Iliad

[ il-ee-uhd ]

noun

1. (italics) a Greek epic poem describing the siege of Troy, ascribed to Homer.
2. (sometimes lowercase) any similar poem; a long narrative.
3. (often lowercase) a long series of woes, trials, etc.

Iliad

/ ˈɪlɪəd; ˌɪlɪˈædɪk /

noun

1. a Greek epic poem describing the siege of Troy, attributed to Homer and probably composed before 700 bc

Derived Forms

• Iliadic, adjective

Other Words From

• Il·i·ad·ic [il-ee-, ad, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Iliad¹

< Latin Iliad- (stem of Ilias ) < Greek, equivalent to Ili ( on ) Troy + -ad- -ad ¹

Example Sentences

Dramatically, “Memnon” feels as if a section of “The Iliad” were being theatrically illustrated.

From Los Angeles Times

The 38-year-old reportedly gained access to a flat in the Italian capital's Prati district via the balcony but became distracted after picking up a book about Homer's Iliad on a bedside table.

From BBC

So, when I read "The Iliad," I already knew this story because it was part of my youth.

From Salon

The Voyage Home is the third book in Pat Barker's series which retells The Iliad story from the perspective of the Trojan women.

From BBC

“Fittingly, Amazon named that process ‘Iliad,’ which refers to Homer’s epic about the long, arduous Trojan War,” the complaint notes.

From Seattle Times