Adonis
/ə'dounis/
Definition
- Noun:
- (Greek mythology) A handsome youth loved by both Aphrodite and Persephone: In classical mythology, Adonis is a mortal youth of extraordinary beauty. His story involves a tragic death and a decree by Zeus that he spends part of the year in the underworld with Persephone and part with Aphrodite.
- Any handsome young man: By extension, the name is used as a common noun to refer to a very attractive young man.
- Annual or perennial herbs (genus Adonis): In botany, Adonis refers to a genus of flowering plants in the buttercup family, often with red or yellow flowers.
Examples
- Noun (Mythology):
- Noun (Handsome Man):
- Noun (Botany):
Advanced Usage
- "An Adonis": Used as a countable noun to describe a man of exceptional physical beauty.
- Classical Allusion: The name is often used in literature and art to symbolize male beauty, youth, and tragic death.
Variants and Related Words
- Adonic (adj): Pertaining to Adonis, or characterized by masculine beauty.
- Adonis blue (n): A species of butterfly (), named for its brilliant color, alluding to the beauty of Adonis.
Synonyms
- Handsome youth: A good-looking young man.
- Beau ideal: The perfect model of male beauty.
- Heartthrob: A man, often a celebrity, who is the object of infatuation.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- "An Adonis complex": A modern term, sometimes used informally (akin to "bigorexia"), referring to a man's obsessive concern with achieving a muscular and perfectly sculpted body. (Note: This is a contemporary, psychological usage derived from the myth's association with ideal beauty).
Noun
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(Greek mythology) a handsome youth loved by both Aphrodite and Persephone
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when Adonis died Zeus decreed that he should spend winters in the underworld with Persephone and spend summers with Aphrodite
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annual or perennial herbs
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any handsome young man
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