Argus

[ ahr-guhs ]

noun

1. Classical Mythology. a giant with 100 eyes, set to guard the heifer Io: his eyes were transferred after his death to the peacock's tail.
2. a son of Phrixus and builder of the Argo.
3. (in the Odyssey ) Odysseus' faithful dog, who recognized his master after twenty years and immediately died.
4. any observant or vigilant person; a watchful guardian.
5. (lowercase) Also ar·gus pheas·ant []. any of several brilliantly marked Malayan pheasants of the Argusianus or Rheinardia genera.

argus

¹

/ ˈɑːɡəs /

noun

1. any of various brown butterflies, esp the Scotch argus ( Erebia aethiops ) found on moorland and in forests up to a height of 2000 m

Argus

²

/ ˈɑːɡəs /

noun

1. Greek myth a giant with a hundred eyes who was made guardian of the heifer Io. After he was killed by Hermes his eyes were transferred to the peacock's tail
2. a vigilant person; guardian

Argus

1. A creature in classical mythology who had a hundred eyes. Hera set him to watch over Io, a girl who had been seduced by Zeus and then turned into a cow; with Argus on guard, Zeus could not come to rescue Io, for only some of Argus' eyes would be closed in sleep at any one time. Hermes , working on Zeus' behalf, played music that put all the eyes to sleep and then killed Argus. Hera put his eyes in the tail of the peacock.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Argus¹

< Latin < Greek Árgos, derivative of argós bright, shining

Example Sentences

The court filing followed cross complaints from Cisterra and lenders that included claims against the city and three contractors including West Coast and Argus.

From Voice of San Diego

The Argus Leader, a South Dakota newspaper, joined the case on ProPublica’s side.

From ProPublica

“My primary bent, in terms of philanthropy, is directed at small children, to give them the opportunity to realize a full life,” he told the Argus Leader in 2004.

From ProPublica

Two environmental contractors, Argus and Enviro Applications, declined to comment for this story.

From Voice of San Diego

The women who attended her either had lovers among the Guises or were watched by Argus eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

If he should evade these sons of Argus, he would yet be wrecked under the stern eye of the old draper or of Madame Guillaume.

From Project Gutenberg

Favored by this annual turmoil, the happy Augustine escaped the investigations of her Argus-eyed relations.

From Project Gutenberg

The military gentlemen are vigilant as Argus, and, though pitying the poor Prince, must be rigorous as Rhadamanthus.

From Project Gutenberg

This he did in great measure by the establishment of a periodical called the Argus.

From Project Gutenberg