Eumenides

American  

[yoo-men-i-deez] / yuˈmɛn ɪˌdiz /

noun

1. (used with a plural verb)  a euphemistic name for the Furies, meaning “the Kindly Ones.”

2. (italics)  a tragedy (485 b.c.) by Aeschylus.

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Eumenides British  

/ juːˈmɛnɪˌdiːz /

plural noun

1. another name for the Furies, used by the Greeks as a euphemism

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Etymology

Origin of Eumenides

from Greek, literally: the benevolent ones, from eumenēs benevolent, from _eu- + menos spirit

Example Sentences

Aeschylus’ “Oresteia” concludes with “Eumenides,” depicting the establishment of the Areopagus court to replace cycles of vengeance, thus mythologizing the roots of jury trials.

From Salon

"A Greek playwright entered a tailor shop. The tailor asked him, 'Euripides?' The tragedian responded, 'Yes, Eumenides?'"

From Salon

“We are fierce and cannot be deviated by man,” the Eumenides remind him.

From New York Times

Most of us don’t know our Euripides from our Eumenides, but it turns out we’re living in a Greek moment anyway.

From New York Times

Most sinister of all is the Eumenides, a secret charitable order made up of the city’s wealthiest men that supports the workhouses, which takes its name from Greek myth.

From Washington Post