eros
eros Lexical Profile
eros Game Scores & Validity
• noun
(usually capitalized) In Greek mythology, the god of sexual attraction and passionate love, identified by the Romans with Cupid.
"The marble statue depicted Eros holding his bow, ready to loose an arrow of desire."
Passionate, romantic, or sexual love and desire, especially as contrasted in classical philosophy and Christian theology with selfless spiritual love (agape) or platonic friendship (philia).
"Ancient Greek philosophers distinguished between eros, the fiery longing for beauty and union, and philia, the steady affection shared between close friends."
In Freudian psychoanalysis, the sum of all life instincts striving for survival, pleasure, and reproduction, contrasted with the death instinct (Thanatos).
"Freud's later theory of human behavior centers on the perpetual tension between eros, the drive toward life and creation, and the destructive pull of the death instinct."
Word Nuance & Usage
In philosophy and theology, 'eros' (passionate or romantic desire) is traditionally contrasted with 'agape' (selfless, unconditional love) and 'philia' (affectionate friendship). In Freudian psychoanalysis, it is often capitalized as 'Eros' and paired in opposition to 'Thanatos' (the death drive).
• Rhymes for eros
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed via Latin from Ancient Greek ἔρως (érōs, 'sexual passion, desire, or love'), personified in Greek mythology as Eros, the god of love and attraction.