Aegisthus

noun

Ae·​gis·​thus i-ˈjis-thəs How to pronounce Aegisthus (audio)
: a lover of Clytemnestra slain with her by her son Orestes

Examples of Aegisthus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Of course, the scenario is far from everyday: Elektra is consumed by the desire for bloody revenge against her mother, who with her lover Aegisthus (Greg Hicks) murdered her husband Agamemnon on his return from Troy. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Feb. 2025 But Clytemnestra and Aegisthus had also murdered Agamemnon for reasons of lust and power. Teju Cole, New York Times, 12 Sep. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek Aigisthos

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Aegisthus was in 1567

Dictionary Entries Near Aegisthus

Cite this Entry

“Aegisthus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Aegisthus. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on Aegisthus

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!