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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

Selene en · PROPN

Pronunciation

  • (Southern-England) audio
  • /sɪˈliːni/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /səˈlini/ (US)
  • sĭlēʹnĭ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From the Ancient Greek Σελήνη (Selḗnē, proper noun), from σέλας (sélas, “light”).

Meanings

  1. (Greek) The goddess of the Moon.
    • This fragmentary front panel of a sarcophagus preserves two episodes from the story of Endymion and Selene. Selene, goddess of the moon, fell in love with Endymion, a beautiful young mortal. 2010, J. Paul Getty Trust, Kenneth Lapatin, Karol Wight, editors, The J. Paul Getty Museum Handbook of the Antiquities Collection, 2nd edition, page 169:
    • In the other, more famous story, the moon goddess Selene fell in love with him^([Endymion]) while he was asleep. 2005, Marshall Cavendish Corporation, Gods, Goddesses, and Mythology, volume 4, page 473:
    • Balancing Arria is the union of Selene and Endymion. In the center of the main panel Selene descends from her chariot, whose horses are held by a nymph, to join Endymion, who lies to the right. 1999, Mark P. O. Morford, Robert J. Lenardon, Classical Mythology, page 43:
  2. A female given name from Ancient Greek.
    • In the opening sequence of the film Underworld (2004), the beautiful vampire assassin Selene, clad in tight black rubber and leather, is perched beside gargoyles on top of a soaring Gothic tower. 2012, Johan Höglund, “10: Militarizing the Vampire: Underworld and the Desire of the Military Entertainment Complex”, in Tabish Khair, Johan Höglund, editors, Transnational and Postcolonial Vampires: Dark Blood, page 173:
    • “Selene, I am going to get you out of bed and sit you in the chair for a minute. I want to put this heavy blanket and sheet on your bed so it will keep your new bedding clean.” 2008, Diane M. Unger, A Colonial Lieutenant Beckons, page 143:
    • We also made arrangements with my sister Marion and brother-in-law Richard for Selene to stay with them over long school holidays, like Thanksgiving and Easter, when the campus would be closed for a few days. 2013, Arnold E. van Beverhoudt, Jr., Island Boy: My Life on the Rock, page 157:
  3. (poetic) The Moon.

Deriveds

Selenite · Selenian

Relateds

Luna · selenology · selenite · Selena · selenium · Endymion · selenography

Translations (34)

la Selena (female given name) · el Σεληνη (female given name) · it Selene (Greek moon goddess) · ja セレネ (female given name) · pt Selene (Greek moon goddess) · grc Σελήνη (female given name) · ca Selena (female given name) · ja セレーネー (Greek moon goddess) · bg Селена (female given name) · eo Seleno (Greek moon goddess) · hi सिलीनी (Greek moon goddess) · it Selena (female given name) · el Σελήνη (Greek moon goddess) · ru Селе́на (female given name) · ru Селе́на (Greek moon goddess) · hy Սելենե (Greek moon goddess) · fr Séléné (Greek moon goddess) · bg Селена (Greek moon goddess) · es Selena (female given name) · ca Selene (female given name) · ka სელენე (Greek moon goddess) · es Selene (female given name) · grc Σελήνη (Greek moon goddess) · ca Selene (Greek moon goddess) · cmn 塞琳 (female given name) · es Selene (Greek moon goddess) · fr Sélène (Greek moon goddess) · uk Селе́на (Greek moon goddess) · it Selene (female given name) · iu ᓯᓖᓂ (Greek moon goddess) · ko 셀레네 (Greek moon goddess) · xbc Ϲαληνη (Greek moon goddess) · it Selenia (female given name) · cmn 塞勒涅 (Greek moon goddess)