| English Dictionary |
PYTHIAS
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• PYTHIAS (noun)
The noun PYTHIAS has 1 sense:
1. friend of Damon; Phintias (according to legend) was condemned to death by Dionysius the Elder and asked a respite to put his affairs in order; Damon pledged his life for the return of his friend; when Phintias returned in time the tyrant released them both (4th century BC)
Familiarity information: PYTHIAS used as a noun is very rare.
Sense 1
Meaning:
Friend of Damon; Phintias (according to legend) was condemned to death by Dionysius the Elder and asked a respite to put his affairs in order; Damon pledged his life for the return of his friend; when Phintias returned in time the tyrant released them both (4th century BC)
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Synonyms:
Phintias; Pythias
Instance hypernyms:
friend (a person you know well and regard with affection and trust)
Context examples
Such unscientific balderdash, added the doctor, flushing suddenly purple, would have estranged Damon and Pythias.
(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"To give happiness to another person gives such a great merit, it cannot even be carried by a horse." (Bhutanese proverb)
"The beginning of anger is madness and the end of it is regret." (Arabic proverb)
"Honesty is the best policy." (Czech proverb)