Paphian

[ pey-fee-uhn ]

adjective

1. of or relating to Paphos, an ancient city of Cyprus sacred to Aphrodite.
2. of or relating to love, especially illicit sexual love; erotic; wanton.
3. noting or pertaining to Aphrodite or to her worship or service.

noun

1. the Paphian, Aphrodite: so called from her cult center at Paphos.
2. (often lowercase) a prostitute.

Paphian

/ ˈpeɪfɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Paphos
2. of or relating to Aphrodite
3. literary.
   of sexual love

Word History and Origins

Origin of Paphian¹

1605–15; < Latin Paphi ( us ) (< Greek Páphios of Paphos, of Aphrodite) + -an

Example Sentences

These two Muses, sent for, regardless of expense, I could see, were but the vehicle of a kind of service which I judged to be Paphian rather.

From Project Gutenberg

In the temple of Paphian Venus were a hundred of them.

From Project Gutenberg

Cupid too, in Paphian shades, His hair with rosy fillet braids, When with the blushing naked Graces, The wanton winding dance he traces.

From Project Gutenberg

Him, who instructs the sons of earth To thrid the tangled dance of mirth; Him, who was nursed with infant Love, And cradled in the Paphian grove; Him, that the snowy Queen of Charms Has fondled in her twining arms.

From Project Gutenberg

The Poet meets Apollo on the hill, And Pan and Flora and the Paphian Queen, And infant na�ads bathing in the rill, And dryad maids that dance upon the green, And fauns and Oreads in the silver sheen They wear in summer, when the air is still.

From Project Gutenberg