dido

¹

[dahy-doh]

noun

Informal.

plural

didos, didoes 

1. a mischievous trick; prank; antic.

2. a bauble or trifle.

Dido

²

[dahy-doh]

noun

1. Phoenician Elissa. Classical Mythology.,  a queen of Carthage who killed herself when abandoned by Aeneas.

2. a female given name.

Dido

¹

/ ˈdaɪdəʊ /

noun

1. classical myth a princess of Tyre who founded Carthage and became its queen. Virgil tells of her suicide when abandoned by her lover Aeneas

dido

²

/ ˈdaɪdəʊ /

noun

1. an antic; prank; trick

Dido

1. In Roman mythology, the founder and queen of Carthage in north Africa. She committed suicide in grief over the departure of her lover, the hero Aeneas.

Dido is an image of the unhappy or unrequited lover.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Dido¹

First recorded in 1800–10; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of Dido¹

C19: originally US: of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

"We keep being told that AI will change everything, which, I'm afraid, means that we will discuss this during debates on every bill," said Baroness Dido Harding in the House of Lords, recorded in Hansard.

From BBC

Baroness Dido Harding, who was in charge of the programme in England, told the Covid inquiry she repeatedly argued to increase financial support, but was "frustrated" by the response of then chancellor, Rishi Sunak.

From BBC

Dido’s love for Aeneas, of course, ends tragically, with Dido killing herself after her beloved abandons her to fulfill his destiny as the founder of Rome.

From Los Angeles Times

Hanson shares an anecdote about how, when he was younger, his parents bought a car for their dog, Dido.

From BBC

Three enslaved people—Pompey, Dido, and Turk—were quickly convicted of poisoning Ambrose Madison.

From Literature