Mĕlĕăger and Mĕlĕăgros (-ag-rus), gri, m., = Μελέαγρος, son of the Calydonian king Œneus and Althæa, one of the combatants at the Calydonian boar-hunt. His life depended on the preservation of an extinguished brand; this his mother burned, out of revenge for the death of her brothers who had fallen by his hand, and he expired, Ov. M. 8, 299 sq.; id. H. 9, 151; Val. Fl. 1, 435; Hyg. Fab. 171 sq.; Serv. Verg. A. 7, 306.
Hence,
- A. Mĕlĕāgrēus, a, um, adj., of or belonging to Meleager, Luc. 6, 365.
- B. Mĕlĕāgrĭdes, um, f.
- 1. The sisters of Meleager, who, according to the fable, bitterly lamented his death, and were changed into birds called after his name, Hyg. Fab. 174; Ov. M. 8, 534 sq.
- 2. A kind of fowls, Guinea-hens, the same as Gallinae Africanae, or a variety of them, Varr. R. R. 3, 9, 18; Plin. 10, 26, 38, § 74.
- C. Mĕlĕāgrĭus, a, um, adj., = Μελεάγριος, of or belonging to Meleager, Meleagrian, Stat. Th. 4, 103.