Hesperides
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 A group of nymphs who tend a blissful garden filled with trees that grew golden apples in a far western corner of the world, located in Libya or the Atlas Mountains in North Africa at the edge of the encircling Oceanus; they are said to be the daughters of Hesperus. Greek, plural, plural-only
- 2 (Greek mythology) group of 3 to 7 nymphs who guarded the golden apples that Gaea gave as a wedding gift to Hera wordnet
- 3 The garden of the Hesperides. Greek, plural, plural-only
- 4 A paradisaical land of plenty, especially one in the far West. figuratively, plural, plural-only
"Inclinations no leſs vigorous have of late been obſerved in Europe, but with more ſucceſs; who not being bounded by Herculean Bars, paſt ſo far through (till then) the unmeaſured Atlantick, that they lighted upon a new World, a flouriſhing Heſperides, Regions whoſe Sands were Gold, Earth Plate, and Rivers Silver, a Paradice extended to the Arctick and Antarctick Circles, with ſeveral other Countries and Iſlands that reach almoſt the utmoſt latitude of either Poles, out-ſhining all the Fables of Antiquity, and boldeſt Tales of their Poetick Dreams; […]"
Example
More examples"With these words he laid the apple in Chloe's lap, and she, when he drew near to her, gave him a kiss; so that Daphnis did not repent of having climbed so high; for the kiss that he received was to his mind worth even more than the golden apples of the Hesperides."
Etymology
From Latin Hesperides, from Ancient Greek Ἑσπερίδες (Hesperídes).