Cyparissus
/ˌsɪpəˈrɪsəs/noun
A mythological youth in Greek tradition who was transformed into a cypress tree, and a scientific name derived from the Greek word for cypress.
Did you know?In Ovid’s version of the myth, Cyparissus accidentally killed his beloved tame stag and begged to mourn forever, becoming the cypress—the tree traditionally associated with mourning and funerals.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Classical Greek
Greek
κυπάρισσος
“Cypress tree; the deeper origin is uncertain and may reflect a pre-Greek loanword.”
Classical Greek
Greek
Κυπάρισσος
“Cyparissus, the mythological youth associated with the transformation into a cypress.”
1st Century BCE–1st Century CE
Latin
Cyparissus
“Latinized form of the Greek personal name, especially in mythological writing.”
1st Century CE
Latin
cyparissus
“A cypress tree or a poetic reference connected with cypress symbolism.”
Modern English
English
Cyparissus
“A proper name from Greek mythology and a taxonomic form used in names derived from the cypress tradition.”
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