Orphean

Variant of Orpheus

Orpheus definition

Or·pheus (ôr′fē əs, -fyo̵̅o̅s′)

noun

Gr. Myth. a poet-musician with magic musical powers who descends to the underworld and tries to lead his wife, Eurydice, back from the dead but fails because he breaks the injunction not to look back at her until they reach the upper world

Etymology: L < Gr

Related Forms:

  • Orphean Or′·phean (-fē ən) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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