proper noun · masculinesecond declension
Orphe͡us1
Orphe͡us m sg (genitive Orpheī or Orpheos)
Classical[ˈɔr.pʰɛu̯s]Ecclesiastical[ˈɔr.feu̯s]
Meaning
- Orpheus
Declension
| form | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | Orphe͡us | — |
| genitive | Orpheī Orpheos | — |
| dative | Orpheō | — |
| accusative | Orpheum Orphea | — |
| ablative | Orpheō | — |
| vocative | Orphe͡u | — |
Orpheus (dissyl.), i (Gr. dat. Orphei, Verg. E. 4, 57; Gr. acc. Orphĕă, Verg. E. 6, 30; Ov. P. 3, 3, 41:
I.
Orphēā, id. M. 10, 3; voc. Orpheu, Verg. G. 4, 494; Ov. M. 11, 44), m., = Ὀρφεύς, the famous mythic singer of Thrace, son of Œagrus and Calliope, and husband of Eurydice; after her death he led her back from the Lower World, but lost her on turning to look at her, breaking his promise to Pluto. He was one of the Argonauts, Hor. C. 1, 12, 8; Ov. M. 10, 3 sq.; 11, 5 sq.; Hyg. Fab. 164; 251; Verg. E. 4, 55; Cic. N. D. 1, 38, 107 et saep.—Hence, A. Or-phēus, a, um, adj., = Ὀρφεῖος, of or belonging to Orpheus, Orphean (poet.):
vox, Ov. M. 10, 3: lyra, Prop. 1, 3, 42.—B. Or-phĭcus, a, um, adj., = Ὀρφικός, of or belonging to Orpheus, Orphic (class.):
carmen, Cic. N. D. 1, 38, 107: sacra Orphica, id. 3, 23, 58: versus, Macr. S. 1, 18, 17.—C. Orphăĭcus, a, um, adj., = Ὀρφαικός, Orphic.—In plur. subst.: Orphăĭci, ōrum, m., the Orphics, the followers of Orpheus, Macr. Somn. Scip. 1, 12.
Origins
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ὀρφεύς (Orpheús).