Acis

American  

[ey-sis] / ˈeɪ sɪs /

noun

Classical Mythology.

1. the lover of Galatea, killed by Polyphemus out of jealousy.

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Acis British  

/ ˈeɪsɪs /

noun

1. Greek myth a Sicilian shepherd and the lover of the nymph Galatea. In jealousy, Polyphemus crushed him with a huge rock, and his blood was turned by Galatea into a river

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Example Sentences

The fountain is enormous, a giant colonnaded structure decorated with carved figures, and at its center a huge bronze Polyphemus shown in the act of surprising Acis and Galatea.

From New York Times • Apr. 19, 2022

A brilliant soprano, Lauren Snouffer, who specializes in Baroque music and contemporary opera, becomes a female Acis.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2020

Acis and Galatea express themselves through spectacular singing, at which Snouffer and Costanzo prove breathtaking.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2020

As told in Ovid’s “Metamorphoses,” the story is simple and brief: the shepherd Acis and the sea nymph Galatea are happily in love, but the Cyclops Polyphemus loves Galatea too.

From New York Times • Apr. 5, 2011

However, Acis was changed into a river-god, so that story ended well.

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