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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.
A Latin Dictionary. Founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin dictionary. revised, enlarged, and in great part rewritten by. Charlton T. Lewis, Ph.D. and. Charles Short, LL.D. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1879.

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  • Cross-references in general dictionaries from this page (5):
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 10.3
    • Ovid, Metamorphoses, 11.44
    • Vergil, Georgics, 4.494
    • Cicero, de Natura Deorum, 1.38
    • Ovid, Ex Ponto, 3.3
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