anaxarete: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very low / ArchaicLiterary, academic (classics/mythology)
Quick answer
What does “anaxarete” mean?
A proper noun from Greek mythology referring to a Cypriot princess known for her pride and cruelty towards a suitor.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A proper noun from Greek mythology referring to a Cypriot princess known for her pride and cruelty towards a suitor.
A term used to describe someone who is coldly and arrogantly unresponsive to love, pleas, or emotional appeals; an embodiment of proud, stony-hearted rejection.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference. The word is so rare that its usage is uniform across English varieties, confined to classicists and literary writers.
Connotations
Literary, erudite, allusive. Conveys a specific type of cruel pride, not just rejection but a proud, disdainful hardening of the heart that leads to a dramatic, often tragic, consequence.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both. Possibly slightly more frequent in UK due to stronger classical education traditions, but the difference is negligible.
Grammar
How to Use “anaxarete” in a Sentence
[Subject] (acted like/played) Anaxarete towards [Object][Subject] met the fate of Anaxarete for [Action/State]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anaxarete” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Her Anaxarete-like disdain was chilling.
American English
- His Anaxaretean coldness ended the relationship.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in classical studies, mythology, literature papers discussing Ovid's 'Metamorphoses' or themes of pride and punishment.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anaxarete”
- Pronouncing it with stress on the first syllable (AN-ax-arete).
- Using it as a common adjective without the definite article ('She was anaxarete' vs. 'She was an Anaxarete').
- Confusing her story with that of Medusa (who turns others to stone). Anaxarete *is turned* to stone.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is a very rare, learned borrowing from Greek mythology. It is used as a proper name and, occasionally, as an allusive common noun in literary contexts.
Anaxarete was a princess of Cyprus in Greek mythology. She cruelly rejected the love of a common man named Iphis, who then hanged himself in despair. The goddess Venus, angered by her pride, turned Anaxarete to stone as she watched Iphis's funeral procession.
It is used allusively: 'Don't play Anaxarete with him; just give him a clear, kind answer.' It describes someone showing cold, proud indifference to another's emotional suffering.
Both are prideful figures from Ovid. Narcissus's pride is directed inward (self-love), leading to his destruction. Anaxarete's pride is directed outward (contempt for another's love), leading to her petrification as punishment.
A proper noun from Greek mythology referring to a Cypriot princess known for her pride and cruelty towards a suitor.
Anaxarete is usually literary, academic (classics/mythology) in register.
Anaxarete: in British English it is pronounced /ˌanəkˈsærɪti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌænəkˈsɛrɪti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to play Anaxarete”
- “to have an Anaxarete moment”
- “to meet the fate of Anaxarete (to be turned to stone, literally or figuratively)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine AN AXX (axe) hitting a very ARROGANT (arete) statue. AN-AX-ARETE: The proud princess who was turned to stone.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRIDE IS STONE / LACK OF MERCY IS MINERALIZATION. The heart is a stone; emotional coldness is petrification.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary lesson or theme associated with the myth of Anaxarete?