diana

IPA/daɪˈæn.ə/
KK[daɪˈænə]IPA/daɪˈæn.ə/

diana — noun

1. the Roman goddess connected with hunting, wooded places, and childbirth, often p

1.nounC1
Definition

the Roman goddess connected with hunting, wooded places, and childbirth, often pictured as a young huntress carrying a bow.

Example

Diana is often shown carrying a bow in Roman wall paintings.

common depiction: Diana with a bow in Roman art

Beatriz studied a fresco of Diana leading a hunt through the forest.

collocation: fresco of Diana

Common collocations
  • goddess Diana
  • temple of Diana
  • pray to Diana
  • statue of Diana
Synonyms
  • Artemis

    the Greek goddess closest to Diana; use Artemis when the context is Greek mythology rather than Roman religion

Grammar Patterns

the goddess Diana

pray to Diana

temple of Diana

Usage Note

Usually appears in writing about Roman mythology, classical art, or ancient religion. The Greek goddess most often compared with Diana is Artemis.

Common Mistakes

Diana is a Greek goddess in Roman stories.
Diana is a Roman goddess, often compared with the Greek goddess Artemis.
Diana belongs to Roman mythology; Artemis is the Greek equivalent.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Diana is a specific Roman goddess, while Artemis is the closely related Greek goddess with many of the same powers. Use Diana when the context is Roman religion, Roman literature, or Latin inscriptions. Use Artemis when the story belongs to Greek myth. The general word goddess is broader and can describe any female divine figure, so it lacks the cultural detail carried by Diana. Deity is broader still and can refer to either a god or a goddess in formal writing. A museum guide might say, 'This statue shows Diana after a hunt,' but a textbook on Greek myth would name Artemis instead.

Artemisgoddess ↗deity ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • the goddess Diana
  • temple of Diana
  • pray to Diana
  • statue of Diana

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Diana came into English from Latin as the name of the Roman goddess associated with hunting, the natural world, and childbirth. In modern English, the name is mainly used when talking about classical mythology, ancient religion, or works of art that show her.

First known use

13th century

13th century, in the meaning defined above