A pleiad is a group of seven illustrious individuals or notable things. The term originates from Greek mythology, referring to the seven daughters of Atlas who were transformed into a star cluster.
A pleiad is a group of usually seven illustrious persons or things, named after the seven daughters of Atlas in Greek mythology who became stars.
| Word | pleiad |
|---|---|
| Date | March 6, 2008 |
| Type | noun |
| Syllables | PLEE-ad |
| Etymology | In Greek mythology, the Pleiades were the seven daughters of Atlas and Pleione who were changed into a conspicuous cluster of seven stars in the constellation Taurus. During the Renaissance, French speakers used "Pléiade" (from the singular form of "Pleiades") as the name for an eminent group of seven tragic poets of ancient Alexandria. Later, the French word was also used as a sobriquet for a group of 16th-century French poets led by Pierre de Ronsard. "Pleiad" has been shining its light in English since about 1839. |
| Examples | During Wolfgang's brief time at the spa, he met a pleiad of writers and intellectuals who also were there to "take the cure," as they say. |
| Definition | : a group of usually seven illustrious or brilliant persons or things |
Tags: wordoftheday::noun
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