effigie

effigy

noun eh-fee-ZHEE Rare

Origin: Latin effigies, from effingere (to mould, portray)

Usage Note

Effigie appears almost exclusively in formal, historical, or journalistic writing. The fixed phrase en effigie means 'in effigy' — as in burning a figure representing someone — and is the most common context learners will encounter it. Coins and banknotes depicting a ruler's face are said to bear the effigie of that person.

Examples

"Ils ont brûlé son effigie sur la place publique."

Natural Translation

They burned his effigy in the public square.

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