Friday, January 27, 2012

Lethean



Lethean [lɪˈθiən] a.

1.) Pertaining to the river Lethe; hence, pertaining to or causing oblivion or forgetfulness of the past.

Etymology: from Latin Lēthæ-us (adoption of Greek ληθαῖος, from λήθη Lethe, one of the five rivers of the Greek underworld) + -an.

"From the slain Victims pour the streaming Blood,
And leave their Bodies in the shady Wood:
Nine Mornings thence, Lethean Poppy bring,
T' appease the Manes of the Poets King:
And to propitiate his offended Bride,
A fatted Calf, and a black Ewe provide:
This finish'd, to the former Woods repair."
(Georgics by Virgil, John Dryden (trans.), 1697)

(The Waters of Lethe, Thomas Benjamin Kennington, 1890)

9 comments:

D4 said...

I've been saying it wrong. Oops.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Man, I could use some of that Lethean poppy.

Taker said...

Gonna be hard to use this one in conversation!

Kevin Faulkner said...

So is it related to Lethal ??

Unknown said...

Ha, I knew its etymology before its definition.

G said...

another lethean conversation with the wife

Meri said...

I think I've had a Lethean weekend- nope, thats the booze...

MRanthrope said...

Welcome back to posting sir.

Martin Meyers said...

Hello! I'm a new blogger/writer and I just added myself to your followers for support! Maybe you could come follow me too?
Thanks so much!

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