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Pyrrhic
//ˈpɪɹɪk// adj, noun
Definitions
Adjective
- 1 Of or characterized by pyrrhics (metrical feet with two short syllables). not-comparable
- 2 Of or relating to Pyrrhus (319/318–272 BC), Greek general and statesman. not-comparable
"The Pyrrhic army lost the Pyrrhic war."
- 3 Relating to Pyrrhus, a Macedonian king, or some of his costly victories he had while fighting Rome. not-comparable
- 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 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 of or relating to or resembling Pyrrhus or his exploits (especially his sustaining staggering losses in order to defeat the Romans) wordnet
- 2 of or relating to or containing a metrical foot of two unstressed syllables wordnet
- 3 of or relating to a war dance of ancient Greece wordnet
Noun
- 1 An Ancient Greek war dance.
- 2 an ancient Greek dance imitating the motions of warfare wordnet
- 3 A metric foot with two short or unaccented syllables.
- 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.
See also for "pyrrhic"
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