phoenix

¹

Also phe·nix

[fee-niks]

noun

genitive

Phoenicis 

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. (initial capital letter),  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 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

²

/ ˈfiːnɪks /

noun

1. a constellation in the S hemisphere lying between Grus and Eridanus

Phoenix

³

/ ˈfiːnɪks /

noun

1. a city in central Arizona, capital city of the state, on the Salt River. Pop: 1 388 416 (2003 est)

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.

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

In Phoenix, units with air conditioning must be able to maintain a temperature of 82 degrees or below.

From Los Angeles Times

David Brockett is head of operations for Phoenix Futures in Scotland, a charity which provides rehab services.

From BBC

A couple of seasons ago in Phoenix, I had taped a midday match to watch after work and was scrupulously avoiding any source of spoilers.

From Los Angeles Times

It includes back-to-back road tests against Atlanta this week and games against Phoenix and Las Vegas to close the regular season.

From Los Angeles Times

Departures from a number of airports in nearby states — including Phoenix, Denver and Salt Lake City — were grounded as a precaution between 3:25 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• behemoth 
• freak 
• giant 
• whale