Dis

4 9.9

The Roman god who rules the world of the dead

proper noun

Literature

: Dis

And when you go to Dis's kingdom, you'll leave behind—what shall I say?

Examples

Joyce did not limit himself to Dante's portrayal of Dis but ranged through much of the rest of the tradition.

Academic text (1991)
In a place truly wild and desolate, he found the last marker, a shrine dedicated to Dis, lord of the underworld.

Fiction book (2001)
A key stage in his journey is thus represented by his encounter with the god Dis.

Academic text (2008)
A detail not yet accounted for is Dante's reference to Dis as a bird.

Academic text (1991)
Joyce uses the images and words associated with Dis to suggest the satanic in several other characters.

Academic text (1991)
Frost's Eurydice greets the oncoming shadow of Dis or Pluto, the dark underground stranger.

Academic text (2008)
In Roman mythology, Dis is often depicted as a powerful ruler of the underworld.
The poet vividly describes Dis as a figure shrouded in darkness and mystery.
In ancient texts, Dis represents the inevitability of death and the afterlife.

Synonyms

Hades

vsDis

Literature

98 8.2

The god in Greek myths who rules the place of the dead

is the Roman counterpart used in the Roman context rather than Greek tradition

Osiris

vsDis

Literature

22 9.5

An Egyptian god who rules the world of the dead and judges people after death

is the Roman underworld figure from Roman religion not Egyptian belief

Pluto

vsDis

Literature

7 6.6

The Roman god who rules the land of the dead

is the Roman counterpart that stresses identity rather than rulership

Orcus

vsDis

Literature

1 9.9

A Roman god of the underworld who punishes the dead and people who break promises

is the Roman counterpart that lacks the explicit punishment and judgment focus

Dis Pater

vsDis

Literature

9.9

A Roman god who rules the underworld

is the same Roman figure but named differently in sources

Aides

vsDis

Literature

9.9

Greek god who rules the land of the dead and is Persephone's husband

is the Roman counterpart appearing in Roman mythology not Greek religious stories

Idioms

new phone, who dis

Slang

9.9

A joking reply that pretends not to know someone who messages you

who dis

Slang

9.9

To ask who is texting or calling when you do not know the person

Surface Forms

Dis main

Etymology

Dis comes from the Roman name Dīs Pater, which meant 'rich father' and came from the Latin word dives 'rich' because people thought gold and other wealth lay under the earth. So Dis became the name of the god of the underworld, linking the idea of riches below the ground to the ruler of the world of the dead.