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Thesmophoria

noun
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Thes·​mo·​pho·​ria | \ ˌthezməˈfōrēə \
plural -s

Definition of Thesmophoria

: a festival of Demeter as Thesmophoros or of Demeter and Kore celebrated by women and having as its essential ceremony the casting of pigs into chasms of the earth and the bringing up of their decaying flesh to be mixed with seed to insure fertility

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Other Words from Thesmophoria

Thesmophorian \ ¦⸗⸗¦⸗⸗ən \ adjective
Thesmophoric \ ¦⸗⸗¦fȯrik \ adjective

History and Etymology for Thesmophoria

Latin (plural), from Greek, from thesmophoros giving laws (epithet of Demeter), from thesmos law, ordinance (from tithenai to put, lay down) + -phoros -phore

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Cite this Entry

“Thesmophoria.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Thesmophoria. Accessed 19 May. 2022.

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