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.

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Circe British  

/ ˈsɜːsɪ, sɜːˈsɪən /

noun

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

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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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Other Word Forms

• Circaean
  adjective
• Circean
  adjective

Example Sentences

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

Circe lived on the island of Aeaea, known today as the Circeo Promontory, which is located in the Province of Latina, south of Rome.

From BBC • Jul. 23, 2024

She now keeps Circe on a shorter leash, mindful of where she pokes her nose.

From Washington Times • May 2, 2023

Circe discovers that she possesses enormous powers, but wielding them brings her into direct conflict with Zeus, who banishes her to the island where she’ll meet-cute with Odysseus.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 28, 2021

One morning Circe climbed all the way to the third floor with a covered plate of scrapple and found two empty rooms.

From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison