stigma

Meaning

Noun

• A mark of infamy or disgrace.
• A scar or birthmark.
• A mark on the body corresponding to one of the wounds of the Crucifixion on Jesus' body, and sometimes reported to bleed periodically.
• An outward sign; an indication.
• The sticky part of a flower that receives pollen during pollination.
• A visible sign or characteristic of a disease.
• A ligature of the Greek letters sigma and tau, (Ϛ/ϛ).

Origin

• From Latin stigma, from Ancient Greek στίγμα ("brand"), from στίζω.
• Partly from Ancient Greek στίγμα, and partly from the acrophonic value of its initial st- as well as the analogy with the name of sigma.