Iphis

I1P3H4I1S1

proper noun

The daughter of Ligdus and Telethusa, who, as recounted in Ovid's Metamorphoses, was raised as male and was eventually transformed into a man by the goddess Isis in order to marry Ianthe, daughter of Telestes.

OriginAncient Greek Ἶφις →
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Meanings

proper noun
  1. Any of various male or female figures in Greek mythology, including:
    1. Greekhuman sciencesThe daughter of Ligdus and Telethusa, who, as recounted in Ovid's Metamorphoses, was raised as male and was eventually transformed into a man by the goddess Isis in order to marry Ianthe, daughter of Telestes.
    2. Greekhuman sciencesA (female) native of Skyros, captured by Achilles and given to his companion-in-arms, Patroclus, as slave, as recounted in the Iliad.
    3. Greekhuman sciencesA (male) Cypriot shepherd who, as recounted in Ovid's Metamorphoses, loved a woman named Anaxarete, whose indifference led him to kill himself in despair.
    4. Greekhuman sciencesOne of the Argonauts, the son of Sthenelus and brother of Eurystheus; also called Iphitos or Iphitus,

Origin

  1. Ancient GreekἾφις
  2. EnglishIphis

Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἶφις (Îphis).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

hispi
Cite this entry
APA

Iphis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Iphis

MLA

“Iphis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Iphis. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Iphis,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Iphis.

Source: Iphis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.