Word

Elysium \ih-LIH-zee-uhm; ih-LIH-zhee-uhm; \, noun:

Meaning

1. A dwelling place assigned to happy souls after death; the seat of future happiness; Paradise.

2. Hence, any place or condition of ideal bliss or complete happiness.

Examples

They could be shelved in one of the bookstore sections assigned to travel, biography, history or the personal essay, which is why cookbook fans often spend less time at the stove than stretched out on the sofa, turning the pages and letting their imaginations wander to that happiest of places, the culinary Elysium where all food is perfectly prepared and all settings are romantic, where no bill arrives and no one gains weight.

--William Grimes, "Cooking," [1]New York Times, December 7, 1997

Elysium can be found somewhere on the southern Pacific coast of Oaxaca, about as far from the United States as you can get and still be in Mexico.

--Keith Kachtick, "Donde Esta Paradise?" [2]Esquire, January 1, 1999

Extra

Elysium comes from Latin Elysium, from Greek Elysion, short for Elysion pedion, "Elysian fields," the ancient Greek heaven. The name of the famous avenue in Paris, the Champs-Élysées, means "Elysian Fields."

Paragraph

A bungalow by the sea with separate rooms for everyone, a study room, a library, a music room with all instruments and best music system, the best gadgets in the world, a gym with a small garden blooming with flowers in front of the bungalow. A garage for at least two cars with a chauffer, one two-wheeler, and a bicycle for exercising. A cupboard full of suits and blazers of different colors, hundreds to choose from. In this wonderful world, having your lover by your side … the loving moments with him … that is my idea of an Elysium.