apple of discord

: a subject of contention and envy
the chief apple of discord was western landsT. A. Bailey

Word History

Etymology

translation of Late Latin malum Discordiae; from the golden apple inscribed "for the fairest" which was thrown into an assembly of the gods by the goddess Discord (Latin Discordia, Greek Eris) and claimed by Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near apple of discord

Cite this Entry

“Apple of discord.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apple%20of%20discord. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!