[Gr. Ζεύς, gen. Διός, related to L. Jovis (gen.): see JOVE, JUPITER.]
1. Myth. Name of the supreme deity of the ancient Greeks; cf. JUPITER. Hence allusively.
1920. Times Lit. Suppl., 1 April, 207/4. The Zeus of Weimar [sc. Goethe] was the last person we should have imagined comparable with our Swan of Avon!
b. Comb.
1839. T. Mitchell, Frogs of Aristoph., Add. 411. Cretan Zeus-worship.
a. 1861. Clough, Poems (1869), II. 464. You are the hatefullest to me of the Zeus-fed princes.
1875. Browning, Aristoph. Apol., Poet. Wks. 1896, I. 750/1. The hapless Zeus-born offspring.
1880. Jebb, in Encycl. Brit., XI. 140/1. Legends of warlike deeds done by Zeus-nourished kings.
2. Ichthyol. A genus of spiny-finned fishes, including the John Dory, Zeus faber, anciently sacred to Zeus or Jupiter.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Zeüs, a Fish taken about Cadiz…, of a black Colour and very delicate.
1752. J. Hill, Hist. Anim., 274. The red Zeus, with an even tail.
1854. Badham, Halieut., 48. His own fish Zeus, the dory [was offered] to Jupiter.
