Hermaphroditus

noun

Her·​maph·​ro·​di·​tus (ˌ)hər-ˌma-frə-ˈdī-təs How to pronounce Hermaphroditus (audio)
: a son of Hermes and Aphrodite who becomes joined in one body with a nymph while bathing

Word History

Etymology

Latin Hermaphrodītus, borrowed from Greek Hermaphródītos, blend of Hermês and Aphrodī́tē

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Hermaphroditus was in 1565

Dictionary Entries Near Hermaphroditus

Cite this Entry

“Hermaphroditus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Hermaphroditus. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on Hermaphroditus

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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