Definition

Proper noun A Roman lyric poet of the 1st century BC, renowned for his passionate and personal verses, particularly a series of poems addressed to a woman he called "Lesbia."

Examples of Usage

• Gaius Valerius Catullus is considered one of the greatest lyric poets of ancient Rome.
• The poems of Gaius Valerius Catullus often explore themes of love, friendship, and social satire.
• Scholars study the work of Gaius Valerius Catullus to understand the literary and social life of the late Roman Republic.

Advanced Usage

• The name Catullus is often used metonymically to refer to his body of work or his distinctive poetic style.
  • The influence of Catullus can be seen in the love poetry of the Renaissance.

Variants and Related Words

• Catullus (noun): The common shortened form of the poet's name, used interchangeably.
  • Catullus wrote Poem 85, "Odi et Amo" (I hate and I love).

Synonyms

• Catullus (The abbreviated name is a direct synonym for the full name in literary contexts.)

Related Phrases

• The Lesbia poems: Refers to the cycle of poems by Catullus addressed to his beloved, whose real identity is believed to have been Clodia Metelli.
• Catullan (adjective): Pertaining to Catullus or his style of poetry.
  • The poet's Catullan wit is sharp and often abrasive.

Noun

1. Roman lyric poet remembered for his love poems to an aristocratic Roman woman (84-54 BC)