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Selene

[si-lee-nee]
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noun
  1. the Greek goddess of the moon.Compare Thyone.
  2. Also Se·le·na. a female given name.
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Origin of Selene

From the Greek word Selḗnē the moon
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for selene

Historical Examples

  • Wherever Selene peeped she saw faces, and they all wore an expression of grief.

    Melomaniacs

    James Huneker

  • With a gesture of despair he turned to leave the room but Selene detained him.

    Melomaniacs

    James Huneker

  • Belle showed signs of fatigue, so Selene made her comfortable on the divan.

    Melomaniacs

    James Huneker

  • Belle sat down and laughed again, and this time Selene joined in.

    Melomaniacs

    James Huneker

  • On this point he solemnly assured himself as he knocked at Selene's door.

    Melomaniacs

    James Huneker

British Dictionary definitions for selene

Selene

noun
  1. the Greek goddess of the moonRoman counterpart: Luna
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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

Word Origin and History for selene

Selene

moon goddess, equivalent of Latin Luna, from Greek selene "the moon; name of the moon goddess," related to selas "light, brightness, bright flame, flash of an eye," from PIE root *swel- (2) "to shine, beam" (cf. Sanskrit svargah "heaven," Lithuanian svilti "to singe," Old English swelan "to be burnt up," Middle Low German swelan "to smolder"); related to swelter, sultry. Related: Selenian "of or pertaining to the moon as a world," 1660s.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper