Alcestis

[ al-ses-tis ]

/ ælˈsɛs tɪs /

noun

Also Alkestis. Classical Mythology. the wife of Admetus who gave up her life in order that the Fates might save the life of Admetus and later was brought back from Hades by Hercules.

(italics) a tragedy (438 b.c.) by Euripides.

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

Examples from the Web for alcestis

He had edited the Alcestis, and married his laundress; lost money by his edition, and his fellowship by his match.
Vivian Grey|Earl of Beaconsfield, Benjamin Disraeli
Alcestis consented to die in his stead, and is therefore here taken as the chief type of wifely devotion.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 3 (of 7)|Geoffrey Chaucer
Apollo tries to persuade Death to give back Alcestis, but Death declares her fate demanded by justice.
Demonology and Devil-lore|Moncure Daniel Conway
So Sleep passed her by, and till the bright-haired dawn shone out in the east Alcestis sat by the open window.
Children of the Dawn|Elsie Finnimore Buckley

The pose of Alcestis is that of the nymphs of the Parthenon; only, it would not have been so fine were these not in existence.
The History of Modern Painting, Volume 3 (of 4)|Richard Muther

British Dictionary definitions for alcestis

Alcestis

/ (ælˈsɛstɪs) /

noun

Greek myth the wife of king Admetus of Thessaly. To save his life, she died in his place, but was rescued from Hades by Hercules

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 alcestis

Alcestis

wife of Admetus, she offered her life for her husband and was rescued from the Underworld by Herakles, from Greek Alkestis, literally "valiant, courageous," from alke "protection, help, strength, power."