Thesmophoria

noun

Thes·​mo·​pho·​ria
ˌthezməˈfōrēə
plural -s
: a festival of Demeter as Thesmophoros or of Demeter and Kore celebrated by women and having as its essential ceremony the casting of pigs into chasms of the earth and the bringing up of their decaying flesh to be mixed with seed to insure fertility
Thesmophorian
¦⸗⸗¦⸗⸗ən
adjective
Thesmophoric
¦⸗⸗¦fȯrik
adjective

Word History

Etymology

Latin (plural), from Greek, from thesmophoros giving laws (epithet of Demeter), from thesmos law, ordinance (from tithenai to put, lay down) + -phoros -phore

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Dictionary Entries Near Thesmophoria

Cite this Entry

“Thesmophoria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Thesmophoria. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

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