rebus

[ ree-buh s ]
/ ˈri bəs /

noun, plural re·bus·es.

a representation of a word or phrase by pictures, symbols, etc., that suggest that word or phrase or its syllables: Two gates and a head is a rebus for Gateshead.
a piece of writing containing many such representations.

Origin of rebus

1595–1605; < Latin rēbus by things (ablative plural of rēs), in phrase nōn verbīs sed rēbus not by words but by things

Definition for rebus (2 of 2)

rebus sic stantibus
[ ree-buh s sik stan-tuh-buh s ]
/ ˈri bəs sɪk ˈstæn tə bəs /

adverb International Law.

(of the duration of the binding force treaty) for as long as the relevant facts and circumstances remain basically the same.

Origin of rebus sic stantibus

First recorded in 1840–50, rebus sic stantibus is from the Latin word rēbus sīc stantibus with things remaining thus

Example sentences from the Web for rebus

British Dictionary definitions for rebus

rebus
/ (ˈriːbəs) /

noun plural -buses

a puzzle consisting of pictures representing syllables and words; in such a puzzle the word hear might be represented by H followed by a picture of an ear
a heraldic emblem or device that is a pictorial representation of or pun on the name of the bearer

Word Origin for rebus

C17: from French rébus, from the Latin rēbus by things, from res