Emily Dickinson Lexicon

crown (-s), n. [ME < L. corōna, crown, wreath, chaplet.] (webplay: adorn, arms, bear, constant, dignified, dignity, end, figure, finishing, glory, hat, head, husband, kingly, kings, obtain, princes, roundness, royalty, sovereign, supreme, woman, worn).

1. Coronal; wreath; garland; encircling ornament for the head; [fig.] honor; reward; recognition; dignity; special distinction; [allusion] circlet of thorns placed on Christ's head before the crucifixion (see John 19:5; Revelation 2:10).
2. Coronation; [fig.] funeral pillow; [metaphor] honor, recognition, remembrance, or memorial; [metonymy] Christ-like suffering.
3. Diadem; jeweled headdress worn by royalty; [fig.] symbol of prestige, nobility, or high position; emblem of responsibility, privilege, and high status.
4. Crown and Anchor; a gambling game played with dice, cards, and a board that have images of crowns and anchors; [phrase “playing Crown”] pretending to be royalty; acting out the roles of kings and queens.
5. Golden disk; [fig.] noon; glory; fullness of sunlight.
6. Floral garland; bridal wreath; symbol of purity; circlet of flowers denoting maidenhood; emblem of worthiness to enter the marriage covenant in ancient cultures of Europe and the Middle East.
7. Triumph; victory; glory; accomplishment; [fig.] suffering of the Lord; infinite atonement of Christ.
8. Phrase. “Crowns of Life”: [kenning] heavenly reward; divine recompense; compensation for those who overcome trials; honor for saints who endure persecution; (see James 1:12; Revelation 2:10).

crown (-ed, -ing), v. [ME croune-n < L. corōnāre < corōna, crown.] (webplay: adorn, diamond, head, princes, woman).

1. Coronate; make royalty; give laurels to; [fig.] honor as poet laureate.
2. Anoint as queen; [fig.] set apart for sacred service; [metaphor] appoint to be a poet.
3. Cover; top; adorn; rest on one's head.
4. Bless; hallow; consecrate; set apart; [fig.] pronounce dead; send into the next life; [metaphor] receive into heaven; award with celestial glory.

crowned, verbal adj. [see crown, v.] (webplay: finishing, imperial, kings, power, roundness, supreme, victor).

Honored; validated; wearing a coronet; given a circlet of gold signifying royal status.

crucifix, n. [OFr < L. crucifixus, one fixed to a cross, crucified.] (webplay: death, hands, Lord).

1. Cross-shaped piece of jewelry; [fig.] agony; anguish; wound; stigmata; experience of most profound sorrow; [metaphor] grief; heartache; broken heart; loss of a loved one; separation from one's beloved; [metonymy] cross; burden; persecution; tribulation (see Matthew 27:31-32; 2 Thessalonians 1:4).
2. Rood; instrument of execution; upright post with a horizontal crossbar upon which the victim is nailed; [fig.] pain; suffering; trials; punishment.

crucifixal, adj. [ED's Latinate neologism; see crucifix, n.] (webplay: feet, put).

1. Pertaining to Christian music; related to the suffering of Christ; [fig.] solemn; sober; grave; funereal; gloomy.
2. Phrase. “Crucifixal sign”: sign of the cross (see sign, n.)

crucifixion, n. [L. crucifixiōn-em, see crucify, v.] (webplay: feet, God, hands, Lord, put, reject, Son).

1. Death by nailing to a cross; [fig.] death; pain; suffering; torture; state of anguish.
2. Deprivation; parting; separating from one most beloved.

crucify, v. [OFr < L. cricificāre, fasten to a cross.] (webplay: life).

Impale; transfix on an X-shaped structure; put to death by nailing to a T-shaped cross; suspend on a wooden post by stretching arms on a crossbar; [fig.] subject one to torture; cause one to endure the extremities of mortal experience (see Matthew 27:22-23).

cruel, adj. [Fr. < L. crūdēl-em, morally rough, cruel; from the same root as crude.] (webplay: die, kindness).

Mean; merciless; pitiless; hard-hearted; without compassion; indifferent to the distress of others.

cruelly, adv. [see cruel, adj.] (webplay: hard-hearted).

Mercilessly; heartlessly; ruthlessly; painfully.

cruise (cruising), v. [first in 17^th c.; corresponding to Du. kruisen, cruise, sail crossing to and fro.]

Travel; traverse; cross back and forth without having a particular destination.