coryphaeus
[ kawr-uh-fee-uhs, kor- ]
noun,plural cor·y·phae·i [kawr-uh-fee-ahy, kor-]. /ˌkɔr əˈfi aɪ, ˌkɒr-/.
the leader of the chorus in the ancient Greek drama.
the leader of an operatic chorus or any group of singers.
Origin of coryphaeus
11625–35; <Latin <Greek koryphaîos leading, equivalent to koryph(ḗ) head, top + -aîos noun suffix
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British Dictionary definitions for coryphaeus
coryphaeus
/ (ˌkɒrɪˈfiːəs) /
nounplural -phaei (-ˈfiːaɪ)
(in ancient Greek drama) the leader of the chorus
archaic, or literary a leader of a group
Origin of coryphaeus
1C17: from Latin, from Greek koruphaios leader, from koruphē summit
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
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