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• Calypso
  Calypso

  noun

  Also Kalypso a sea nymph who detained Odysseus on the island of Ogygia for seven years.
• calypso
  calypso

  noun

  a popular type of satirical, usually topical, West Indian ballad, esp from Trinidad, usually extemporized to a percussive syncopated accompaniment

Calypso

American  

[kuh-lip-soh] / kəˈlɪp soʊ /

noun

Calypsos plural

1. Classical Mythology. Also Kalypso a sea nymph who detained Odysseus on the island of Ogygia for seven years.

2. Also called fairy-slipper.  (lowercase) a terrestrial orchid, Calypso bulbosa, of the Northern Hemisphere, having a single variegated purple, yellow, and white flower.

3. (lowercase) a musical style of West Indian origin, influenced by jazz, usually having topical, often improvised, lyrics.

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verb (used without object)

1. (lowercase) to sing or dance to calypso.

calypso ¹ British  

/ kəˈlɪpsəʊ /

noun

1. a popular type of satirical, usually topical, West Indian ballad, esp from Trinidad, usually extemporized to a percussive syncopated accompaniment

2. a dance done to the rhythm of this song

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Calypso ² British  

/ kəˈlɪpsəʊ /

noun

1. Greek myth (in Homer's Odyssey ) a sea nymph who detained Odysseus on the island of Ogygia for seven years

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calypso ³ British  

/ kəˈlɪpsəʊ /

noun

1. a rare N temperate orchid, Calypso (or Cytherea ) bulbosa, whose flower is pink or white with purple and yellow markings

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• calypsonian
  noun

Inflected Forms

noun

• Calypsos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of Calypso

The name of the musical style is of obscure origin and perhaps only copies the spelling of Calypso the sea nymph

Example Sentences

“For some, a war becomes home,” he says at one point, his line readings so pungent you’ll barely miss the excitement of a Cyclops or a Calypso.

From New York Times • Dec. 5, 2024

The sources close to the deal said that is in line with what Thoma Bravo paid combined for regulatory software firm AxiomSL and financial software maker Calypso, which it merged into Adenza.

From Reuters • Jun. 22, 2023

Harry Belafonte, who has died at the age of 96, was far more than just the "Calypso King".

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2023

Parishioners in wooden pews, illuminated by sunlight from stained-glass windows, swayed, lifted their arms and sang along to songs infused with Calypso beats.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 4, 2022

Calypso glanced over her shoulder, at the path that led to her garden and her cavern home.

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan