PYRRHIC

pyrrhic

(adjective) of or relating to or resembling Pyrrhus or his exploits (especially his sustaining staggering losses in order to defeat the Romans); “a Pyrrhic victory”

pyrrhic

(adjective) of or relating to or containing a metrical foot of two unstressed syllables; “pyrrhic verses”

pyrrhic

(adjective) of or relating to a war dance of ancient Greece; “pyrrhic dance movements”

pyrrhic

(noun) an ancient Greek dance imitating the motions of warfare

pyrrhic, dibrach

(noun) a metrical unit with unstressed-unstressed syllables

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

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

Adjective

Pyrrhic (comparative more Pyrrhic, superlative most Pyrrhic)

(uncomparable) Of or relating to Pyrrhus (319/318–272 BC), Greek general and statesman.

Achieved at too great a cost or detriment to have been worthwhile (as a victory, accomplishment, etc).

Etymology

Adjective

pyrrhic (not comparable)

(prosody) Of or characterized by pyrrhics (metrical feet with two short syllables).

Relating to Pyrrhus, a Macedonian king, or some of his costly victories he had while fighting Rome.

Alternative letter-case form of Pyrrhic (“achieved at too great a cost”)

Noun

pyrrhic (plural pyrrhics)

An Ancient Greek war dance.

(prosody) A metric foot with two short or unaccented syllables.

Source: Wiktionary


Pyr"rhic, a. Etym: [L. pyrrhichius, Gr.

1. Of or pertaining to an ancient Greek martial dance. " ye have the pyrrhic dance as yet." Byron.

2. (Pros.)

Definition: Of or pertaining to a pyrrhic, or to pyrrhics; containing pyrrhic; as, a pyrrhic verse.

Pyr"rhic, n.

1. Etym: [Gr. pyrrhique, fem.]

Definition: An ancient Greek martial dance, to the accompaniment of the flute, its time being very quick.

2. Etym: [L. pyrrhichius (sc. pes), Gr. pyrrhique, masc.] (Pros.)

Definition: A foot consisting of two short syllables.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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2 April 2025

COVERT

(adjective) secret or hidden; not openly practiced or engaged in or shown or avowed; “covert actions by the CIA”; “covert funding for the rebels”


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