Charybdis
[ kuh-rib-dis ]
/ kəˈrɪb dɪs /
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noun
Modern name Ga·lo·fa·lo [Italian gah-law-fah-law], /Italian gɑˈlɔ fɑ lɔ/, Ga·ro·fa·lo [Italian gah-raw-fah-law] /Italian gɑˈrɔ fɑ lɔ/ . a whirlpool in the Strait of Messina off the NE coast of Sicily.
Classical Mythology. a daughter of Gaia and Poseidon, a monster mentioned in Homer and later identified with the whirlpool Charybdis.Compare Scylla (def. 2).
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Origin of Charybdis
First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English Karibdous, Karybdys, from Latin Charybdis, from Greek Chárybdis; further origin uncertain
OTHER WORDS FROM Charybdis
Cha·ryb·di·an, adjectiveWords nearby Charybdis
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for Charybdis
British Dictionary definitions for Charybdis
Charybdis
/ (kəˈrɪbdɪs) /
noun
a ship-devouring monster in classical mythology, identified with a whirlpool off the north coast of Sicily, lying opposite Scylla on the Italian coastCompare Scylla
Derived forms of Charybdis
Charybdian, adjectiveCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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