CORINTHIAN

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does Corinthian mean? 

• CORINTHIAN (noun)
  The noun CORINTHIAN has 2 senses:

1. a man devoted to the pursuit of pleasure

2. a resident of Corinth

  Familiarity information: CORINTHIAN used as a noun is rare.

• CORINTHIAN (adjective)
  The adjective CORINTHIAN has 2 senses:

1. or pertaining to the Corinthian style of architecture

2. of or relating to or characteristic of Corinth or its inhabitants

  Familiarity information: CORINTHIAN used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CORINTHIAN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A man devoted to the pursuit of pleasure

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

Corinthian; man-about-town; playboy

Hypernyms ("Corinthian" is a kind of...):

hedonist; pagan; pleasure seeker (someone motivated by desires for sensual pleasures)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A resident of Corinth

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("Corinthian" is a kind of...):

Greek; Hellene (a native or inhabitant of Greece)

Holonyms ("Corinthian" is a member of...):

Corinth; Korinthos (the modern Greek port near the site of the ancient city that was second only to Athens)

Derivation:

corinthian (of or relating to or characteristic of Corinth or its inhabitants)

• CORINTHIAN (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Or pertaining to the Corinthian style of architecture

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Pertainym:

Corinthian order (the last Greek order; similar to the Ionic order except the capital is decorated with carvings of acanthus leaves)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of or relating to or characteristic of Corinth or its inhabitants

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Pertainym:

Corinth (the modern Greek port near the site of the ancient city that was second only to Athens)

Derivation:

Corinth (the modern Greek port near the site of the ancient city that was second only to Athens)

Corinthian (a resident of Corinth)

 Context examples 

I know you for what you are, Sir Charles, and that is a noble, slap-up Corinthian.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“He’s a real slap-up Corinthian, by his dress; and he means what he says, or else I ain’t no judge of a man.”

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The landlord, an old sportsman and ringsider, ran out to greet so well-known a Corinthian as Sir Charles Tregellis.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The landlord, and one or two of the Corinthians from the bar-parlour, had followed us to the back of the house.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I could gather from the comments of the experienced Corinthians around me, and from the remarks of the crowd behind, that Harrison’s chance was thought to have been lessened by this round.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

My uncle never smoked, thinking that the habit might darken his teeth, but many of the Corinthians, and the Prince amongst the first of them, set the example of lighting up.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Prize-fighters, Corinthians, Prince, stable-boy, and landlord were all shouting at the top of their lungs.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But there’s one thing you are saved by livin’ in the country, and that is ’avin’ the young Corinthians and bloods about town smackin’ you eternally in the face.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Amid the stream of Corinthians and fighting-men who were thronging into the room I had caught a glimpse of the sturdy figure and broad, good-humoured face of Champion Harrison.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

You’re not drinkin’ black-jack in a boozin’ ken, but you are meetin’ noble, slap-up Corinthians, and it’s for you to behave as such.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)