penelope
/pi'neləpi/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Proper noun:
- A genus of birds: A genus of large, turkey-like arboreal birds in the family Cracidae, commonly known as guans, which are valued as game and food birds.
- A figure in Greek mythology: The wife of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, renowned for her fidelity and patience. She waited for her husband's return from the Trojan War for twenty years, faithfully managing his kingdom and cleverly resisting numerous suitors.
Examples of Usage
- Proper noun (Mythology):
- In Homer's epic, Penelope is a paragon of marital devotion.
- Penelope's cleverness in weaving and unweaving a shroud delayed her suitors for years.
- Proper noun (Zoology):
- The Penelope genus includes several species found in Central and South American forests.
- Ornithologists study the behavior of the Penelope birds.
Advanced Usage
- "A Penelope": Used metaphorically to describe a woman who is exceptionally faithful and patient.
- Throughout his long travels, she remained a true Penelope, waiting for his return.
Variants and Related Words
- Penelopean (adj): Pertaining to or characteristic of Penelope, especially her fidelity and patience.
- Her Penelopean steadfastness was admired by all.
Synonyms
- Faithful wife: A loyal spouse.
- Devoted partner: A committed companion.
Related Idioms
- "To weave a Penelope's web": To engage in a task that is deliberately never finished, as a means of delay or avoidance. This references Penelope's tactic of weaving a burial shroud by day and secretly unraveling it by night.
- His promise to reorganize the files was just a Penelope's web; he never intended to finish.
Noun
- a genus of guans (turkey-like arboreal birds valued as game and food birds)
- (Greek mythology) the wife of Odysseus and a symbol of devotion and fidelity; for 10 years while Odysseus fought the Trojan War she resisted numerous suitors until Odysseus returned and killed them