Theseus

noun

: a king of Athens in Greek mythology who kills Procrustes and the Minotaur before defeating the Amazons and marrying their queen

Examples of Theseus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The mythical scenes depict the goddess of love, Venus, with her mortal lover, Adonis, as well as Hippolytus, son of Theseus, who rejected his stepmother Phaedra’s romantic advances. Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 12 Dec. 2024 Ariadne Unbound Park Avenue Christian Church, November 16 The early music ensemble Tenet narrates the story of Ariadne and Theseus, told through an assortment of 17th century Italian composers: Barbara Strozzi, Monteverdi, etc. Justin Davidson, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2024 In Euripides’ ancient Greek tragedy Hippolytus, Phaedra, the wife of hero Theseus, falls in love with her stepson Hippolytus. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Oct. 2024 One of the paper’s authors compared the tree to the Ship of Theseus — a mythical vessel that has been entirely rebuilt with new parts. Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2024 Ariadne is the sister of the Minotaur, a half-human, half-bull creature that Theseus is ordered to slay. Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 5 Sep. 2024 Every seven years, Athens sacrificed seven young men and seven young women to the monster until Theseus, a prince of the city, volunteered to kill him. Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Sep. 2024 When Theseus, the ruler of Athens, arrives on the scene, Oedipus’s words to him transcend both the immediate situation and Oedipus’s dire backstory. Rachel Hadas, The Conversation, 9 July 2024 Brookside Gardens and Fort Washington Park are among sites hosting Theseus, Hippolyta and the fairies before the season wraps up at the Publick Playhouse on July 14. Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 21 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek Thēseus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near Theseus

Cite this Entry

“Theseus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Theseus. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

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