pentacle

Etymology

From Middle French pentacle, from Old French pentacol, from pent (“hangs”), a (“from”), and col (“neck”), thus "hangs from neck".

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: pen‧ta‧cle
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈpɛnt.ə.kl̩/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

pentacle (plural pentacles)

1. A flat talisman, almost always disk-shaped, made of parchment, sheet metal, or other substance, marked with a magic symbol or symbols, used in magical evocation.
   • mid- to late-16th century, British Library Additional manuscript 36674‎, London:

     ouer this pott and the cyrcle hold the pentacles, and perfume them; and say deuoutly theis psalmes followynge

   • 1572, The Clavicle of Solomon, revealed by Ptolomy the Grecian [British Library Sloane MS 3847]‎, London:

     of the same pentacles be certayne exorcizmes and names ineffable and carecters and signes of all the science, therefore, in them the whole science of all this art lyeth hydd

   • 1572, The Clavicle of Solomon, revealed by Ptolomy the Grecian [British Library Sloane MS 3847]‎, London:

     if ye constraine any spirit to come before you and when ye haue shewed him ye secret pentacles, there is none dare say against your minde

2. (Wicca) A pentagram, or a disk with a pentagram on it, especially one that is used for magical or mystical purposes.
   • 1949, Gardner, Gerald, chapter 10, in High Magic's Aid, page 92:

     he drew a pentacle or five-pointed star.

   • 1954, Gardner, Gerald, chapter 12, in Witchcraft Today:

     a five-pointed star (pentacle).

   • 1959, Gardner, Gerald, chapter 8, in The Meaning of Witchcraft, page 122:

     the figure of the pentacle, or pentagram.

3. (Wicca) A circumscribed pentagram.
   • 2002, Saunders, Kevin, Wiccan Spirituality: A Magical Attitude for the 21st Century, London: Green Magic, →ISBN, OCLC 50278415, page 57:

     The pentacle—a pentagram enclosed within a surrounding circle—as found as the centre-piece on a witch's altar is often worn as a silver pendant by witches and other neo-pagans alike repesenting their beliefs in the interconnectedness and interdependence of the powers of nature and spirit.

   • 2006, Zimmermann, Denise; Gleason, Katherine; Liguana, Maria, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Wicca and Witchcraft, Indianapolis: Alpha, →ISBN, LCCN 2006922333, OCLC 70685005, LCC BF1566.Z55 2006, page 146:

     A pentacle is a pentagram with a circle drawn around it.

   • 2007 March 1, Barr, Ruth, chapter 5, in Women's Rites, Women's Mysteries: Intuitive Ritual Creation, 2nd edition, Woodbury: Llewellyn Publications, →ISBN, LCCN 2006048814, OCLC 74649160, LCC BL625.7.B39 2007, page 93:

     The pentagram becomes a pentacle when it is enclosed within a circle and inscribed on a disc or stone.

See also

• pentacle on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Noun

pentacle m (plural pentacles)

1. pentacle

Further reading

• “pentacle” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Etymology

Attested at least as early as 1547, from Old French pentacol.

Noun

The magician's Pentacle as depicted in a 1547 French edition of the grimoire Heptameron, spuriously attributed to Peter de Abano.

pentacle m (plural pentacles)

1. pentacle (a talisman of parchment, sheet metal, or other substance, marked with a magic symbol or symbols, used in magical evocation)
   • 1547, Les Œuvres Magiques de Henri-Corneille Agrippa, Par Pierre d'Aban, Latin et Français, Avec des Secrets occultes‎, "Heptameron" p. 13:

     Il faut de plus, avoir les parfums propres au jour que l'on fait l'opération; il faut auſſi a voir de l'eau benite par un Prêtre, un vaſe de terre neuf, plein de feu, l'Habit & le Pentacle, comme nous l'avons dit

     It is also required, to have the incenses proper to the days that one did the operation; it is also necessary to see the water blessed by a Priest, a new earthen vessel, full of fire, the Garment and the Pentacle, as we have said

   • 1547, Les Œuvres Magiques de Henri-Corneille Agrippa, Par Pierre d'Aban, Latin et Français, Avec des Secrets occultes‎, "Heptameron" p. 14:

     Le Maître qui ſe ſera diſpoſé à la cérémonie par trois jours de jeûne & d'abſtinence & de toutes ſouillures, revêtu de ſes Habits blancs, avec le Pentacle, les Parfums & autres choſes néceſſaires entrera dans le Cercle

     The Master who will be prepared for the ceremony by three days of fasting and abstinence and [cleansed] of all dirt, dressed in his white Garments, with the Pentacle, the Perfumes and other necessary things shall enter the Circle