Definition

An idyllic, beautiful, or luxurious place, often imaginary or idealized; a place of great beauty and contentment. The term evokes an imaginary paradise or utopian retreat.

Example Usage

After years of working in the city, he dreamed of retiring to some xanadu in the countryside where he could live peacefully.

Origin

From Samuel Taylor Coleridge's 1797 poem 'Kubla Khan,' which references Xanadu, the legendary summer residence of Kublai Khan in Cathay (China).

Fun Fact

Orson Welles used 'Xanadu' as the name of the fictional palatial estate in his 1941 film 'Citizen Kane,' further cementing the word's association with grand, unattainable wealth and beauty.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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