Word
devi
Phoneticsde·vi
Definition
n. the word for a goddess in the Hindu religion. It is often used to talk about the Great Mother or the female form of the divine.
n. the Sanskrit term for a female deity in Hinduism. When capitalised, it specifically refers to the Great Goddess, representing the supreme feminine power or Shakti.
Examples
“The temple was built to honour the local devi.”
“In many Hindu traditions, every village has its own protector devi who is worshipped during seasonal festivals.”
“The iconography of the devi often incorporates multiple arms to symbolise her various powers and her ability to perform several cosmic functions simultaneously.”
Examples
simple
“The temple was built to honour the local devi.”
contextual
“In many Hindu traditions, every village has its own protector devi who is worshipped during seasonal festivals.”
complex
“The iconography of the devi often incorporates multiple arms to symbolise her various powers and her ability to perform several cosmic functions simultaneously.”
Usage
Often capitalised as 'Devi' when referring to the supreme goddess rather than a generic female deity.
Etymology
Borrowed from Sanskrit देवी (devī́, “goddess, female deity”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/devi