Corinthian

From Corinth +‎ -ian.

• IPA^(key): /kəˈɹɪnθiən/

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• Rhymes: -ɪnθiən

Corinthian (comparative more Corinthian, superlative most Corinthian)

1. Of or relating to Corinth.
2. (architecture) Of the Corinthian Greek order.
   • 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Francesca Carrara. […], volume I, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), OCLC 630079698, page 21:

     The silver waters of the spring had long since disappeared, but there still were left a few of the Corinthian pillars, some stretched on the ground and overgrown with creeping-plants, while two or three yet remained erect, and showed how graceful the whole must have been.

3. Elaborate, ornate.
4. Debauched in character or practice; impure.
   • 1642 April​, John Milton, An Apology for Smectymnuus; republished in A Complete Collection of the Historical, Political, and Miscellaneous Works of John Milton, […], volume I, Amsterdam [actually London: s.n.], 1698, OCLC 926209975, page 1:

     all her young Corinthian laity

5. Being a sporting event (originally in horse racing and yachting) restricted to gentleman amateurs.
   • 1825 June 16, “Curragh June Meeting, 1825”, in Dublin Evening Post‎, Dublin, page 4:

     Corinthian Stakes of 10 Guineas ... To be rode by Gentlemen.

   • 1844 July 1, “What Is A Gentleman?”, in Tait's Edinburgh Magazine‎, volume xi, Edinburgh: William Tait, page 417:

     It was a condition of the race, that the horses should be ridden by gentlemen ... [I]t was submitted, that if none were to be reputed in the rank of gentlemen, whose wives had not been visited by Lady Clanricarde, the notion of a Corinthian Race might as well be given up at once, within twenty miles all round Portumna castle. It would amount, in fact, to a disgentilizing of two or three counties.

   • 1853 January 30, "The Man In The Mask", “The Regattas of 1853”, in Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle‎, London, page 6:

     [W]e have horse races ... whereat the aforesaid noble animals are ridden by gentlemen, and if I err not are named "Corinthian."

   • 1856 October 1, “Royal Northern Yacht Club Regatta”, in Hunt's Yachting Magazine‎, volume 5, London: Hunt, page 427:

     In Corinthian matches the yachts are steered and manned by gentlemen alone,

• Corinthianism
• Corinthianize
• Corinthian brass
• Corinthian bronze
• Corinthian helmet
• Corinthian order
• Corinthian spirit

Corinthian (plural Corinthians)

1. An inhabitant or a resident of Corinth, and its suburbs.
2. An inhabitant, a resident of; a thing that originates from Corinthia
3. An accomplished amateur athlete.
4. A sailboat owner who helms his or her own boat in competitive racing.
5. A worldly, fashionable person, accepted in society though possibly dissolute.
6. (manège) Horse show-class in which contestants are members of a formal hunt and wear its livery, as opposed to appointment show-class.
7. A small tubular wafer used in desserts.