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

The Phoenix I uses a leveling system that automatically adjusts its center of gravity, making it more stable and comfortable to maneuver.

From Washington Post

Gomez died unexpectedly at his Phoenix home Sunday afternoon, according to the statement.

From Washington Post

It was 2002, and Korina Adkins was moving to Phoenix from Washington for a new job.

From Washington Post

That’s the Phoenix I’m into, the one that’s carrying all the damage with it.

From Time

The place where this happened was Hacienda HealthCare in Phoenix.

From ProPublica

Three on-the-record stories from a family: a mother and her daughters who came from Phoenix.

From The Daily Beast

BEST ACTOR Joaquin Phoenix, Inherent Vice There is no better actor—right now—than Joaquin Phoenix.

From The Daily Beast

He came to Phoenix once and we went up to see him, and they got so crazy that I ended up trying to hitchhike home.

From The Daily Beast

But you know, I had only one other hero in my life acting and that was River [Phoenix].

From The Daily Beast

When a client needs to move something by air, Phoenix gets it done.

From The Daily Beast

The bridge was constructed in 1888 by the Phoenix Bridge Company, and was erected on staging.

From Project Gutenberg

He wrongd you shrewdly,He toyld to climbe vp to the Phoenix nest,And in his prints leaues your ascent more easie.

From Project Gutenberg

"Open the door, Phoenix," mumbled Calavius, as he rocked and swayed.

From Project Gutenberg

The story of just how Chicago proved herself a veritable Phoenix is a very interesting one.

From Project Gutenberg

The savage had before this event been merely "a legendary and heraldic animal like the griffin and the phoenix."

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• behemoth
• freak
• giant
• whale