Dorian en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈdɔːɹiən/
Etymology
Constructed like the French Doriens. From the Latin root of Dōres + -ian. Compare Ancient Greek Δωριεύς (Dōrieús, “of Doris”).
Meanings
- Of or relating to the Dorians.
-
(of a man) Homosexual, gay; preferring exclusively men as romantic or sexual partners; male counterpart of lesbian.
Wilde’s choice for his main protagonist’s name a “veiled reference to ‘Dorian’ or ‘Greek’ love”.
2015, Lotte Campman, chapter 1, in Greek Love and Love for All Things Greek: Gay Subtext and Greek Intertext in Works by Oscar Wilde, page 9:Dorian love, on the other hand, was a love between two virile equals, and so exceptional and unique.
2012, Daniel Orrells, “Greek love, orientalism and race: intersections in Classical reception”, in The Cambridge Classical Journal, Cambridge University Press:All the Spartan kings and generals grew up under the institution of Dorian love. Epameinondas and Alexander were notable lovers; and the names of their comrades are recorded.
1890, John Addington Symonds in A. Strahan, The Contemporary Review, page 416:"Dorian love" between two masculine adult men should now be seen as a model for modern democratic, socialist politics.
2022, Sarah Olsen & Mario Telò, chapter 1, in Queer Euripides: Re-Readings in Greek Tragedy, page 31:while the [Dorian] love of males for males in Greece obtained moralisation, and reached the high position of a recognised social function, the [Lesbian] love of female for female remained undeveloped and unhonoured
1883, John Addington Symonds, chapter 19, in A Problem in Greek Ethics:Gay may not be ideal, and it has acquired negative connotations in recent years. I'd much prefer the beautiful word, Dorian, which can be both noun and adjective.
2015, John Lauritsen, “Down With LGBTQ!”, in Gay Liberation, Utrecht University, archived from the original on 23 Dec 2022:And the evidence from Symonds's Memoirs seems to suggest that 'Ionian' implied pederastic relations, as attested in ancient Athens, whereas 'Dorian' involved two virile men.
2011, Daniel Orrells, Classical Culture and Modern Masculinity, page 159:
- Of or relating to the oceanid Doris in Greek mythology.
- Of or relating to the asteroid (48) Doris.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more Dorian | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most Dorian | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Translations (14)
fr dorien (of or relating to the Dorians) · ca dòric (of or relating to the Dorians) · it dorico (of or relating to the Dorians) · la Dōriēnsis (of or relating to the Dorians) · scn dùricu (of or relating to the Dorians) · grc Δωρικός (of or relating to the Dorians) · ca dori (of or relating to the Dorians) · bg дорийски (of or relating to the Dorians) · fr dorique (of or relating to the Dorians) · pt dórico (of or relating to the Dorians) · la Dōrius (of or relating to the Dorians) · la Dōricus (of or relating to the Dorians) · fi doorilainen (of or relating to the Dorians) · ru дори́йский (of or relating to the Dorians)