name
Common
Isis
EYE-sihs
Isis (name) means an ancient Egyptian goddess of motherhood, magic, and fertility, worshipped as the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus. Example: “Temples to Isis once stood as far from Egypt as Roman Britain.”
name
1
An ancient Egyptian goddess of motherhood, magic, and fertility, worshipped as the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus.
"Temples to Isis once stood as far from Egypt as Roman Britain."
"The cult of Isis spread across the Greek and Roman world during the Hellenistic period."
2
A traditional name for the River Thames along the stretch above Oxford.
"Rowers still refer to that section of the river as the Isis."
How to use Isis
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBest known as the major mother-goddess of ancient Egyptian religion; also an old name for part of the Thames.
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Word forms
- Plural
- isises
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Temples to _____ once stood as far from Egypt as Roman Britain.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek Îsis, itself borrowed from the Egyptian name of the goddess.
Rhymes for Isis
See all rhymes for Isis →Frequently asked questions
What does “Isis” mean?
The word “Isis” means an ancient Egyptian goddess of motherhood, magic, and fertility, worshipped as the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus. In plain terms, best known as the major mother-goddess of ancient Egyptian religion; also an old name for part of the Thames.
How do you pronounce “Isis”?
“Isis” is pronounced EYE-sihs (/ˈaɪ.sɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “Isis” in a sentence?
Here is “Isis” used in a sentence: “Temples to Isis once stood as far from Egypt as Roman Britain.”
What part of speech is “Isis”?
“Isis” is a name.
Where does the word “Isis” come from?
The word “Isis” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek Îsis, itself borrowed from the Egyptian name of the goddess.
Is “Isis” a common word?
“Isis” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Isis” have?
“Isis” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an ancient Egyptian goddess of motherhood, magic, and fertility, worshipped as the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus.
What is the difference between "Isis" the goddess and the River Isis?
Isis is an ancient Egyptian goddess of motherhood, magic, and fertility, and Isis is also the traditional name for the River Thames along the stretch above Oxford. The two uses share a spelling but are otherwise unrelated.
Why is the River Thames called the "Isis" at Oxford?
"Isis" is the traditional name used for the Thames along the reach around and above Oxford, and it survives in the names of Oxford rowing crews and races. It refers only to this upper section, not to the whole river.
Who was the goddess Isis married to in Egyptian mythology?
In ancient Egyptian belief, Isis was worshipped as the wife of Osiris and the mother of Horus. She was associated with motherhood, magic, and fertility.
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