Agency Dictionary
Eros
nounPronunciation: /ˈɪər.ɒs/
In Portuguese: Eros
Philosophy & Ethics
Spirituality & MythWhat does “Eros” mean?
A passionate, romantic, and often erotic love characterized by intense longing, attraction, and creative vitality.
Etymology
From Greek eros, "love, desire", the noun of the verb eran or erasthai ("to love, to desire"), also the name of the god of love, whom the Romans identified with Cupid. The earlier history of the Greek word is unknown. In Plato's dialogues eros is the desire that can rise from the beauty of a body to the love of wisdom. In the 20th century Freud used Eros for the life instincts, and writers on love set eros beside philia, storge and agape as one of the Greek names for it.
Usage note
Written with a capital for the god and for Freud's concept, in lower case for the kind of love. It is a word of philosophy, theology and psychology, not of everyday speech.
Synonyms
- passion
- desire
- romantic love
- longing
Often confused with
- agape
- Agape is selfless love that gives without asking in return; eros is love that desires and longs for the beloved.
Word family
- erotic
- eroticism
- erotica
- eroticize
Usage examples
Eros is a romantic and erotic love, often focused on physical attraction and desire.
Concepts
- ErosEros is the philosophical and mythological concept of passionate love, creative desire, and the unifying drive toward aesthetic and spiritual beauty. Beyond romantic…
- Form of BeautyThe Form of Beauty is the transcendent, absolute, and immutable archetype of beauty in Platonic metaphysics, existing independently of sensory objects. It serves as the…
- Ladder of LoveThe ladder of love is a philosophical doctrine expounded by Diotima of Mantinea in Plato's Symposium, describing an ascending spiritual ascent from sensible attraction…
- Platonic DialogueA Platonic dialogue is a classical philosophical literary genre developed by Plato, presenting dramatic conversations between historical or archetypal figures to explore…
- Procreation in BeautyProcreation in beauty is a philosophical concept introduced by Diotima of Mantinea in Plato's Symposium, asserting that human love is fundamentally a desire to give birth…
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
Words of the same theme
- Antithesisnoun
- A person, thing, or concept that represents the direct or exact opposite of another.
- Rebirthnoun
- A new beginning after a period of decline or destruction, used in mythology to describe the cyclical return to life after death. In Archetype.0, rebirth is the defining characteristic of both the Bennu and the Phoenix.
- Discursiveadjective
- Proceeding by reasoned argument or sequential exposition rather than by immediate visual intuition.
- Synchronicitynoun
- The simultaneous occurrence of events that appear meaningfully related yet lack a direct causal connection.
- Treatisenoun
- A formal, systematic, and comprehensive written work dealing methodically with the principles and evidence of a particular philosophical, scientific, or technical subject.
- Maximnoun
- A concise statement expressing a fundamental principle, general truth, or practical rule of conduct.
- Self-immolationnoun
- The deliberate destruction of oneself, typically by fire. In Archetype.0, self-immolation is the voluntary act by which the phoenix builds a nest of fragrant spices and woods, ignites itself and is consumed by the flames.
- Immortalitynoun
- The quality of being immune to permanent death, living or enduring beyond a single lifespan. In Archetype.0, immortality is one of the five semiotic attributes of the Phoenix: the flames are not an end but a transition, an essential phase of its immortal existence.
- rhetoricnoun
- The art of effective and persuasive speaking or writing, especially through strategic linguistic devices.
- Tangibleadjective
- Perceptible by the sense of touch or capable of being physically grasped and measured in concrete physical reality. It distinguishes concrete material products from virtual or intellectual entities.
- Holisticadjective
- Characterized by the comprehension of parts as intimately interconnected and explicable only in reference to the whole.
- Mjolnirnoun
- In Norse mythology, the hammer of the god Thor, forged by dwarfs and known for its short handle. It is the weapon with which he defends gods and humans.
Also from these editions: terms
- Agapenoun
- A selfless, unconditional, and altruistic form of love often associated in theology with divine charity.
- Androgynenoun
- A mythical primordial being uniting male and female characteristics in a single unified body.
- Aûsunoun
- An Old Tupi noun denoting love, affection, friendship, or benevolent regard.
- Aûsubverb
- An Old Tupi transitive verb meaning to love, care for, or hold someone in deep esteem.
- Benefactornoun
- A person who supports, protects, or assists another individual through resources, rank, or mentorship.
- Chivalrynoun
- The medieval knightly code of conduct demanding honor, valor, courtesy, loyalty, and Christian devotion.
- Ludusnoun
- A playful, flirtatious, and lighthearted form of love free from long-term obligations or solemnity.
- Philianoun
- A deep, reciprocal, and virtuous affection among friends or equals based on shared values and mutual loyalty.
- Potionnoun
- A liquid concoction endowed with purported medicinal, magical, toxic, or transformative powers.
- Pragmanoun
- A practical, enduring, and mature love built on long-term commitment, shared duties, and realistic expectations.
- Storgenoun
- Natural familial affection, especially the instinctive bond shared among parents, children, and siblings.
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