Anacreonic

Part of speech: adjective, noun

Definitions

1. Relating to the ancient Greek poet Anacreon or to light, convivial verse celebrating wine, love and sensual pleasure
2. Describing poetry in the manner of the Greek lyricist Anacreon, which praises drinking, romance and the joys of life
3. Characterizing verse that imitates the playful, sensual style associated with the Greek poet Anacreon and his songs of wine

Etymology: Anacreon was a Greek lyric poet from the island of Teos, famed in antiquity for songs about wine, love and pleasure, but very little of his own verse survives. The playful poems that circulated under his name, the Anacreontea, were written by admirers and imitators long after his death. The adjective, formed from his name with the Greek suffix "-ikos," describes a style that is partly a reputation built from copies. That reputation outlasted any doubt about authorship. Readers in later centuries admired the graceful drinking songs and love poems, and a London gentlemen's club took the poet's name for its convivial singing evenings. The club's song, "To Anacreon in Heaven," supplied the melody for "The Star-Spangled Banner," so an ancient Greek's name ended up attached to an American national anthem.