[Gr. Τίμων, personal name.] The name of a noted misanthrope of Athens, the hero of Shakespeare’s play of the same name; hence, one like Timon, a misanthrope.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., IV. iii. 170. And Criticke Tymon laugh at idle toyes.
1711. Shaftesb., Charac. (1737), II. 197. You discover’d so much aversion, as wou’d make one believe you a compleat Timon, or man-hater.
1819. Lady Morgan, Autobiog. (1859), 28. She had grown into a sort of female Timon—not of Athens—bitter, and always going over old, past scenes.
1886. Pall Mall G., 15 June, 6/1. Both Mr. Ruskin and Mr. Froude have long been known as highly cultivated disciples of the latter-day Timon of Cheyne-row.
Hence Timonian a., of, pertaining to, or like Timon; Timonism, misanthropy; Timonist, a misanthrope; Timonize v. intr., to play the Timon or misanthrope.
1770. Langhorne, Plutarch (1851), II. 997/1. He left his *Timonian retreat.
1886. Pall Mall G., 15 June, 6/1. No new Timon arose, for *Timonism had been found out to be a fraud.
1590. Greene, Mourn. Garm. (1616), 2. Yet was he not … such a *Timonist, but hee would familiarly conuerse with his friends.
1602. Dekker, Satirom., L iij. I did it to retyre me from the world; And turne my Muse into a Timonist.
1713. Gentl. Instr., II. viii. (ed. 5), 180. I should be tempted to *Timonize, and clap a Satyr upon our whole Species.
