phoenix

¹

[ fee-niks ]

noun

, genitive Phoe·ni·cis [fee-, nahy, -sis, -, nee, -].

1. Sometimes Phoenix. a mythical bird of great beauty fabled to live 500 or 600 years in the Arabian wilderness, to burn itself on a funeral pyre, and to rise from its ashes in the freshness of youth and live through another cycle of years: often an emblem of immortality or of reborn idealism or hope.
2. genitive Phoenicis [fee-, nahy, -sis, -, nee, -]. (initial capital letter) Astronomy. a southern constellation between Hydrus and Sculptor.
3. a person or thing of peerless beauty or excellence; paragon.
4. a person or thing that has become renewed or restored after suffering calamity or apparent annihilation.

Phoenix

²

[ fee-niks ]

noun

1. Classical Mythology.
   1. the brother of Cadmus and Europa, and eponymous ancestor of the Phoenicians.
   2. a son of Amyntor and Cleobule who became the foster father of Achilles and who fought with the Greek forces in the Trojan War.
2. a city in and the capital of Arizona, in the central part.
3. Military. a 13-foot (4-meter), 989-pound (445-kilogram) U.S. Navy air-to-air missile with radar guidance and a range of over 120 nautical miles.

Phoenix

¹

/ ˈfiːnɪks /

noun

1. a city in central Arizona, capital city of the state, on the Salt River. Pop: 1 388 416 (2003 est)

Phoenix

²

/ ˈfiːnɪks /

noun

1. a constellation in the S hemisphere lying between Grus and Eridanus

phoenix

³

/ ˈfiːnɪks /

noun

1. a legendary Arabian bird said to set fire to itself and rise anew from the ashes every 500 years
2. a person or thing of surpassing beauty or quality

Phoenix

¹

1. Capital city of Arizona .

phoenix

²

1. A mythical bird that periodically burned itself to death and emerged from the ashes as a new phoenix. According to most stories, the rebirth of the phoenix happened every five hundred years. Only one phoenix lived at a time.

Notes

To “rise like a phoenix from the ashes” is to overcome a seemingly insurmountable setback.

Word History and Origins

Origin of phoenix¹

First recorded before 900; from Latin, from Greek phoînix “a mythical bird, purple-red color,” Phoenician, “date palm”; replacing Middle English, Old English fēnix, from Medieval Latin; Latin as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of phoenix¹

Old English fenix, via Latin from Greek phoinix; identical in form with Greek Phoinix Phoenician, purple

Example Sentences

They’re in a group with the Spurs, the Phoenix Suns, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Utah Jazz.

From Los Angeles Times

“I miss Ronnie,” she says in a phone interview from her home near Phoenix.

From Los Angeles Times

The company estimates that its fleet of more than 700 vehicles completes over 150,000 rides weekly in Phoenix, the Bay Area and Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times

"It's unbelievable," said Langer, who also had rounds of 69, 64 and 67 at the Phoenix Country Club in Arizona.

From BBC

Now the proud owner of a body shop in Phoenix, he believes Trump’s policies will help him as a business owner.

From BBC

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