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Definition of hydaspes
hydaspes
/haɪˈdæs.piːz/
Hy · das · pes
hydaspes Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
The ancient Greek name for the Jhelum River, a major river flowing through the northern Indian subcontinent in present-day India and Pakistan, famous as the easternmost extent of Alexander the Great's conquests.
Example
"In 326 BC, Alexander the Great fought one of his most challenging engagements against King Porus at the Battle of the Hydaspes."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for hydaspesWord Nuance & Usage
Almost exclusively encountered in ancient historical contexts, particularly concerning the military campaigns of Alexander the Great.
• Rhymes for hydaspes
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Ancient Greek Ὑδάσπης (Hudáspēs), which is a Hellenized adaptation of the river's original Sanskrit name, Vitastā.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hydaspes. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hydaspes