lethe

noun

le·​the ˈlē-thē How to pronounce lethe (audio)
1
capitalized : a river in Hades whose waters cause drinkers to forget their past
2
: oblivion, forgetfulness
lethean
ˈlē-thē-ən How to pronounce lethe (audio) li-ˈthē- How to pronounce lethe (audio)
adjective often capitalized

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek Lēthē, from lēthē forgetfulness; akin to Greek lanthanein to escape notice, lanthanesthai to forget — more at latent

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lethe was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near lethe

Lethbridge

lethe

lethied

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Cite this Entry

“Lethe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lethe. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lethe

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