Orpheus

A Thracian musician and poet, who failed to retrieve his wife Eurydice from Hades.

Proper noun

  1. A Thracian musician and poet, who failed to retrieve his wife Eurydice from Hades.
  2. A male given name from Ancient Greek.

Origin

From Ancient Greek Ὀρφεύς (Orpheús), built from an uncertain root with the -εύς (-eús) suffix. Perhaps root-cognate to Ancient Greek ὀρφανός (orphanós, “orphan”).

Derived

orpharion Orphic Orphism