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Hecate

or Hek·a·te

[hek-uh-tee; in Shakespeare hek-it]
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noun Classical Mythology.
  1. a goddess of the earth and Hades, associated with sorcery, hounds, and crossroads.

Origin of Hecate

< Latin < Greek hekátē, noun use of feminine of hékatos far-shooting, said of Apollo as sun-god
Related formsHec·a·te·an, Hec·a·tae·an, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for hecate

Historical Examples

  • But Ceres shook her head, and hastened away, along with Hecate.

    Tanglewood Tales

    Nathaniel Hawthorne

  • Hecate appears as a gigantic woman, bearing a torch and a sword.

  • Call her Hecate, and she will bear any disguise, however fanciful.

  • And I, by my power, tried by Hecate to draw him forth, but I could not.'

    Saronia

    Richard Short

  • Saronia had been powerless to help, and dared not question the vengeance of Hecate.

    Saronia

    Richard Short

British Dictionary definitions for hecate

Hecate

Hekate

noun
  1. Greek myth a goddess of the underworld
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for hecate

Hecate

early 15c., Greek deity, daughter of Perseus and Asteria (said to be originally Thracian), later identified as an aspect of Artemis, fem. of hekatos "far-shooting." Associated since Shakespeare ("I Henry VI," III.ii.64) with witches and sorcery.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper