Adonis. [Greek .] (Greek & Roman Mythology.) A beautiful youth, beloved by Venus and Proserpine, who quarreled about the possession of him. The dispute was settled by Jupiter, who decided that he should spend eight months in the upper world with Venus, and four in the lower with Proserpine. Adonis died of a wound received from a wild boar during the chase, and was turned into an anemone by Venus, who yearly bewailed him on the anniversary of his death. The myths connected with Adonis are of Oriental origin, and his worship was widely spread among the countries bordering on the eastern portion of the Mediterranean. The story of Venus's love for him was made the subject of a long descriptive poem by Shapespeare, and is often alluded to by other poets.