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Corinthian, a. (n.)|kəˈrɪnθɪən|
[f. L. Corinthi-us (Gr. κορίνθι-ος) + -an.]
A. adj.
1. a. Of or pertaining to Corinth. b. Arch. The name of one of the three Grecian orders (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian), of which it is the lightest and most ornate, having a bell-shaped capital adorned with rows of acanthus-leaves giving rise to graceful volutes and helices.
[1563Shute Archit. D iij a, The Pedestal of Corinthia. Ibid. D iv b, The whole Trabeations of the Corinthe. 1592R. D. Hypnerotomachia 24 b, For beautie columnes Corinthies.] 1656Blount Glossogr. s.v., In Architecture there are five orders of pillars, The Tuscan, Dorique, Ionique, Corinthian, Composite or Italian. 1756–7tr. Keysler's Trav. (1760) II. 32 The disposition of doric pillars in the first story, of ionic in the middle, and corinthian in the third. 1851Ruskin Stones Ven. (1874) I. i. 14 The two orders, Doric and Corinthian, are the roots of all European architecture.
c. Corinthian brass (Corinthian bronze) [L. Corinthium æs]: an alloy, said to be of gold, silver, and copper, produced at Corinth, and much prized in ancient times as the material of costly ornaments. Also fig. (from the fig. sense of brass) effrontery or shamelessness, such as that attributed to the Corinthians. Hence also Corinthian = ‘brazen’.
1594Sylvester Du Bartas i. vii. Wks. (Grosart) I. 86 For God remembred that he made not Man Of stone, or Steel, or Brass Corinthian. 1601Holland Pliny II. 487 The Corinthian brasse mettall was most highly commended: and the same mixture happened euen by meere chance and fortune, when the city Corinth was woon, sacked and burnt to the ground. 1706in Phillips. 1755T. Amory Memoirs (1769) II. 262 He has the Corinthian face to offer, etc.
2. After the elegant style of Corinthian art. Applied by Mr. Matthew Arnold to an over-brilliant literary style: see quot. 1865.
1860Emerson Cond. Life, Behaviour Wks. (Bohn) II. 387 Nothing can be more excellent in kind than the Corinthian grace of Gertrude's manners. 1865M. Arnold Ess. Crit. ii. 74, I have already spoken of the Attic and the Asiatic styles; besides these, there is the Corinthian style..It has not the warm glow, blithe movement, and soft pliancy of life, as the Attic style has; it has not the over-heavy richness and encumbered gait of the Asiatic style; it has glitter without warmth, rapidity without ease, effectiveness without charm. 1869― Cult. & An. (1883) p. xii, A flight of Corinthian leading-articles, and an irruption of Mr. G. A. Sala.
3. ‘Relating to the licentious manners of Corinth’ (J.), profligate; in 19th c. use: Given to elegant dissipation.
1642Milton Apol. Smect. Wks. (1847) 81/2 The sage and rheumatic old prelatess, with all her young Corinthian laity. 1821P. Egan (title), Life in London; the Day and Night Scenes of Jerry Hawthorne and his Elegant Friend, Corinthian Tom. 1890Daily Tel. 25 Feb. 4/7 (Farmer) Is it not curious that hotel proprietors [at Monte Carlo] should countenance..a Tom and Jerry tone and a wild Corinthian element?
4. (U.S.) Yachting. Amateur.
1885Harper's Mag. June 83/1 On the yacht of a friend who was fond of sailing Corinthian races.
5. Corinthian bagatelle, any of several variations of bagatelle (sense 2).
1933Punch 27 Dec. 715/2 The rules of the House must be revised so as to permit the introduction of..such palliatives as Corinthian bagatelle. 1936J. Cary Afr. Witch xxxi. 404 Another table..supported a Corinthian bagatelle board, complete with balls and cue. 1939G. Greene Confid. Agent iv. i. 273 Boards for Corinthian bagatelle.
B. n.
1. A native or inhabitant of Corinth.
1526Tindale 2 Cor. vi. 11 O ye Corinthyans! [Wyclif A ȝe Corynthis, 1388 Corynthies] oure mouth is open vnto you. 1839Thirlwall Greece III. 253 The Corinthians seem to have had some reason for expecting an attack.
2. (From the proverbial wealth, luxury, and licentiousness of ancient Corinth):
†a. A wealthy man; a profligate idler; a gay, licentious man; also, a shameless or ‘brazen-faced’ fellow (cf. A. 1 c). Obs.
1577Fenton Gold. Epist. 282 If there were any manne in anye parte of Asia, verye wealthye and riche, he was called by a common Phraze, a Corinthian. 1596Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, ii. iv. 13, I am..A Corinthian, a lad of mettle, a good boy. 1697Potter Antiq. Greece ii. 12 (T.) To act the Corinthian, is, to commit fornication, according to Hesychius. a1700B. E. Dict. Cant. Crew, Corinthian, a very impudent, harden'd, brazen-fac'd Fellow. 1785Grose Dict. Vulg. Tongue, Corinthians, frequenters of brothels; also an impudent brazen faced fellow. 1821Scott Kenilw. iii, Who is this gallant, honest Mike!—is he a Corinthian—a cutter like thyself? 1879Farrar St. Paul (1883) 403 A reference to the immorality of the city may still be heard in the use of the word ‘Corinthians’ for profligate idlers.
b. A ‘swell’; a man of fashion about town.
‘In the third decade of the present century the word, both as a substantive and an adjective, was at the height of its popularity’ (Latham).
1819Moore Tom Crib's Mem. 9 (Farmer) 'Twas diverting to see, as one ogled around, How Corinthians and Commoners mixed on the ground. 1821New Monthly Mag. II. 242 This more elegant appellation [Corinthian] has superseded its predecessor Dandy, once so popular in every rank. a1847Mrs. Sherwood Lady of Manor I. ix. 385 The brothers were what, in modern times, we should call Dandies, or Corinthians. 1854Thackeray Leech's Pictures in Q. Rev. Dec. (Farmer), Corinthian, it appears, was the phrase applied to men of fashion and ton..they were the brilliant predecessors of the ‘swell’ of the present period.
c. A wealthy amateur of sport who rides his own horses, steers his own yacht, etc.; esp. in U.S. an amateur yachtsman.
Hence Coˈrinthianism.
1823Blackw. Mag. XIII. 279 In England their profession was Corinthianism, when that sect was in its glory; but now..real pleasures are too low for their refined appetites. |