Definition

Proper noun A Roman poet and satirist active in the late 1st and early 2nd centuries AD. He is renowned for his series of poetic satires that critically examine the vices, follies, and social conditions of Roman society during the reign of the emperor Domitian and the early imperial period.

Usage

The term "Decimus Junius Juvenalis" is used to refer to the historical figure, the author of the works. It is most commonly encountered in literary, historical, and academic contexts. * In literary studies, Decimus Junius Juvenalis is often discussed alongside other Roman satirists like Horace and Persius. * The satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis provide a vivid, if exaggerated, portrait of life in ancient Rome.

Examples

• The harsh moral critiques found in the works of Decimus Junius Juvenalis characterize the genre known as Juvenalian satire.
• Scholars debate the autobiographical accuracy of the details Decimus Junius Juvenalis provides about his own life in his poems.
• Decimus Junius Juvenalis famously wrote, "Panem et circenses" ("Bread and circuses"), criticizing the Roman populace's desire for mere sustenance and entertainment.

Advanced Usage

• Juvenalian: (Adjective) Pertaining to or characteristic of Juvenal or his style of satire, which is characterized by bitterness, irony, moral indignation, and pessimism. This is contrasted with the more gentle, humorous "Horatian" satire.
  • The author's Juvenalian approach to criticizing modern politics is both scathing and eloquent.

Variants and Related Words

• Juvenal: The common Anglicized and abbreviated form of his name. This is the most frequent way to refer to him in general English discourse.
  • We are reading the satires of Juvenal in my classics course.
• Juvenalia: (Noun, plural) Early works of an artist or writer, especially when characterized by immaturity. (Note: This word is etymologically related to the Latin root for "youth" and is not directly about the satirist's works, though it is a common point of confusion).

Synonyms

• The Satirist: When the context is clear, he may be referred to generically.
• (There are no direct synonyms for a proper name, but in context, he is one of the principal Roman satirists.)

Noun

1. Roman satirist who denounced the vice and folly of Roman society during the reign of the emperor Domitian (60-140)