Definition

Proper noun 1. The Moirae: In Greek mythology, the collective name for the three goddesses who personified and controlled the destiny of every mortal and deity. They are often equated with the Roman Parcae and are analogous to the Norse Norns.

Usage

• The word "Moirae" is used as a proper noun, typically with the definite article "the," to refer to the trio of Fates as a single mythological entity.
• It functions as a plural noun (the Moirae are...).
• This term is primarily used in academic, literary, or mythological contexts.

Examples

• In Greek mythology, the Moirae determined the length of a person's life.
• The poet invoked the power of the Moirae in his epic.
• Not even Zeus could alter the decrees of the Moirae.

Advanced Usage

• "The thread spun by the Moirae": A common metaphorical phrase referring to a person's fate or lifespan.
  • Example: He felt his own thread, as spun by the Moirae, was nearing its end.

Variants and Related Words

• Moira (singular, proper noun): Refers to the concept of fate or destiny as an abstract force, or less commonly, to an individual Fate goddess.
• The Fates: The more common English translation and equivalent for "the Moirae."
• Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos (proper nouns): The individual names of the three goddesses who make up the Moirae (the Spinner, the Allotter, and the Inflexible, respectively).

Synonyms

• The Fates
• The Parcae (Roman equivalent)
• The Norns (Norse equivalent)

Notes on Different Meanings

• The term "Moirae" refers specifically to the triad of goddesses.
• The singular form "moira" (not capitalized) can sometimes be used in a broader, philosophical sense to mean "portion," "share," or "allotted fate."

Noun

1. any of the three Greek goddesses of fate or destiny; identified with the Roman Parcae and similar to the Norse Norns