Pygmalion
[pig-mey-lee-uh n, -meyl-yuh n]
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noun
Classical Mythology. a sculptor and king of Cyprus who carved an ivory statue of a maiden and fell in love with it. It was brought to life, in response to his prayer, by Aphrodite.
(italics) a comedy (1912) by George Bernard Shaw.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for pygmalion
Contemporary Examples of pygmalion
On January 29, 1999—exactly 15 years ago—a modern day adaptation of Pygmalion was thrust on an unsuspecting public.
‘She’s All That' 15th Anniversary: Cast and Crew Reminisce About the Making of the ‘90s ClassicMarlow Stern
January 29, 2014
The notion of handcrafting a flawless spouse was nothing new—the Pygmalion myth dates back to ancient Greece.
Historical Examples of pygmalion
Pygmalion's hoarded wealth is borne overseas; a woman leads the work.
The Aeneid of VirgilVirgil
The most remarkable piece that he produced was his comedy "Pygmalion" in 1775.
A Popular History of the Art of MusicW. S. B. Mathews
"Pygmalion got his Galathea" was a line in one of the songs.
The Sand-Hills of JutlandHans Christian Andersen
It is the love of a poet—a Pygmalion who loves his own creation.
Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great, Vol. 13Elbert Hubbard
Famous for worship of Aphrodite and scene of story of Pygmalion.
A Literary and Historical Atlas of AsiaJ. G. Bartholomew
Pygmalion
noun
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
Pygmalion
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Pygmalion
[(pig-may-lee-uhn)]
Note
The play Pygmalion, by George Bernard Shaw, adapts this theme: a professor trains a girl from the gutter to speak and behave like a lady, and then he and his new creation become attached to each other. This play became the basis for the musical comedy My Fair Lady.
Pygmalion
[(pig-mayl-yuhn, pig-may-lee-uhn) (1913)]
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.