raven

Word Origin & History

Old English hræfn (Mercian), hrefn; hræfn (Northumbrian, West Saxon), from Proto-Germanic *khrabanas (cf. Old Norse hrafn, Danish ravn, Dutch raaf, Old High German hraban, German Rabe "raven," Old English hroc "rook"), from PIE root *ker-, imitative of harsh sounds (cf. Latin crepare "to creak, clatter," cornix "crow," corvus "raven;" Greek korax "raven," korone "crow;" Old Church Slavonic kruku "raven;" Lithuanian krauklys "crow").

Old English also used hræmn, hremm. The raven standard was the flag of the Danish Vikings. The Quran connects the raven with Cain's murder of Abel; but in Christianity the bird plays a positive role in the stories of St. Benedict, St. Paul the Hermit, St. Vincent, etc. It was anciently believed to live to great old age, but the ancients also believed it wanting in parental care. The vikings, like Noah, were said to have used the raven to discover land. "When uncertain of their course they let one loose, and steered the vessel in his track, deeming that the land lay in the direction of his flight; if he returned to the ship, it was supposed to be at a distance" [Charles Swainson, "The Folk Lore and Provincial Names of British Birds," London, 1886].

Example Sentences for raven

The tresses of this lady were shining and black, like the plumage of the raven.

The raven, wolf, and eagle are the regular epic accompaniments of battle and carnage.

And in one tree sat a raven, beating his wings and cawing loudly.

But the raven flew off and returned with a letter for the judge.

If there's any wickedness going on, that raven's in it, I'll be sworn.'

So the fisherman washed one of the fish, and threw it to the raven.

When he looked, it appeared like a human being in form, though it was a raven.

The man smeared a fish with mud, and then threw it to the raven.

A Raven who did not like his black coat had the wish to grow as white as a Swan.

So Boots gave the Raven some food, and went on through the forest.

raven

More words related to raven

onyx

pitch-black

pitchy

plunder

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prey

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raven

More words related to raven

.css-1unrqcp{color:inherit;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}onyx

pitch-black

pitchy

plunder

plunders

prey

sable

stormy petrel

onyx