Cupid

Meanings

1. 1proper nounproper

   The Roman god of love, shown as a winged child with a bow and arrows.

   Grammar: Written with a capital letter and no article when it names the god: Cupid shot an arrow.

   Patterns

   • Cupid's arrow

   In the myth, Cupid made people fall in love by shooting them with arrows.

   Statues of Cupid decorate the fountain in the old garden.

   The card showed Cupid aiming his bow at a pair of doves.

2. 2nouncountable

   A picture or figure of a winged child with a bow, used as a symbol of romantic love, especially on Valentine's Day.

   Grammar: Often written with a small letter when it means a figure: a cupid on a card.

   Patterns

   • a cupid on something

   Little cupids were painted on the ceiling of the ballroom.

   The shop window was full of red hearts and plastic cupids.

   She drew a cupid on the corner of the Valentine's card.

3. 3nouncountableinformalfigurative

   A person who brings two people together romantically, often without being asked.

   Grammar: Used in the phrase play Cupid, with a person as the subject.

   Patterns

   • play Cupid

   My aunt loves to play Cupid at family parties.

   He accused his roommate of playing Cupid when she invited both of them to dinner.

   Thanks to a friend who played Cupid, they met at a concert.

Word forms

Common combinations

play Cupid

She tried to play Cupid by seating them side by side.

Cupid's arrow

He was struck by Cupid's arrow the moment she smiled.

Cupid's bow

The model's lips had a perfect Cupid's bow.

a statue of Cupid

A statue of Cupid stood beside the pond.

Cupid and Psyche

We read the story of Cupid and Psyche in class.

Synonyms and how they differ

Eros

Eros is the Greek god of love, while Cupid is his Roman counterpart and the version people usually picture on cards.

matchmaker

A matchmaker deliberately arranges romances, while playing Cupid is more playful and often casual.

cherub

A cherub is any chubby winged child in art, not necessarily linked to love.

Word family

cupidity noun

strong greed for money or possessions (from the same Latin root as desire)

Cupid's arrow noun

a symbol of sudden romantic attraction

cupidlike adjective

resembling the god, often with chubby or winged looks (rare)

Commonly confused: Cupid or cupidity? Cupid or stupid?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “Cupid”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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