amphitryonic

comparative more amphitryonic · superlative most amphitryonic

1. Characteristic of an amphitryon or host.

   Giardini bounded upon his chair, as if he had been stung by a horsefly, but a sudden reflection restored him to his amphitryonic dignity; [...]

   1896, Honoré de Balzac, Gambara, page 31

   2 more examples

   And he proceeded to bustle out of the cupboard sundry plates and glasses, together with the promised good things, while, leaning against the mantelshelf, his cousin surveyed the amphitryonic preparations with an air of amusement and that slightly condescending cheeriness which had grown upon him in their old relation of coach and ‘pup.’

   1891, Egerton Castle, Consequences, volume 2, London, page 11

   Her maître d’hôtel was the then noted Damours, who was said to have elevated the science of politeness and social culture, and the practice of the amphitryonic service, to such perfection that nobody before or after him attainted equal excellence.

   1895, J. L. W. Thudichum, The Spirit of Cookery: A Popular Treatise on the History, Science, Practice, and Ethical and Medical Import of Culinary Art, page 36

comparative more Amphitryonic · superlative most Amphitryonic

1. Of or relating to the mythological Amphitryon, the subject of numerous comedies.

   [...] the Amphitryonic plays.

   1920, The Weekly Review, page 483

   1 more example

   So much is obvious, perhaps, to anyone who has the time to wade through the Amphitryonic literature. What most critics have failed to point out, however, is that, while the process involved in the Jovian fall may begin, in extant literature, at any rate with Plautus' Amphitryon, it continues in later versions of the myth as a result of the quite constant subjection of that deity to comic parody and pretense in other plays of Plautus, and especially in the Casina, a play in which Jupiter, Juno, Mercury, and a luscious objet d'amour appear on a somewhat less than divine level.

   1939, Collection Latomus, page 135

2. Alternative letter-case form of amphitryonic (“characteristic of an amphitryon or host”)

   1 more example

   Our host, elated by a double triumph, for the College Declamations were just declared, and he had gained one of the Latin ones, had exhausted all his Amphitryonic resources to do justice to the party and the occasion. Turkey-legs devilled in wine, curried oysters, lobser au gratin (the Trinity cook used to call it lobster grating, just as he had converted poulet grillé into pulled and grilled fowl), and other appetizing condiments, graced the board, and that rare luxury in England, good Madeira, flowed abundantly.

   1873, Charles Astor Bristed, Five Years in an English University, page 246