Char·on
n. Greek Mythology
1. (kâr′ən) The ferryman who conveyed the dead to Hades over the river Styx.
2. (kâr′ən, shâr′-) Astronomy The largest of Pluto's satellites.
[Latin Charōn, from Greek Kharōn, Kharōn-, possibly an ironic or apotropaic use (with reference to Charon's gloomy task) of the Greek male personal name Kharōn (from khairein, khar-, to rejoice, delight in, be glad to; see gher- in Indo-European roots) or a hypocorism from kharopos, having flashing or bright eyes, fierce, grim (probably khairein + -op-; akin to Greek ōps, ōp-, eye, and op-s-, suppletive future stem of horān, to see; see Pelops). Sense 2, originally coined (without knowledge of the name of the mythological figure) by James W. Christy (born 1938), American astronomer who discovered Charon in 1978 : Char, nickname of Charlene Christy, his wife + -on, noun suffix common in scientific vocabulary; see -on1, (although Christy soon discovered that by fortunate coincidence his coinage corresponded exactly to the name of a figure associated with the god Pluto).]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Charon
(ˈkɛərən)n
(Classical Myth & Legend) Greek myth the ferryman who brought the dead across the rivers Styx or Acheron to Hades
Charon
(ˈkɛərən)n
(Celestial Objects) the only known satellite of Pluto, discovered in 1978
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
Char•on
(ˈkɛər ən, ˈkær-)n.
a ferryman of Greek myth who conveyed the souls of the dead across the Styx.
Cha•ron•ic (kəˈrɒn ɪk) adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Noun | 1. |  Charon - (Greek mythology) the ferryman who brought the souls of the dead across the river Styx or the river Acheron to HadesGreek mythology - the mythology of the ancient Greeks ferryman - a man who operates a ferry |
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