Argives

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A term used to refer to the ancient Greeks from Argos, particularly during the Trojan War era; a collective name for inhabitants of a specific region in Greece renowned for their military prowess; or a description of the cultural and historical legacy associated with the Argives in classical literature and mythology
2. Referring to the people of Argos, a city in ancient Greece known for its significance in mythology and warfare; a label for those involved in the narratives surrounding the Trojan War; or a term capturing the Greek heritage linked to Argos and its contributions to history
3. Denoting the citizens of a historically important Greek city-state, Argos; a name that embodies the legacy of Greek civilization and its epic tales; or an identifier for those from a region known for its role in ancient conflicts and narratives

Etymology: "Argives" is the plural of "Argive," the English term for a native or inhabitant of Argos, the ancient city in the Peloponnese. The name passed into English from Latin "Argīvus," which in turn was borrowed from the Ancient Greek "Argeîos," formed from "Argos" with the adjective-forming ending that Greek used to mark belonging to a place. Because Homer and the other early Greek poets used "Argeioi" as a general term for the Greeks in the Trojan War, the word came to name the whole Greek army in classical literature, not only the men of one city. That broader sense is the one English readers meet in translations of the "Iliad," where "Argives" stands in for the Greeks as a whole.

Synonyms: Greeks, Achaeans, Hellenes, Dorians, Ionians