alastor

[ uh-las-ter, ‐tawr ]

/ əˈlæs tər, ‐tɔr /

noun

(sometimes initial capital letter) an avenging spirit or deity frequently evoked in Greek tragedy; a male Nemesis.

Nearby words

alaskan, alaskan king crab, alaskan malamute, alaskan pipeline, alastair, alastor, alatau, alate, alateen, alava, alay

Origin of alastor

1600–10; from Greek alástōr “avenging deity,” from álastos “unforgotten, unforgiven”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for alastor

He played Prof. Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody in three of the films.
Fat, Ugly, and Famous|Nicole LaPorte|July 27, 2011|DAILY BEAST
By the time of Alastor it is generally admitted that there could or should have been little mistake.
A History of Nineteenth Century Literature (1780-1895)|George Saintsbury
There is a quotation, or rather a misquotation, from it in the Preface to Alastor.
Oxford Lectures on Poetry|Andrew Cecil Bradley
Alastor, or the Spirit of Solitude is by far the best expression of Shelley's greater mood.
English Literature|William J. Long

Alastor: Ay, ay, but he has a long time been talking to the deaf.
The World's Greatest Books -- Vol XX -- Miscellaneous Literature and Index|Various
Alastor: I bring a message to you and Prosperine that you will be glad to hear.
The World's Greatest Books -- Vol XX -- Miscellaneous Literature and Index|Various

Word Origin and History for alastor

Alastor

in Greek tradition, son of Neleus, brother of Nestor, slain by Herakles. The name is perhaps literally "not to forget," from privative prefix a- "not" + root of lathein "to forget" (see Lethe), hence its use figuratively in sense of "an avenging spirit." Or else it might be connected with alaomai "to wander, roam," figuratively "to be distraught."