satyr
Americannoun
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Classical Mythology. one of a class of woodland deities, attendant on Bacchus, represented as part human, part horse, and sometimes part goat and noted for riotousness and lasciviousness.
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a lascivious man; lecher.
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a man who has satyriasis.
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Also called satyr butterfly. Also satyrid any of several butterflies of the family Satyridae, having gray or brown wings marked with eyespots.
noun
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Greek myth one of a class of sylvan deities, represented as goatlike men who drank and danced in the train of Dionysus and chased the nymphs
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a man who has strong sexual desires
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a man who has satyriasis
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any of various butterflies of the genus Satyrus and related genera, having dark wings often marked with eyespots: family Satyridae
Discover More
By extension, a “satyr” is a lecherous male.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of satyr
1325–75; Middle English < Latin satyrus < Greek sátyros
Explanation
In classical mythology, satyrs were companions to Pan, a fertility god, and Dionysus, the god of wine and ecstasy. As you might guess, satyrs were not known for their mild-mannered ways: Like their patrons, they were excessively fond of women, drink, and song. In Greek art, the satyr was depicted as a man with the ears and tail of a horse. Roman artists emphasized this creature's relationship to the goat-god Pan by giving the satyr a goat's ears, horns, and haunches. In both cases, the satyr's animal aspect symbolized his immoderate appetites. This noun can also be used metaphorically for a man whose sexual desire is stronger than his sense of decency.
Vocabulary lists containing satyr
The Lightning Thief
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The Picture of Dorian Gray
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The Magician's Nephew
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Some of the most affected species include the Florida white, Hermes copper, tailed orange, Mitchell's satyr, and West Virginia white, all of which have declined in abundance by more than 98% within the US.
From BBC • Mar. 6, 2025
Grover, it turns out, is a satyr, charged with protecting Percy; Mr. Brunner is really a centaur named Chiron.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2023
While stuck on Earth as a mortal, the demigod Hercules still retains his superhuman strength and, with the help of a Danny Devito-voiced satyr, must learn what really makes a hero.
From The Verge • Apr. 30, 2020
Department spokesman John Pepin says at-risk insects living in the sprayed areas include the Mitchell’s satyr, the Silphium borer moth and Persius duskywing butterfly.
From Washington Times • Oct. 12, 2019
Leo gave the helm to Coach Hedge again, after making the satyr promise he would not steer them to the nearest military base “for fun.”
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
