faustus
faustus Lexical Profile
• noun
(capitalized) The protagonist of a classic German legend and numerous literary works (notably by Christopher Marlowe), a scholar who trades his soul to the Devil (Mephistopheles) in exchange for supreme knowledge and worldly power.
"In Marlowe's tragedy, Doctor Faustus grows disillusioned with traditional academic disciplines and turns to necromancy."
(capitalized) By extension, a person who compromises their moral integrity or spiritual principles in order to achieve ambitious material success, power, or knowledge.
"Critics portrayed the overly ambitious executive as a modern Faustus willing to sacrifice public safety for corporate dominance."
Word Nuance & Usage
The Latinized form 'Faustus' is most commonly associated with English Renaissance literature (specifically Christopher Marlowe's play 'Doctor Faustus'), whereas the German form 'Faust' is typically used in reference to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's tragedy and the broader cultural archetype.
Word Origin & Etymology
From the Latin cognomen 'Faustus', meaning 'fortunate' or 'auspicious', adopted in the 16th century as the Latinized surname of the historical German alchemist and astrologer Johann Georg Faust (c. 1480–1540).