Eleusinian
(ɛljuːˈsɪnɪən)
[f. L. eleusīni-us (Gr. ἐλευσίνιος) belonging to Eleusis + -an.]
Belonging to Eleusis in Attica. Eleusinian mysteries: the mysteries of Demeter there celebrated; also fig. Hence Eleuˈsinianism (nonce-wd.).
| 1643 Milton Divorce Wks. 1738 I. 190 Eleusinian Mysteries, that no man can utter what they mean. 1841–4 Emerson Ess. xx. Wks. (Bohn) I. 250 The Eleusinian mysteries..show that there always were seeing and knowing men in the planet. 1857 Chamb. Jrnl. VII. 226 The eleusinianism of bonnetdom. |