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Circe

American  
[sur-see] / ˈsɜr si /

noun

  1. Also called Aeaea. Classical Mythology. Also the enchantress represented by Homer as turning the companions of Odysseus into swine by means of a magic drink.

  2. a dangerously or irresistibly fascinating woman.


Circe British  
/ ˈsɜːsɪ /

noun

  1. Greek myth an enchantress who detained Odysseus on her island and turned his men into swine

"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

Circe Cultural  
  1. In classical mythology, a powerful sorceress who turned people into swine. On the way home from Troy, the crew of Odysseus fell prey to her spells.


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Example Sentences

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Samantha Morton’s Circe is the most obvious, along with Charlize Theron’s Calypso.

From Salon ● Sep. 3, 2026

Meanwhile NielsenIQ noted many related works -- including "The Iliad", Madeline Miller's "Circe" and Margaret Atwood's "The Penelopiad" -- had also seen "significant" sales uplifts.

From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026

At least Samantha Morton’s body-horror spin on the witch Circe is terrific.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026

Also in the field of women’s monstrosity, there’s Madeline Miller’s Circe and other contemporary feminist retellings, fiction that rehabilitates female villains of legend and literature, from Lady Macbeth to Baba Yaga to Japanese yokai.

From Slate ● Oct. 28, 2024

The orphans called to Circe from the vegetable garden early in the morning as soon as they saw the smoke from the cook stove rising.

From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison

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