dorian
/ˈdɔːɹiən/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.17 in modern English
7
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
3
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Homosexual, gay; preferring exclusively men as romantic or sexual partners; male counterpart of lesbian.
adj
Of or relating to the oceanid Doris in Greek mythology.
name
A male given name from Ancient Greek, famously used by Oscar Wilde in his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891).
name
A female given name.
Example Sentences
- "while the [Dorian] love of males for males in Greece obtained moralisation, and reached the high position of a recognised social function, the [Lesbian] love of female for female remained undeveloped and unhonoured"
- "All the Spartan kings and generals grew up under the institution of Dorian love. Epameinondas and Alexander were notable lovers; and the names of their comrades are recorded."
- "And the evidence from Symonds's Memoirs seems to suggest that 'Ionian' implied pederastic relations, as attested in ancient Athens, whereas 'Dorian' involved two virile men."
- "Dorian love, on the other hand, was a love between two virile equals, and so exceptional and unique."
- "Gay may not be ideal, and it has acquired negative connotations in recent years. I'd much prefer the beautiful word, Dorian, which can be both noun and adjective."
- "Wilde’s choice for his main protagonist’s name a “veiled reference to ‘Dorian’ or ‘Greek’ love”."
Etymology
Constructed like the French Doriens. From the Latin root of Dōres + -ian. Compare Ancient Greek Δωριεύς (Dōrieús, “of Doris”).
Origin
- Source language: French
Word Breakdown
- Root: Doriens, -