Philemon

noun

Phi·​le·​mon fə-ˈlē-mən  fī- 

1

: a friend and probable convert of the apostle Paul

2

: a letter written by St. Paul to a Christian living in the area of Colossae and included as a book in the New Testament see Bible Table

3

: a poor aged Phrygian in Greek mythology who with his wife Baucis treats a disguised Zeus hospitably and is rewarded by him with a splendid temple

Examples of Philemon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The school was led by Philemon Pormont and intended to be a college preparatory center. —Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 10 Apr. 2024

At a clinic in Nakuru that has benefited from PEPFAR funding for 10 years, counselor Philemon Ogola said medical staff now only see one or two new cases a month. —Daniel Kipchumba, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Jan. 2024

Elizabeth Turner is hereby given to the care and guidance of Philemon Hambleton, who will teach her the art and mystery of the house servant. —Anna Deavere Smith, The Atlantic, 13 Nov. 2023

Their grandson later compared them to Baucis and Philemon, the humble couple in Ovid’s Metamorphoses who unknowingly host Zeus and Hermes. —Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 3 July 2023

The cast also included Katie Findlay, Lawrence Kao, Matt Barr, Philemon Chambers, Greg Hovanessian, and Gabriela Quezada. —Joe Otterson, Variety, 9 May 2023

Word History

Etymology

Greek Philēmōn

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

Philemon

noun

Phi·​le·​mon fə-ˈlē-mən  fī- 

: a letter written by St. Paul to a Christian living in the area of Colossae and included as a book in the New Testament see bible table