Momus

English

A traditional depiction of Momus on a Tarot card

Etymology

From Ancient Greek Μῶμος (Mômos), whose name is related to μομφή (momphḗ, “blame, reproach”).

Proper noun

Momus

1. (Greek mythology) The personification of satire and mockery.
   • 1912 G. M. TREVELYAN (in notes to The Poetical Works of George Meredith)

     The extraordinary section of the poem that here follows is based on the mythological story of Momus, expanded by the fancy of the modern poet. The story ran that Momus, "the jester", was hurled off Olympus by the other gods, who could not endure his satirical criticism. When Zeus gave the "fatal kick" that sent Momus off Olympus, it was fatal not so much to Momus as to the mountain of the gods, although apparently Olympus still aspired to heaven, while Momus went limping, crippled by his fall. But the gods, lacking the criticism of his Comic Spirit, rapidly degenerated, and soon fell to earth.

Translations

personification of satire and mockery

• Armenian: Մոմոս (hy) (Momos)
• Azerbaijani: Mom
• Bulgarian: Мом m (Mom)
• Catalan: Momo m, Momos m
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 摩墨斯 (Mómòsī)

• Czech: Mómos m
• Danish: please add this translation if you can
• Dutch: Momus m
• Esperanto: Momo
• Estonian: please add this translation if you can
• Finnish: Momos
• French: Momos (fr) m, Momus (fr) m
• Georgian: please add this translation if you can
• German: Momos m
• Greek: Μώμος (el) m (Mómos)

  Ancient: Μῶμος m (Mômos)

• Hebrew: מוֹמוֹס m (Momos)
• Hungarian: please add this translation if you can
• Indonesian: Momos
• Italian: Momo m
• Japanese: モーモス (Mōmosu)
• Korean: 모모스 (Momoseu), 모무스 (Momuseu)
• Latvian: please add this translation if you can
• Lithuanian: Momas m
• Macedonian: Мом m (Mom)
• Occitan: please add this translation if you can
• Polish: Momos (pl) m
• Portuguese: Momo m
• Romanian: please add this translation if you can
• Russian: Мом (ru) m (Mom)
• Spanish: Momo m
• Swedish: Momos c
• Ukrainian: Мом m (Mom)
• Walloon: Momosse