coryphaeus
[ kawr-uh-fee-uh s, kor- ]
/ ˌkɔr əˈfi əs, ˌkɒr- /
noun, plural cor·y·phae·i [kawr-uh-fee-ahy, kor-] /ˌkɔr əˈfi aɪ, ˌkɒr-/.
the leader of the chorus in the ancient Greek drama.
the leader of an operatic chorus or any group of singers.
Origin of coryphaeus
1625–35; < Latin < Greek
koryphaîos leading, equivalent to
koryph(ḗ) head, top +
-aîos noun suffix
Words nearby coryphaeus
corymbose,
corynebacteria,
corynebacterium,
corynebacterium diphtheriae,
coryneform,
coryphaeus,
coryphodon,
coryphée,
coryza,
coryzavirus,
cos
Example sentences from the Web for coryphaeus
Mrs. Smith threw in her sentiments between the acts, as Coryphaeus of the tragedy, to make the description complete.
A Pair of Blue Eyes |Thomas Hardy
British Dictionary definitions for coryphaeus
coryphaeus
/ (ˌkɒrɪˈfiːəs) /
noun plural -phaei (-ˈfiːaɪ)
(in ancient Greek drama) the leader of the chorus
archaic, or literary
a leader of a group
Word Origin for coryphaeus
C17: from Latin, from Greek
koruphaios leader, from
koruphē summit