lamia

/'leimiə/

Thân thiện

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A mythological monster: In folklore, a "lamia" is a female demon or vampire-like creature believed to be a corpse that rises at night to drink the blood of the living, often specifically targeting children.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The ancient tale described a lamia haunting the village outskirts.
  • Parents warned their children about the lamia that supposedly preyed on the unwary.

Advanced Usage

• As a symbolic or literary figure: The term "lamia" is often used in poetry and literature to represent a seductive but dangerous female figure or a metaphor for consuming obsession.
  • The poet used the image of a lamia to symbolize the destructive nature of forbidden desire.

Variants and Related Words

• Lamiaceous (adj): Pertaining to the mint family of plants (Lamiaceae). This is a scientific homograph with a completely different meaning unrelated to the mythological creature.
• Lamian (adj): A rare adjective form meaning "of or like a lamia."

Synonyms

• Vampire: A reanimated corpse that feeds on the living.
• Succubus: A female demon believed to have sexual intercourse with sleeping men.
• Ghoul: An evil spirit or monster in Arabian folklore that robs graves and feeds on corpses.

Related Phrases and Idioms

(This word is primarily used as a specific noun and is not commonly part of phrasal verbs or modern idioms.)

Notes on Different Meanings

• The primary and most common meaning is the mythological monster.
• In a completely separate context, "Lamia" is also the name of a genus of moths and the scientific family name for plants like mint (Lamiaceae). These are technical terms and not related to the folklore definition.

Học thuật

Noun

1. (folklore) a corpse that rises at night to drink the blood of the living

Từ đồng nghĩa

• vampire