clearchus: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Very Low (C2+ historical/academic specialty)
UK/klɪˈɑː.kəs/US/klɪˈɑr.kəs/

Formal / Academic / Historical

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “clearchus” mean?

Proper name of a historical figure from Ancient Greece, specifically a Spartan general and mercenary commander.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

Proper name of a historical figure from Ancient Greece, specifically a Spartan general and mercenary commander.

In modern contexts, may appear in historical, academic, or literary discussions about Ancient Greek history, the Peloponnesian War, the Ten Thousand, or Xenophon's 'Anabasis'.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant differences in usage. Pronunciation may follow regional patterns for classical names.

Connotations

Solely historical/academic. No modern cultural connotations.

Frequency

Extremely rare in general discourse, encountered almost exclusively in classical studies or detailed historical texts.

Grammar

How to Use “clearchus” in a Sentence

Clearchus + verb (historical past tense)Proper name + appositive (e.g., Clearchus, the Spartan general...)

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
General ClearchusClearchus of Spartathe exile of Clearchus
medium
commanded by Clearchusaccording to Clearchusthe death of Clearchus
weak
history of Clearchusfamous Clearchusancient Clearchus

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Not used.

Academic

Used in historical studies, classical literature courses, and papers on Greek military history.

Everyday

Virtually never used.

Technical

May appear in specialised historical or archaeological publications.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “clearchus”

Neutral

the Spartan general

Weak

the commanderthe mercenary leader

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “clearchus”

  • Misspelling as 'Clearhus' or 'Clearchas'.
  • Using it as a common noun or adjective.
  • Incorrect stress on the first syllable (/ˈklɪə.kəs/).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Clearchus was a Spartan general and mercenary commander active in the late 5th century BCE, most famous for his role in the 'March of the Ten Thousand' as recounted in Xenophon's 'Anabasis'.

In British English, it is commonly /klɪˈɑː.kəs/ (kli-AR-kuss). In American English, it is often /klɪˈɑr.kəs/ (kli-ARR-kuss). The stress is on the second syllable.

No, it is an extremely low-frequency proper noun used almost exclusively in the context of Ancient Greek history and classical studies.

Only in historical analogy or as a reference within academic, literary, or rhetorical discussions about leadership, mercenaries, or ancient history.

Proper name of a historical figure from Ancient Greece, specifically a Spartan general and mercenary commander.

Clearchus is usually formal / academic / historical in register.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think: 'CLEAR the way for the army' + 'ARCHUS' (sounds like 'archer' or 'archon', a Greek ruler). Clearchus cleared the way as a military leader.

Conceptual Metaphor

N/A for proper nouns of historical figures.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
was the Spartan general who played a key role in the campaign of Cyrus the Younger.
Multiple Choice

In which primary historical text is Clearchus a significant figure?

Practise

Train, don’t just look up

Five interactive tools to remember words, train your ear, and build vocabulary in real context — drawn from this dictionary.

See all tools