Meanings
- Greekhuman sciencesThe personification of satire and mockery.
1 more example
The extraordinary section of the poem that here follows is based on the mythological story of Momus, expanded by the fancy of the modern poet. The story ran that Momus, "the jester", was hurled off Olympus by the other gods, who could not endure his satirical criticism. When Zeus gave the "fatal kick" that sent Momus off Olympus, it was fatal not so much to Momus as to the mountain of the gods, although apparently Olympus still aspired to heaven, while Momus went limping, crippled by his fall. But the gods, lacking the criticism of his Comic Spirit, rapidly degenerated, and soon fell to earth.
1912 G. M. TREVELYAN (in notes to The Poetical Works of George Meredith)
Origin
- Ancient GreekΜῶμος
- EnglishMomus
From Ancient Greek Μῶμος (Mômos), whose name is related to μομφή (momphḗ, “blame, reproach”).
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek Μῶμος
- Μῶμος (Mômos)personification of satire and mockery
Bulgarian Мом
- Момpersonification of satire and mockery
Catalan Momo, Momos
- Momopersonification of satire and mockery
- Momospersonification of satire and mockery
Chinese Mandarin 摩墨斯
- 摩墨斯 (Mómòsī)personification of satire and mockery
Czech Mómos
- Mómospersonification of satire and mockery
Dutch Momus
- Momuspersonification of satire and mockery
Esperanto Momo
- Momopersonification of satire and mockery
Finnish Momos
- Momospersonification of satire and mockery
French Momos, Momus
- Momospersonification of satire and mockery
- Momuspersonification of satire and mockery
German Momos
- Momospersonification of satire and mockery
Greek Μώμος
- Μώμος (Mómos)personification of satire and mockery
Hebrew מוֹמוֹס
- מוֹמוֹס (Momos)personification of satire and mockery
Indonesian Momos
- Momospersonification of satire and mockery
Italian Momo
- Momopersonification of satire and mockery
Japanese モーモス
- モーモス (Mōmosu)personification of satire and mockery
Korean 모모스, 모무스
- 모모스 (Momoseu)personification of satire and mockery
- 모무스 (Momuseu)personification of satire and mockery
Lithuanian Momas
- Momaspersonification of satire and mockery
Polish Momos
- Momospersonification of satire and mockery
Portuguese Momo
- Momopersonification of satire and mockery
Russian Мом
- Момpersonification of satire and mockery
Spanish Momo
- Momopersonification of satire and mockery
Swedish Momos
- Momospersonification of satire and mockery
Ukrainian Мом
- Момpersonification of satire and mockery
Cite this entry
Momus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Momus
“Momus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Momus. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Momus,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Momus.
Source: Momus on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.