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Arʹcite (2 syl.)

.

A young Theban knight, made captive by Duke Theseus, and shut up with Palʹamon in a prison at Athens. Here both the captives fell in love with Emily, the duke’s sister-in-law. After a time both captives gained their liberty, and Emily was promised by the duke to the victor in a tournament. Arcite was the victor, but, as he was riding to receive the prize of his prowess, he was thrown from his horse, and died. So Emily became the bride of Palʹamon. (Chaucer: The Knight’s Tale.)

The story is perhaps better known through Dryden’s version, Palamon and Arcite.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Archers
Arches (The Court of)
Archeus
Archilochian Bitterness
Archimage
Archimago [Hypocrisy]
Archimedes Principle
Archimedes Screw
Architect of his own Fortune
Archontics
Arcite
Arcos Barbs
Arctic Region
Arden (Enoch)
Area-sneak
Areopagus
Aretine
Aretinian Syllables
Argan
Argand Lamp
Argante