English

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Etymology

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From Ancient Greek τελεστικός (telestikós), from τέλος (télos, mystery religion).

Pronunciation

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Adjective

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telestic (comparative more telestic, superlative most telestic)

  1. Of or pertaining to religious mysteries.
    • 1804, Plato, “The Phædrus”, in Floyer Sydenham, Thomas Taylor, transl., The Works of Plato, viz. His Fifty-five Dialogues, and Twelve Epistles, Translated from the Greek; Nine of the Dialogues by the Late Floyer Sydenham, and the Remainder by Thomas Taylor: with Occasional Annotations on the Nine Dialogues Translated by Sydenham, and Copious Notes, by the Latter Translator; in which is Given the Substance of nearly all the Existing Greek Ms. Commentaries on the Philosophy of Plato, and a Considerable Portion of such as are already Published. In Five Volumes, volume I, London: Printed for Thomas Taylor, by R. Wilks, Chancery-Lane; and sold by E. Jeffery, and R. E. Evans, Pall-Mall, page 293, footnote 2:
      Orithya was the daughter of Erectheus, and the prieſteſs of Boreas; for each of the winds has a preſiding deity, which the teleſtic art, or the art pertaining to ſacred myſteries, religiouſly cultivates.
    • 1992, Donna Tartt, The Secret History, New York, N.Y.: Alfred A. Knopf, →ISBN:
      He paused, and took a drink. ‘Do you remember last fall, in Julian’s class, when we studied what Plato calls telestic madness? Bakcheia? Dionysiac frenzy?’
  2. Of or pertaining to a hierophant.
  3. Mystical.

Noun

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telestic (plural telestics)

  1. Alternative form of telestich

Anagrams

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