chimera
pronunciation
How to pronounce chimera in British English:
UK [kaɪˈmɪərə]
How to pronounce chimera in American English:
US [kaɪˈmɪrə, kɪ-]
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- Noun:
- a grotesque product of the imagination
Word Origin
- chimera (n.)
- fabulous monster, late 14c., from Old French chimere or directly from Medieval Latin chimera, from Latin Chimaera, from Greek khimaira, name of a mythical creature, slain by Bellerophon, with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail (supposedly personification of snow or winter); literally "year-old she-goat" (masc. khimaros), from kheima "winter season" (see hibernation). Figurative meaning "wild fantasy" first recorded 1580s in English (attested 13c. in French).Beestis clepid chymeres, that han a part of ech beest, and suche ben not, no but oonly in opynyoun. [Wyclif, "Prologue"]
Example
- 1. But absolute safety in investment is a chimera .
- 2. The progress may yet prove a chimera .
- 3. This safety could well be a chimera if the u.s. debt position becomes unsustainable .
- 4. I just left a cell phone number chimera .
- 5. Even as states chase the chimera of national sovereignty , they are shedding power to globalisation .