n̩t/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈkɹɛs.n̩t/
  • Rhymes: -ɛsənt, -ɛzənt

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