sapphic
/ˈsæfɪk/ adjective, noun
Forms sapphics Sapphick
- adjective Lesbian, relating to lesbianism, or (broadly) to women who are attracted (not necessarily exclusively) to women.
- adjective Relating to the Greek poetess Sappho from Lesbos or her poetry.
- adjective (poetry) Of a certain kind of verse reputed to have been invented by Sappho, consisting of five metrical feet, of which the first, fourth, and fifth are trochees, the second is a spondee, and the third a dactyl.
- noun (poetry) A Sapphic verse.
- noun A person who is sapphic.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Sapphic.
Sappho (Ancient Greek Σαπφώ (Sapphṓ)) + -ic, whence Latin Sapphicus. Sense related to sexuality alludes to Sappho's poetry discussing love between women (see also lesbian).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Of or pertaining to Sappho, the Grecian poetess; as, Sapphic odes; Sapphic verse.
- adjective Belonging to, or in the manner of, Sappho; --said of a certain kind of verse reputed to have been invented by Sappho, consisting of five feet, of which the first, fourth, and fifth are trochees, the second is a spondee, and the third a dactyl.
- noun A Sapphic verse.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “sapphic”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details