a. Gr. Antiq. [f. Gr. (τὰ) θεσμοφόρια, neut. pl. (f. θεσμοφόρος, f. θεσμός law + -φορος -bearing, an epithet of the goddess Demeter) + -IC.] Of or pertaining to the Thesmophoria, an ancient Greek festival held by women in honor of Demeter. So Thesmophorian a., in same sense.
1857. W. G. T. Shedd, Guericke’s Man. Ch. Hist., § 80. 304. The priestesses of Mary, rendered to her an idolatrous worship by mingling with the celebration of the sacrament of the Supper superstitious practices borrowed perhaps from the thesmophoric feast of Ceres.
1884. W. M. Ramsay, in Encycl. Brit., XVII. 127/2. The Thesmophoric rites are so obscure that no sure idea can be gained of the relation between them and the simpler Arcadian cultus.
1891. Cent. Dict., Thesmophorian.
