Orestes

[ aw-res-teez, oh-res‐ ]

/ ɔˈrɛs tiz, oʊˈrɛs‐ /

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noun

Classical Mythology. the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, and the brother of Electra and Iphigenia: he avenged the murder of Agamemnon by killing Clytemenestra and her lover, Aegisthus, then was pursued by the Furies until saved by Athena.

(italics) a tragedy (408 b.c.) by Euripides.

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Words nearby Orestes

Oreopithecus, ore rotundo, oreshoot, Oresme, Oresteia, Orestes, Orestes complex, Øresund, ore tanker, -orexia, orexigenic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use Orestes in a sentence

It was as inevitable as that the doom of Orestes should follow the original crime of the house of Atreus.
The Daughters of Danaus|Mona Caird
It would have been satisfactory if we could have found it in the much more important fragment of the Orestes.
The Modes of Ancient Greek Music|David Binning Monro
His death, which occurred in 1668, is said to have been caused by over-exertion as Orestes in Racine's Andromaque.
Queens of the French Stage|H. Noel Williams
When they came to Orestes and the Eumenides, Colin held out the drawing at arm's length for a moment lovingly.
Babylon, Volume 2 (of 3)|Grant Allen

The prefect Orestes was compelled to interfere to stop the riot; but the archbishop was not so easily disposed of.
History of the Intellectual Development of Europe, Volume I (of 2)|John William Draper

British Dictionary definitions for Orestes

Orestes

/ (ɒˈrɛstiːz) /

noun

Greek myth the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, who killed his mother and her lover Aegisthus in revenge for their murder of his father

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

Cultural definitions for Orestes

Orestes

[ (aw-res-teez) ]

In classical mythology, the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, and brother of Electra. Agamemnon was killed by Clytemnestra and her lover, Aegisthus. To avenge the murder, Orestes and Electra killed them both.