Orpheus definition |Dictionary.com

Orpheus

4 dictionary results for: Orpheus

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

Or·phe·us

[awr-fee-uh

s, -fyoos] Pronunciation Key

–noun

Greek Legend. a poet and musician, a son of Calliope, who followed his dead wife, Eurydice, to the underworld. By charming Hades, he obtained permission to lead her away, provided he did not look back at her until they returned to earth. But at the last moment he looked, and she was lost to him forever.

2.	(italics) a ballet (1947) with music by Stravinsky and choreography by Balanchine.

—Related forms

Or·phe·an

[awr-fee-uh

n, awr-fee-uh

n] Pronunciation Key, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Or·phe·us (ôr'fē-əs, -fyōōs') Pronunciation Key
n. Greek Mythology
A legendary Thracian poet and musician whose music had the power to move even inanimate objects and who almost succeeded in rescuing his wife Eurydice from Hades.

Or·phe'an (ôr-fē'ən, ôr'fē-ən) adj.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

orpheus
noun
(Greek mythology) a great musician; when his wife Eurydice died he went to Hades to get her back but failed

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Orpheus

Or"phe*us\, n. [L. Orpheus, Gr. ?.] (Gr. Myth.) The famous mythic Thracian poet, son of the Muse Calliope, and husband of Eurydice. He is reputed to have had power to entrance beasts and inanimate objects by the music of his lyre.

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