Prometheus

noun

Pro·​me·​theus prə-ˈmē-thē-əs How to pronounce Prometheus (audio) -ˌthyüs How to pronounce Prometheus (audio)
: a Titan who is chained and tortured by Zeus for stealing fire from heaven and giving it to humankind

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek Promētheus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near Prometheus

Cite this Entry

“Prometheus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Prometheus. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on Prometheus

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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