ephebe Gr. Antiq.
(ɛˈfiːb)
[ad. L. ephēb-us, a. Gr. ἔϕηβος, f. ἐπί upon + ἥβη early manhood.]
Among the Greeks, a young citizen from eighteen to twenty years of age, during which he was occupied chiefly with garrison duty. Also in L. form ephebus (ɛˈfiːbəs). Hence eˈphebic a., of or pertaining to an ephebus, or to early manhood.
| [1697 Potter Antiq. Greece i. ix. (1715) 48 They who were enroll'd amongst the Ephebi. 1807 Robinson Archæol. Græca ii. xviii. 175 The ephebi..were youths that had arrived at the age of eighteen years.] 1880 Waldstein Pythag. Rhegion 5 So soon as they became ephebes..their hair was cut off to the length, etc. 1865 Grote Plato I. iii. 116 note, His [æschines'] two ephebic years. 1884 L. Morris Songs Unsung in Times 9 June 5, I..marked..my youngest born..doffing his ephebic robe. |