Corybant

Corybant
/kawr"euh bant', kor"-/, n., pl. Corybantes /kawr'euh ban"teez, kor'-/, Corybants.
1. Class. Myth. any of the spirits or secondary divinities attending Cybele with wild music and dancing.
2. an ancient Phrygian priest of Cybele.
[1350-1400; ME < L Corybant- (s. of Corybas) < Gk Korybant- (s. of Korýbas)]

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In Oriental and Greco-Roman mythology, any of the wild, half-demonic beings who were attendants of the Great Mother of the Gods.

Often identified or confused with the Cretan Curetes (attendants of Zeus), they were distinctly Asian in origin and their rites were more orgiastic. Their wild dance was credited with the power of healing mental disorder.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Corybant — Cor y*bant (k?r ? b?nt), n.; pl. E. {Corybants} ( b?nts), oftener L. {Corybantes} ( b?n t?z). [L. Corybas, Gr. Kory bas.] One of the priests of Cybele in Phrygia. The rites of the Corybants were accompanied by wild music, dancing, etc. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Corybant — [kôr′ə bant΄] n. pl. Corybants or Corybantes [kôr′əban′tēz΄] 1. a) any of the attendants who follow the Phrygian goddess Cybele with dancing and frenzied orgies b) a priest in the worship of Cybele 2. [c ] a reveler Corybantic [kôr′əban′tik] ad …   English World dictionary

  • Corybant — Cor•y•bant [[t]ˈkɔr əˌbænt, ˈkɒr [/t]] n. pl. Cor•y•ban•tes [[t]ˌkɔr əˈbæn tiz, ˌkɒr [/t]] Cor•y•bants anq a priest or votary of Cybele • Etymology: 1350–1400; ME < L Corybant , s. of Corybās < Gk Korýbās cor y•ban′tic, adj …   From formal English to slang

  • Corybant — noun (plural Corybants or Corybantes) Etymology: Middle French Corybante, from Latin Corybas, from Greek Korybas Date: 14th century one of the attendants or priests of Cybele noted for wildly emotional processions and rites …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Corybant — n. priest that served the Phrygian goddess Cybele wild dancing and music (Ancient Mythology) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • corybant — cor·y·bant …   English syllables

  • Corybant — /ˈkɒribænt/ (say koreebant) noun (plural Corybants or Corybantes /kɒriˈbæntiz/ (say koree banteez)) 1. one of the spirits or secondary divinities fabled to form the train of the ancient goddess Cybele, following her over the mountains by… …  

  • corybant —   n. priest, votary or attendant of Cybele, ancient goddess of nature.    ♦ corybantic,   a. pertaining to wild and noisy rites performed by these; n. wild, frenzied dance …   Dictionary of difficult words

  • corybant — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Corybantes — Corybant Cor y*bant (k?r ? b?nt), n.; pl. E. {Corybants} ( b?nts), oftener L. {Corybantes} ( b?n t?z). [L. Corybas, Gr. Kory bas.] One of the priests of Cybele in Phrygia. The rites of the Corybants were accompanied by wild music, dancing, etc.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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