Alcestis

American

[al-ses-tis] / ælˈsɛs tɪs /

noun

Classical Mythology. Also Alkestis 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.

Alcestis British

/ 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

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.

They were so impressed with Russell’s embodiment of a powerful woman that they asked Tymberly Canale, who plays Alcestis, to memorize her speech patterns.

From New York Times • Nov. 27, 2011

Looking for a model for the dynamic and powerful Alcestis, they came up with Russell, in her role in the film “His Girl Friday.”

From New York Times • Nov. 27, 2011

They found inspiration for both Alcestis and Admetus in Jerry Lewis’s and Elvis Presley’s self-created regality, and by watching YouTube videos of the Yiddish actor Solomon Mikhoels playing King Lear in the 1930s.

From New York Times • Nov. 27, 2011

"It didn't give me any special satisfaction to sing at the Met," she said coolly after her debut in Gluck's Alcestis.

From Time Magazine Archive

It was this Admetus whose wife, Alcestis, Hercules rescued from Hades.

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