Theocritus

[ thee-ok-ri-tuhs ]

noun

1. flourished c270 b.c., Greek poet.

Theocritus

/ θɪˈɒkrɪtəs; θɪˌɒkrɪˈtiːən /

noun

1. Theocritus?310 bc?250 bcMGreekWRITING: poet ?310–?250 bc , Greek poet, born in Syracuse. He wrote the first pastoral poems in Greek literature and was closely imitated by Virgil

Derived Forms

• Theˈocritan, adjectivenoun

Other Words From

• The·oc·ri·te·an [thee-ok-ri-, tee, -, uh, n], The·ocri·tan adjective

Example Sentences

His adventure with the snakes when he was a baby is told by Pindar in the fifth century and by Theocritus in the third.

From Literature

In my account I have followed the stories given by the two tragic poets and by Theocritus, rather than Pindar, one of the most difficult of poets to translate or even to paraphrase.

From Literature

Adonis I have taken from two third-century poets, Theocritus and Bion.

From Literature

I have taken this story from the third-century poet Theocritus.

From Literature

He and three other Alexandrians, who also wrote about mythology, the pastoral poets Theocritus, Bion and Moschus, have lost the simplicity of Hesiod’s and Pindar’s belief in the gods, and are far removed from the depth and gravity of the tragic poets’ view of religion; but they are not frivolous like Ovid.

From Literature