Semele

American

[sem-uh-lee] / ˈsɛm əˌli /

noun

Classical Mythology.

a daughter of Cadmus and mother, by Zeus, of Dionysus.

Semele British

/ ˈsɛmɪlɪ /

noun

Greek myth mother of Dionysus by Zeus

"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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He'll be making his Glyndebourne debut this weekend in Handel's Semele, as part of the famous English venue's summer programme.

From BBC • Jul. 21, 2023

Zeus tried to dissuade Semele of this request, saying that he would appear in a light brighter than a thousand earthly sons, but she didn't listen.

From Salon • Dec. 15, 2022

The god is Dionysus, the son of Zeus and the mortal Semele, though none of Semele’s relatives buy Zeus’s paternity.

From New York Times • Oct. 4, 2018

“Plunge” presented by Son of Semele, 3301 Beverly Blvd.,

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2018

He held him back and bade him take courage, for he had found favor with one who was indeed a god—Dionysus, whom Semele bore in union with Zeus.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023