Lethe

American  

[lee-thee] / ˈli θi /

noun

1. Classical Mythology. a river in Hades whose water caused forgetfulness of the past in those who drank of it.

2. (usually lowercase) forgetfulness; oblivion.

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Lethe British  

/ ˈliːθɪ, lɪˈθiːən /

noun

1. Greek myth a river in Hades that caused forgetfulness in those who drank its waters

2. forgetfulness

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Lethe Cultural  

1. In classical mythology, a river flowing through Hades. The souls of the dead were forced to drink of its waters, which made them forget what they had done, said, and suffered when they were alive.

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Other Word Forms

• Lethean adjective
• Lethied adjective

Etymology

Origin of Lethe

< Latin < Greek, special use of lḗthē forgetfulness, akin to lanthánesthai to forget

Example Sentences

The team designated it a new species, Nanotyrannus lethaeus, referencing the River Lethe from Greek mythology -- a fitting tribute to a species "forgotten" for decades.

From Science Daily

So John Gradus is a journeyer in his own right, learning where he went wrong in life to reach the Lethe and reincarnate.

From Los Angeles Times

Was the water of the Styx flowing beneath his fingers, or maybe the Lethe?

From Literature

The underground pool bears echoes of Lethe, the river of forgetfulness in the classical Greek underworld of Hades.

From New York Times

Anchises led Aeneas to Lethe, the river of forgetfulness, of which the souls on their way to live again in the world above must all drink.

From Literature

Related Words

• inattention