odyssey English · revision 2416

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɒdəsi/ ''(UK)''; /ˈɑdəsi/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from the ''Odyssey'', the Homeric epic of the wanderings of Odysseus after the fall of Troy,^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Etymonline) via [[la|Odyssea]],^(Etymonline) [[der|grc|Ὀδύσσεια|tr=Odússeia]], from ''Odusseús'' “Odysseus”.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The title of the epic poem, in English from about 1600 (1601 in the OED).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The poem tells of Odysseus's ten-year struggle to return home to Ithaca.^(Etymonline)^(RHWU)^(OED 1989) The figurative sense, a long, adventurous journey with many changes of fortune, is recorded by 1889,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) and was later extended to an intellectual or spiritual quest.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1601 – the Homeric epic.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * before 1711 – ''Odyssean''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1889 – a long adventurous journey.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A long journey or series of wanderings full of adventure and changes of fortune.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # An intellectual or spiritual quest.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[Odyssean]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[Odysseus]]

+ * [[Ulysses]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}