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Theseus
noun
The·seus
Ë?thÄ“-ËŒsüs
-sē-əs
: a king of Athens in Greek mythology who kills Procrustes and the Minotaur before defeating the Amazons and marrying their queen
Examples of Theseus in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ariadne Unbound Park Avenue Christian Church, November 16 The early music ensemble Tenet narrates the story of Ariadne and Theseus, told through an assortment of 17th century Italian composers: Barbara Strozzi, Monteverdi, etc.
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Justin Davidson, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2024
In Euripides’ ancient Greek tragedy Hippolytus, Phaedra, the wife of hero Theseus, falls in love with her stepson Hippolytus.
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Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Oct. 2024
One of the paper’s authors compared the tree to the Ship of Theseus — a mythical vessel that has been entirely rebuilt with new parts.
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Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2024
Ariadne is the sister of the Minotaur, a half-human, half-bull creature that Theseus is ordered to slay.
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Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 5 Sep. 2024
Every seven years, Athens sacrificed seven young men and seven young women to the monster until Theseus, a prince of the city, volunteered to kill him.
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Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Sep. 2024
When Theseus, the ruler of Athens, arrives on the scene, Oedipus’s words to him transcend both the immediate situation and Oedipus’s dire backstory.
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Rachel Hadas, The Conversation, 9 July 2024
Brookside Gardens and Fort Washington Park are among sites hosting Theseus, Hippolyta and the fairies before the season wraps up at the Publick Playhouse on July 14.
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Chris Kelly, Washington Post, 21 June 2024
When people get hurt or move away, they’re replaced like planks on the Ship of Theseus.
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Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 13 June 2024
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Word History
Etymology
Latin, from Greek Thēseus
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of Theseus was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near Theseus
Cite this Entry
“Theseus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Theseus. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
More from Merriam-Webster on Theseus
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Theseus
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