Definition of Charybdis

1. Noun. (Greek mythology) a ship-devouring whirlpool lying on the other side of a narrow strait from Scylla.

Generic synonyms: Maelstrom, Vortex, Whirlpool
Category relationships: Greek Mythology

Definition of Charybdis

1. n. A dangerous whirlpool on the coast of Sicily opposite Scylla on the Italian coast. It is personified as a female monster. See Scylla.

Definition of Charybdis

1. Proper noun. A dangerous whirlpool on the coast of Sicily opposite Scylla on the Italian coast. ¹

2. Proper noun. (Greek mythology) A personification of the above whirlpool as a female monster. ¹

3. Proper noun. A general term for any dangerous whirlpool ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Charybdis

Charon
Charonian
Charophyceae
Charpy impact test
Charriere
Charriere scale
Charronia
Charronia flavigula
Charters' method
Chartism
Chartist
Chartists
Chartres
Chartres blue
Chartreux
Charybdis (current term)
Chas
Chase
Chasid
Chasidic
Chasidim
Chasidism

Literary usage of Charybdis

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A General Collection of the Best and Most Interesting Voyages and Travels in by John Pinkerton (1809)
"No gulph below Charybdis.—Depth of the fea much lefs there than in the ... None of the numerous writers who have mentioned Charybdis, jay that they had ..."

2. The Odyssey of Homer by Homer (1853)
"THE SIEENS, SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIs. He relates how, after his return from the shades, he was sent by Circe on his voyage, by the coast of the Sirens, ..."

3. The Mythology of All Races by John Arnott MacCulloch, Louis Herbert Gray, George Foot Moore, Alice Werner (1916)
"Skylla and Charybdis. — Among the most formidable monsters known to Greek mythology were ... Over against Skylla was Charybdis, a less repulsive but no ..."

4. Greek and Roman [mythology] by William Sherwood Fox (1916)
"Skylla and Charybdis. — Among the most formidable monsters known to Greek mythology were ... Over against Skylla was Charybdis, a less repulsive but no ..."

5. The Age of Fable; Or, Stories of Gods and Heroes by Thomas Bulfinch (1856)
"... CYCLOPES — CIRCE — SIRENS — SCYLLA AND Charybdis — CALYPSO. RETURN OF ULYSSES. THE romantic poem of the Odyssey is now to engage our attention. ..."

6. Universal Geography: Or a Description of All Parts of the World, on a New by Conrad Malte-Brun (1829)
"... league and a half from the Pharus, situated near Charybdis. cape ... roaring in her cave, and guarded by wolves and fierce dogs. Charybdis. Charybdis ..."

7. The Adventures of Ulysses by Charles Lamb, Homer (1892)
"Scylla and Charybdis. — The Oxen of the Sun. — The Judgment. ... Thee Scylla, thee Charybdis, expect. Thee the deathful Sirens lie in wait for, ..."

Other Resources:

Search for Charybdis on Dictionary.com!Search for Charybdis on Thesaurus.com!Search for Charybdis on Google!Search for Charybdis on Wikipedia!

Search