ADONIS, Adonius, (anc. geog.); a river of Phœnicia, rising in mount Lebanon, and falling into the sea, after a north-west course, at Bybulus: famous in fable, as a beautiful shepherd youth, Virgil; son of Cynaras, king of the Cyprians, loved by Venus, slain by a boar, and turned into a river. Theocritus laments him dead in an idyllion, or rather ode, as did the women yearly, when in flood-time, the river rolled down a red earth, which tinged its waters, deemed to be his wound bleeding afresh. In the Phœnician language Adan signifies a willow, and Adon lord, with the same radical letters. Hence Irane Adonis, Salignus, and Evie, or Evie Adonis, for Evie. Adonidis horti, are gardens beautifully arranged, but more adapted for pleasure than profit.