Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • Tyrant of Syracuse (405–367) noted for his campaigns against the Carthaginians in Sicily. His son Dionysius (395?–343?), known as “the Younger,” succeeded him as tyrant in 367 and was exiled in 343 for his despotic rule.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • proper noun A male given name; much more common in the form Dennis.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the tyrant of Syracuse who fought the Carthaginians (430-367 BC)

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Derived from Dionysus or Dionysos from Ancient Greek mythology.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word Dionysius.

Examples

  • Dionysius is a reminiscent of what was the Dévas (gods) in Indo European Sanskrit mythology; the parental one of all our monotheists†™ religions and cultures, being Christians, Jews, Moslems, Buddhists, or whatsoever.

    More than a tragedy — a scandal « BuzzMachine 2005

  • Dionysius is a reminiscent of what was the Dévas (gods) in Indo European Sanskrit mythology; the parental one of all our monotheists†™ religions and cultures, being Christians, Jews, Moslems, Buddhists, or whatsoever.

    More than a tragedy — a scandal « BuzzMachine 2005

  • In the Christian tradition, it applies to a sixth-century work, The Celestial Hierarchy, supposedly written by a monk from Syria who bears the name of Dionysius, and who has been called the pseudo-Areopagite because legend has it that he was converted to Christianity by St. Paul, on the Areopagus in Athens.

    The Angels and Us Mortimer J. Adler 1982

  • Pseudo-Dionysius from the Greek Fathers, that human nature as such with all its powers and rights was unaffected by the Fall (quod naturalia manent integra), maintained, at least virtually, what the great majority of later Catholic theologians have expressly taught, that the limbus infantium is a place or state of perfect natural happiness.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 9: Laprade-Mass Liturgy 1840-1916 1913

  • Dionysius is said to have been martyred by the Parisii on the Seine, at the place now called Montmartre.

    A Parallel History of France and England; Consisting of Outlines and Dates 1871

  • The account which the ancients give of this Dionysius is that he was bred at Athens, had studied astrology in Egypt, where he took notice of the miraculous eclipse at our Saviour's passion, -- that, returning to Athens, he became a senator, disputed with Paul, and was by him converted from his error and idolatry; and, being by him thoroughly instructed, was made the first bishop of Athens.

    Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume VI (Acts to Revelation) 1721

  • The invention of a sixth-century Syrian monk, known as Dionysius the Areopagite, this neo-Platonic scheme puts the Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones closest to God, followed by the Dominations, Virtues and Powers, with the Principalities, Archangels and garden-variety guardian angels hovering closest to earth.

    Angels 2008

  • The anonymous Christian thinker called Dionysius the Areopagite adapts Proclus 'schema of incorporeal beings to the various angels of Judaic-Christian revela - tion.

    DEMONOLOGY HELEN P. TRIMPI 1968

  • Pythias, a strong republican, having been seized for calling Dionysius a tyrant, and being condemned to death for attempting to stab him, requested a brief respite in order to arrange his affairs, promising to procure a friend to take his place and suffer death if he should not return.

    Mosaics of Grecian History Marcius Willson

  • It was with the same purpose that he turned next to the early Fathers and to the writer called Dionysius the

    The Age of the Reformation Preserved Smith 1910

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.