Philoctetes

noun

Phi·​loc·​te·​tes fi-ˈläk-tə-ˌtēz How to pronounce Philoctetes (audio)
ˌfi-läk-ˈtē-tēz
: a Greek archer who uses the bow of Hercules to slay Paris at Troy

Examples of Philoctetes in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Then the Trojan War dragged on for a decade, and a seer told Odysseus that the Greeks couldn’t win without Philoctetes. Elif Batuman, The New Yorker, 1 Sep. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Greek Philoktētēs

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Philoctetes was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near Philoctetes

Cite this Entry

“Philoctetes.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Philoctetes. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

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