coryphaeus

Meaning

1. (historical) The conductor or leader of the chorus of a drama.
2. (broadly) The chief or leader of an interest or party.
3. The leader of an opera chorus or another ensemble of singers.

Synonyms

luminary

celebrity

leader

Translations

coryphée

luminare

autorità

koryfí

coryphaeus

Koryphäe

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˌkɔɹəˈfiːəs/

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin coryphaeus, from Ancient Greek κορυφαῖος (koruphaîos, “leader of the chorus in an Ancient Greek drama”), from κορυφή (koruphḗ, “top of the head, crown”) (possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ḱerh₂- (“head, top; horn”)) + -ῐος (-ĭos, suffix forming adjectives meaning ‘belonging to, pertaining to’).