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Cyprian

1
[sip-ree-uh n]
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noun

SaintThascius Caecillus Cyprianus, a.d. c200–258, early church father, bishop, and martyr.

RELATED WORDS

lecher, sensualist, rake, voluptuary, profligate, debauchee, satyr, paillard

Cyprian

2
[sip-ree-uh n]

adjective

noting or pertaining to the worship of Aphrodite or to conduct inspired by Aphrodite.
lewd; licentious.
Cypriot(def 3).

noun

a person from Cyprus or the language spoken there.
a lewd or licentious person, especially a prostitute.
the Cyprian, Aphrodite: so called because her cult was centered on Cyprus.

Origin of Cyprian

2
1590–1600; < Latin Cypri(us) of Cyprus (< Greek Kýprios, derivative of Kýpros Cyprus) + -an
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cyprian

British Dictionary definitions for cyprian

Cyprian

1

adjective

of or relating to Cyprus
of or resembling the ancient orgiastic worship of Aphrodite on Cyprus

noun

(often not capital) obsolete a licentious person, esp a prostitute or dancer

noun, adjective

another word for Cypriot

Cyprian

2

noun

Saint. ?200–258 ad, bishop of Carthage and martyr. Feast day: Sept 26 or 16
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
Word Origin and History for cyprian

Cyprian

adj.

1620s, "of Cyprus," from Latin Cyprianus, from Cyprius, from Greek Kyprios (see Cyprus). The island was famous in ancient times as the birthplace of Aphrodite and for erotic worship rituals offered to her there; hence Cyprian meant "licentious, lewd," the earliest attested sense in English (1590s) and was applied 18c.-19c. to prostitutes.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper