cynthia

cynthia — noun

1. In ancient Greek stories, the goddess who ruled the moon and was also known as A

1.nounB1
Definition

In ancient Greek stories, the goddess who ruled the moon and was also known as Artemis. Poets sometimes used the name Cynthia to refer to the moon itself, giving it a sense of beauty and mystery.

Example

Cynthia pulled the moon across the night sky, turning the sea into silver light.

personification of the moon as a goddess

Sailors in ancient Greece prayed to Cynthia for calm waters under a bright full moon.

Common collocations
  • worship Cynthia
  • sacred to Cynthia
  • temple of Cynthia
  • Cynthia the moon goddess
Synonyms
  • Artemis

    The original Greek name of the goddess; Cynthia is a poetic epithet meaning 'of Mount Cynthus'

  • Selene

    A separate Greek goddess who personified the moon itself, distinct from Artemis in earlier myths

  • Diana

    The Roman equivalent of Artemis; often called Cynthia in Latin poetry

Usage Note

Cynthia was an epithet (descriptive title) of the Greek goddess Artemis. The name is uncommon in everyday speech but appears in classical literature and poetry. In English poems from the 1600s–1800s, writers frequently used Cynthia as a direct name for the moon.

Common Mistakes

Cynthia is the Roman goddess of the hunt.
Cynthia is the Greek moon goddess Artemis. The Roman equivalent is Diana.
Cynthia belongs to Greek mythology; her Roman counterpart is Diana.

Word family

  • Cynthian
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Cynthia, Artemis, Diana, Selene, and Phoebe all connect to moon mythology but differ in origin and use. Artemis is the Greek goddess's primary name — Cynthia was a poetic epithet meaning 'of Mount Cynthus,' her birthplace. Diana is the Roman equivalent, more common in Latin literature and Renaissance English poetry. Selene is a distinct Greek titaness who personified the moon itself, separate from Artemis in the oldest myths. Phoebe (meaning 'bright') is another epithet for Artemis and also for Selene. In English poetry, Cynthia was the preferred literary name for the moon from the 16th to 19th centuries — Milton, Shelley, and Keats all used it. Today, Artemis is the most widely recognized form, while Cynthia survives in classical references and as a feminine given name unrelated to the goddess.

ArtemisDiana ↗SelenePhoebe

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • pray to Cynthia
  • worship Cynthia
  • honor Cynthia
  • the name Cynthia

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

Cynthia comes from Latin Cynthia, which was borrowed from Greek Kynthia (Κυνθία), meaning 'woman from Cynthus.' Mount Cynthus (Kynthos / Κύνθος) is a hill on the Greek island of Delos. According to myth, the goddess Artemis (and her twin Apollo) was born on this mountain, so her followers called her Cynthia — 'the Cynthian one.' The name entered English through Roman poetry, especially the works of the poet Propertius, who used Cynthia as a name for his beloved and also as a title for the moon goddess. By the 1500s, English writers regularly used Cynthia as a poetic synonym for the moon.

First known use

14th century

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1