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Sapphic. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
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English
Etymology
Sappho (Ancient Greek Σαπφώ (Sapphṓ)) + -ic, whence Latin Sapphicus. Sense related to sexuality alludes to Sappho's poetry discussing love between women (see also lesbian).
Pronunciation
Adjective
Sapphic (not comparable)
- Relating to the Greek poetess Sappho from Lesbos or her poetry.
- (poetry) Of a certain kind of verse reputed to have been invented by Sappho, consisting of five metrical feet, of which the first, fourth, and fifth are trochees, the second is a spondee, and the third a dactyl.
- Alternative letter-case form of sapphic
Translations
relating to the Greek poetess Sappho or her poetry
Noun
Sapphic (plural Sapphics)
- (poetry) A Sapphic verse.
1824, Vicesimus Knox, The Works of Vicesimus Knox, D.D.: With a Biographical Preface:His Sapphics, on the story of Bacchus and Ariadne, are easy, elegant, and poetical.
1887, Horace, Horace: The Odes, Carmen Seculare, and Epodes, page 174:The first line (which goes by the name of Aristophanes) is a Sapphic without the initial trochees.
1888, Maurice Thompson, A Fortnight of Folly, page 41:"A real Sapphic," said Crane, dropping into a poetical tone, as an elocutionist does when he is hungry for an opportunity to recite a favorite sketch.
- A person who is sapphic.
2004, Simon Callow, Being an Actor, page 9:'Very good,” he said, 'although I must confess that the older I get, the less I am able to enjoy the company of women – except of course our own dear Enid who is so notorious a Sapphic as to be virtually hors concours.
2011 March 17, Annalisa Millo, “A great year for lesbians”, in QSaltake, number 176, page 33:There are many of us (yes, even in Utah) who are more style-conscious, socially involved and culturally aware Sapphics than the common opinion dictates.
- 2019 Summer, Gretal M. (19), review of Her Royal Highness, by Rachel Hawkins in The Chuckanut Reader, page 71:
- Are you a fan of hate-to-love? Roommates? Royalty romances? Geology puns? Sapphics? Her Royal Highness has all of this and more. After Millie discovers her best friend turned maybe girlfriend kissing someone else, she decides to flee
- For more quotations using this term, see Citations:Sapphic.
Synonyms
See also