Pyrrhic

//ˈpɪɹɪk// adj, noun

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Of or characterized by pyrrhics (metrical feet with two short syllables). not-comparable
  2. 2
    Of or relating to Pyrrhus (319/318–272 BC), Greek general and statesman. not-comparable

    "The Pyrrhic army lost the Pyrrhic war."

  3. 3
    Relating to Pyrrhus, a Macedonian king, or some of his costly victories he had while fighting Rome. not-comparable
  4. 4
    Achieved at too great a cost or detriment to have been worthwhile (as a victory, accomplishment, etc).

    "Although this syndrome is thought to resemble patterns of Pyrrhic revenge […]"

  5. 5
    Alternative letter-case form of Pyrrhic (“achieved at too great a cost”). alt-of, not-comparable

    "Huwawa is slain; the victors triumph, but the victory is to be a pyrrhic one for Gilgamesh, for the gods have met in counsel and decreed that Enkidu should die."

Adjective
  1. 1
    of or relating to or resembling Pyrrhus or his exploits (especially his sustaining staggering losses in order to defeat the Romans) wordnet
  2. 2
    of or relating to or containing a metrical foot of two unstressed syllables wordnet
  3. 3
    of or relating to a war dance of ancient Greece wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    An Ancient Greek war dance.
  2. 2
    an ancient Greek dance imitating the motions of warfare wordnet
  3. 3
    A metric foot with two short or unaccented syllables.
  4. 4
    a metrical unit with unstressed-unstressed syllables wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Latin pyrrhichius, from Ancient Greek πυρρίχιος (purrhíkhios), from πυρρίχη (purrhíkhē, “war dance”).

Etymology 2

From Latin pyrrhichius, from Ancient Greek πυρρίχιος (purrhíkhios), from πυρρίχη (purrhíkhē, “war dance”).

Etymology 3

From Pyrrhus (318-272 BC), a king of Epirus whose forces sustained heavy losses in defeating the Romans + -ic.

Next best steps

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: pyrrhic