Corinth

views updated May 18 2018

Corinth a city on the north coast of the Peloponnese, Greece, a prominent city state in ancient Greece, which was celebrated for its artistic adornment, and which became a type of luxury and licentiousness.

From the proverbial luxury and licentiousness of Corinth, Corinthian was used from the late 16th century for a wealthy (and profligate) man. In the early 19th century the term was extended to mean a man of fashion, and finally, a wealthy amateur of sport.
Corinthian also means relating to or denoting the lightest and most ornate of the classical orders of architecture (used especially by the Romans), characterized by flared capitals with rows of acanthus leaves.
Corinthian brass an alloy produced at Corinth, said to be of gold, silver, and copper, and much prized in ancient times as the material of costly ornaments.
Epistle to the Corinthians either of two books of the New Testament, epistles of St Paul to the Church at Corinth.