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Webster 1913 Edition

Charon

Cha′ron

,
Noun.
[L., fr. Gr. [GREEK].]
(Cless. Myth.)
The son of Erebus and Nox, whose office it was to ferry the souls of the dead over the Styx, a river of the infernal regions.
Shak.

Webster 1828 Edition

Charon

CHARON

,
Noun.
In fabulous history, the son of Erebus and Nox, whose office was to ferry the souls of the deceased over the waters of Acheron and Styx, for a piece of money.

Definition 2024

Charon

Charon

Translingual

Etymology

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Proper noun

Charon m

  1. A taxonomic genus within the family Charontidae – certain whip spiders in the family.

Hyponyms


English

Image taken of Charon in July 2015

Proper noun

Charon

  1. (Greek mythology) The ferryman of Hades.
  2. (astronomy) The largest of the 5 moons of Pluto.

Derived terms


Translations

See also

Anagrams

Etymology

From Ancient Greek Χάρων ‎(Khárōn). James W. Christy, who discovered this moon, was influenced in selecting the name by its similarity to Char, a pet name for Charlene, his wife's name — hence the alternative American pronunciation, which is used at NASA.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈkeəɹɒn/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈkɛəɹən/ (in astronomy, also IPA(key): /ˈʃærən/)
  • Hyphenation: Char‧on

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