Definition of ETHOS

ethos

Plural: ethe, ethea, ethoses

Noun

  • The characteristic spirit or fundamental beliefs of a culture.
  • (anthropology) the distinctive spirit of a culture or an era
    • "the Greek ethos"
  • The character or fundamental values of a person, people, culture, or movement.
  • A form of rhetoric in which the writer or speaker invokes their authority, competence or expertise in an attempt to persuade others that their view is correct.
  • The traits in a work of art which express the ideal or typic character, as influenced by the ethos (character or fundamental values) of a people, rather than emotional situations or individual character traits in a narrow sense; opposed to pathos.

Examples

  • The ETHOS of our Scrabble group is friendly competition, despite intense plays.

Origin / Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἦθος (êthos, “character; custom, habit”). Cognate to Sanskrit स्वधा (svadhā́, “habit, custom”).

Scrabble Score: 8

ethos: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
ethos: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
ethos: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 7

ethos: valid Words With Friends Word