ariadne
Definition
Proper noun 1. A character in Greek mythology: Ariadne is the beautiful daughter of King Minos of Crete and Queen Pasiphae. In the myth of the Minotaur, she fell in love with the hero Theseus. She provided him with a ball of thread (the famous "clew" or "clue") which he used to mark his path into and successfully escape from the Labyrinth after slaying the Minotaur.
Examples of Usage
- Proper noun:
- The story of Ariadne and Theseus is one of the most famous Greek myths.
- In the painting, Ariadne is shown holding the ball of thread.
- Theseus owed his escape from the Labyrinth to Ariadne's clever idea.
Advanced Usage
- Symbolic Reference: The name "Ariadne" or the phrase "Ariadne's thread" is often used metaphorically to signify a guiding principle or a logical thread that helps solve a complex problem.
- The detective finally found the Ariadne's thread that led him to the killer.
- This theory provides an Ariadne's thread through the maze of historical data.
Variants and Related Words
- Ariadne's thread (noun phrase): A guiding clue or principle that helps solve a complicated problem. This is the primary derivative from the myth.
- Arian (adj): Pertaining to Aries or Arius. (Note: This is a distinct word with a different etymology and is not a variant of Ariadne, but it is sometimes confused due to similar spelling).
Synonyms
- Guide: (in the metaphorical sense of "Ariadne's thread").
- Savior: (in the context of her role for Theseus).
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Ariadne's thread: As described above, this is the key idiom derived from the name. It means the crucial piece of information or the guiding logic that allows one to navigate a complex situation.
- The professor's first lecture gave us Ariadne's thread for the entire course.
Noun
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beautiful daughter of Minos and Pasiphae; she fell in love with Theseus and gave him the thread with which he found his way out of the Minotaur's labyrinth
