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amphictyon

[am-fik-tee-uh n]
noun
  1. a deputy to the council of an amphictyony.
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Origin of amphictyon

1580–90; back formation from amphictyons < Greek amphiktýones, orig. amphiktíones neighbors, equivalent to amphi- amphi- + -kti- inhabit + -ones noun suffix (plural)

Amphictyon

[am-fik-tee-uh n]
noun Classical Mythology.
  1. a son of Deucalion and Pyrrha who seized the throne of Attica and who, in devising a plan for avoiding disputes at his council meetings, became the first man to mix water with wine.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for amphictyon

Historical Examples

  • Amphictyon, we are told, was the author of that which bore his name.

    The Federalist Papers

    Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison

  • The chiefs thus gathered together called this assembly the Am-phic-ty-on´ic Council, in honor of Amphictyon.

  • But consider whether this be not a prize proper to the Pythian games, as appropriate to Amphictyon.

  • Amphictyon represents the first of these institutions, and Aethlius the second.

  • The hero Amphictyon, whose temple stood at Thermopylæ, passed in mythical genealogy for the brother of Hellen.

British Dictionary definitions for amphictyon

amphictyon

noun
  1. a delegate to an amphictyonic council
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Word Origin

C16: back formation from amphictyons, from Greek amphiktiones neighbours, from amphi- + ktizein to found
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