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 • Nov. 2, 2025

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 • Aug. 22, 2025

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

From New York Times • Feb. 11, 2022

But Sarah Ruhl's writing does not translate well across the pond – or over Lethe.

From The Guardian • May 8, 2010

Above the mantel, a dark tree branch dripped milky water from the River Lethe into a bowl.

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

• inattention