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.
"The ancient pilgrims traveled to the slopes of Mount Parnassus to consult the renowned Oracle of Delphi."
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'.