parnassus
parnassus Lexical Profile
• noun
A limestone mountain in central Greece that towers above Delphi, sacred in ancient Greek mythology to Apollo and the Muses, and historically regarded as the home of poetry, literature, and learning.
A figurative center or ultimate pinnacle of poetic and artistic achievement; the collective realm of poetry and literature.
"During the Renaissance, the city's vibrant literary circle was celebrated by aspiring writers as a modern Parnassus."
Word Nuance & Usage
Almost universally capitalized as 'Parnassus', this word frequently appears in classical and neoclassical literature as a metonym for the realm of poetry, high artistic achievement, or the collective body of poets.
• Rhymes for parnassus
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Latin 'Parnassus', derived from Ancient Greek 'Παρνασσός' (Parnassós). The name is of pre-Greek, likely Anatolian origin, possibly related to the Luwian word 'parna' meaning 'house' or 'temple'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.