minotaur
UK[ˈmaɪnətɔː]US[ˈmɪnətɔːr]
n
A mythical monster with the head of a bull and the body of a man, kept in the Labyrinth in Crete and killed by Theseus.
Morpheme Breakdown
mino
taur
mino
from Minos
taur
bull
Etymology
The word 'Minotaur' is a compound directly from Greek mythology, formed from the name 'Minos' and the noun 'tauros' (bull). It translates literally as "the bull of Minos." This name originates from the myth in which King Minos of Crete incurred the wrath of the god Poseidon, leading to the birth of this hybrid creature. The term entered English via Latin 'Minotaurus', preserving its specific mythological reference to the monstrous offspring of Pasiphaë and the Cretan Bull, which was imprisoned in the Labyrinth.
Analysis
Structure: mino (from Minos) + taur (bull)
'Mino' is derived from the name of the Cretan King Minos, of Greek origin. 'Taur' is from the Greek 'tauros', meaning 'bull'.
Examples
The legend tells of Theseus venturing into the Labyrinth to slay the Minotaur.
The Minotaur is a classic symbol of bestial fury and confinement in ancient myths.
Artistic depictions of the Minotaur often emphasize its powerful, bull-like head on a human torso.