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Char·on
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Tweet n. Greek Mythology 1. (kârən) The ferryman who conveyed the dead to Hades over the river Styx. 2. (kârən, shâr-) Astronomy The largest of Pluto's satellites. [Latin Charōn, from Greek Kharōn, Kharōn-, possibly an ironic or apotropaic use (with reference to Charon's gloomy task) of the Greek male personal name Kharōn (from khairein, khar-, to rejoice, delight in, be glad to; see gher-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots) or a hypocorism from kharopos, having flashing or bright eyes, fierce, grim (probably khairein + -op-; akin to Greek ōps, ōp-, eye, and op-s-, suppletive future stem of horān, to see; see PELOPS). Sense 2, originally coined (without knowledge of the name of the mythological figure) by James W. Christy (born 1938), American astronomer who discovered Charon in 1978 : Char, nickname of Charlene Christy, his wife + -on, noun suffix common in scientific vocabulary; see -ON1 (although Christy soon discovered that by fortunate coincidence his coinage corresponded exactly to the name of a figure associated with the god Pluto).] |
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