Meanings
- alternativeAlternative form of Telemachus.
The reception of Telemakhos as a guest by the two kings gives rise to detailed scenes of hospitality, for which there is a clear sequence.
1992, William G[regory] Thalmann, “The Hero Absent: Books 1–4”, in The Odyssey: An Epic of Return (Twayne’s Masterwork Studies; 100), New York, N.Y.: Twayne Publishers, →ISBN, page 362 more examples
The book’s sufficient justification would be to demonstrate that attention to body-talk confirms and italicizes existing, already subtle expositions of the world’s favorite story—of Penelope’s bounded independence or of Telemakhos’ social and legal conflicts.
1995, Donald Lateiner, “Apprehending Homeric Character(s): Gesture and Criticism”, in Sardonic Smile: Nonverbal Behavior in Homeric Epic, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Press, →ISBN, part 1 (Nonverbal Behaviors), page 26Critics have noted that Penelope gives one reason for now appearing before the suitors (declaring that she wishes both to appear before them and to dissuade Telemakhos from associating with them), but claims a different motivation when she speaks before them (chastising Telemakhos for allowing shoddy treatment of the stranger and them for their ignoble attempts at wooing her).
1999, Bruce Louden, “The Extended Narrative Pattern in the Odyssey”, in The Odyssey: Structure, Narration, and Meaning, Baltimore, Md.: Johns Hopkins University Press, →ISBN, page 9
Origin
- Ancient GreekΤηλέμαχος
- EnglishTelemakhos
Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek Τηλέμαχος (Tēlémakhos).
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
Telemakhos. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Telemakhos
“Telemakhos.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Telemakhos. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Telemakhos,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Telemakhos.
Source: Telemakhos on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.