satyr

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a male woodland spirit in ancient Greek mythology, associated with Dionysus and represented with both human and animal features

   The painted vase shows a satyr dancing beside Dionysus.

2. 2
   noun

   a man regarded as having uncontrolled sexual desire (dated and disapproving)

   The novel presents the predatory libertine as a satyr.

From Middle English satyre, through Old French and Latin satyrus from Ancient Greek satyros. Greek satyrs were companions of Dionysus; later European art increasingly blended their appearance with the goat-like form of the Roman faun.

Topics