Semele

American

[sem-uh-lee] / ˈsɛm əˌli /

noun

Classical Mythology.

a daughter of Cadmus and mother, by Zeus, of Dionysus.

Semele British

/ ˈsɛmɪlɪ /

noun

Greek myth mother of Dionysus by Zeus

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He'll be making his Glyndebourne debut this weekend in Handel's Semele, as part of the famous English venue's summer programme.

From BBC • Jul. 21, 2023

Zeus tried to dissuade Semele of this request, saying that he would appear in a light brighter than a thousand earthly sons, but she didn't listen.

From Salon • Dec. 15, 2022

Dionysus comes back to Thebes so Thebes can acknowledge he’s actually the son of Semele and Zeus.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 31, 2018

The Canadian soprano Jane Archibald is a beguiling Semele, and brings a bright, technically agile and appealing voice to a demanding role.

From New York Times • Mar. 5, 2015

Madame Semele went into the inside of the caravan and unhooked the cage from its chain.

From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023