Dorian

See also: dorian

English

Etymology

Constructed like the French Doriens. From the Latin root of Dōres + -ian. Compare Ancient Greek Δωριεύς (Dōrieús, “of Doris”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈdɔːɹiən/

Adjective

Dorian (comparative more Dorian, superlative most Dorian)

1. Of or relating to the Dorians.
2. (of a man) Homosexual, gay; preferring exclusively men as romantic or sexual partners; male counterpart of lesbian.
   • 1883, John Addington Symonds, chapter 19, in A Problem in Greek Ethics‎^[1]:

     while the [Dorian] love of males for males in Greece obtained moralisation, and reached the high position of a recognised social function, the [Lesbian] love of female for female remained undeveloped and unhonoured

   • 1890, John Addington Symonds in A. Strahan, The Contemporary Review‎^[2], page 416:

     All the Spartan kings and generals grew up under the institution of Dorian love. Epameinondas and Alexander were notable lovers; and the names of their comrades are recorded.

   • 2011, Daniel Orrells, Classical Culture and Modern Masculinity‎^[3], page 159:

     And the evidence from Symonds's Memoirs seems to suggest that 'Ionian' implied pederastic relations, as attested in ancient Athens, whereas 'Dorian' involved two virile men.

   • 2012, Daniel Orrells, “Greek love, orientalism and race: intersections in Classical reception”, in The Cambridge Classical Journal‎^[4], Cambridge University Press:

     Dorian love, on the other hand, was a love between two virile equals, and so exceptional and unique.

   • 2015, John Lauritsen, “Down With LGBTQ!”, in Gay Liberation‎^[5], Utrecht University:

     Gay may not be ideal, and it has acquired negative connotations in recent years. I'd much prefer the beautiful word, Dorian, which can be both noun and adjective.

   • 2015, Lotte Campman, chapter 1, in Greek Love and Love for All Things Greek: Gay Subtext and Greek Intertext in Works by Oscar Wilde‎^[6], page 9:

     Wilde’s choice for his main protagonist’s name a “veiled reference to ‘Dorian’ or ‘Greek’ love”.

   • 2022, Sarah Olsen & Mario Telò, chapter 1, in Queer Euripides: Re-Readings in Greek Tragedy‎^[7], page 31:

     "Dorian love" between two masculine adult men should now be seen as a model for modern democratic, socialist politics.

3. (mythology) Of or relating to the oceanid Doris in Greek mythology.
4. (astronomy) Of or relating to the asteroid (48) Doris.

Translations

of or relating to the Dorians

• Finnish: doorilainen (fi)
• Greek:

  Ancient: Δωρικός m (Dōrikós)

• Italian: dorico (it) m
• Latin: Dōrius m, Dōricus m, Dōriēnsis m or f
• Portuguese: dórico (pt) m
• Romanian: please add this translation if you can
• Russian: дори́йский (ru) (doríjskij)
• Sicilian: dùricu m

Noun

Dorian (plural Dorians)

1. A member of the Dorians.

Translations

a member of the Dorians

• Finnish: doorilainen (fi)
• French: Dorien (fr) m
• Greek:

  Ancient: Δωριεύς m (Dōrieús), Δωριεῖς m pl (Dōrieîs)

• Hungarian: dór (hu)
• Italian: Dori (it) m pl
• Polish: Dor (pl) m
• Portuguese: dório m
• Romanian: please add this translation if you can
• Russian: дори́ец (ru) m (doríjec)
• Sicilian: Duri m pl

Proper noun

Dorian

1. A male given name from Ancient Greek, famously used by Oscar Wilde in his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891).
2. A female given name

See also

• Doric
• Dorian Gray effect
• Dorian mode
• Hellenic
• hypodorian
• Pelasgian

Anagrams

• Orinda, ordain, Rodina, darion, ranoid, NORAID, inroad, Ardoin, donair, radion, draino