Ixion

I1X8I1O1N1
/ɪkˈsaɪ.ən-ɒn/

proper noun

King of Lapiths, who was punished by Zeus for trying to seduce Hera by being bound to a winged fiery wheel that was always spinning.

OriginLatin Ixīōn ← Ancient Greek Ἰξίων →
UncommonScrabble 12
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Meanings

proper noun
  1. Greekhuman sciencesKing of Lapiths, who was punished by Zeus for trying to seduce Hera by being bound to a winged fiery wheel that was always spinning.

    As to fitfulness, I have never learnt the art of binding myself to any of the wheels on which the Ixions of these days are turning round and round.

    1849 May – 1850 November, Charles Dickens, The Personal History of David Copperfield, London: Bradbury & Evans, […], published 1850, →OCLC
    1 more example

    The complicated conjunction and adverb “ut” also looms. Mr. Butterfield said that it is “the sort of infernal business that would make Sisyphus and Ixion smile kindly on the job satisfaction they got from their daily toil,” referring to figures from classical mythology forced to labor in pain for eternity.

    2019 November 30, Annalisa Quinn, “Latin Dictionary’s Journey: A to Zythum in 125 Years (and Counting)”, in New York Times
  2. astronomyA Kuiper belt object (KBO), 28978 Ixion (provisional designation 2001 KX₇₆), once thought to be a possible dwarf planet.

Origin

  1. Ancient GreekἸξίων
  2. LatinIxīōn
  3. EnglishIxion

From Latin Ixīōn, from Ancient Greek Ἰξίων (Ixíōn, literally “strong native”).

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek Ἰξίων, Ἰξίων
  • Ἰξίων (Ixíōn)king of Lapiths
  • Ἰξίων (Ixíōn)a Kuiper Belt object
Catalan Ixíon, Ixíon
  • Ixíonking of Lapiths
  • Ixíona Kuiper Belt object
Chinese Mandarin 伊克西翁, 小行星28978
  • 伊克西翁king of Lapiths
  • 小行星28978a Kuiper Belt object
Dutch Ixion, Ixion
  • Ixionking of Lapiths
  • Ixiona Kuiper Belt object
Esperanto Iksiono, Iksiono
  • Iksionoking of Lapiths
  • Iksionoa Kuiper Belt object
Estonian Iksion, Iksion
  • Iksionking of Lapiths
  • Iksiona Kuiper Belt object
French Ixion, Ixion
  • Ixionking of Lapiths
  • Ixiona Kuiper Belt object
German Ixion, Ixion
  • Ixionking of Lapiths
  • Ixiona Kuiper Belt object
Greek Ιξίονας, Ιξίονας
  • Ιξίονας (Ixíonas)king of Lapiths
  • Ιξίονας (Ixíonas)a Kuiper Belt object
Italian Issione, Issione
  • Issioneking of Lapiths
  • Issionea Kuiper Belt object
Latin Ixion, Ixion
  • Ixionking of Lapiths
  • Ixiona Kuiper Belt object
Polish Ixion, Ixion
  • Ixionking of Lapiths
  • Ixiona Kuiper Belt object
Portuguese Ixião, Ixião
  • Ixiãoking of Lapiths
  • Ixiãoa Kuiper Belt object
Russian Иксион, Иксион
  • Иксион (Iksion)king of Lapiths
  • Иксион (Iksion)a Kuiper Belt object
Spanish Ixión, Ixión
  • Ixiónking of Lapiths
  • Ixióna Kuiper Belt object
Turkish İksiyon
  • İksiyonking of Lapiths
Ukrainian Іксіон, Іксіон
  • Іксіон (Iksion)king of Lapiths
  • Іксіон (Iksion)a Kuiper Belt object
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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