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Webster 1913 Edition


Pyrrhic

Pyr′rhic

,
Adj.
[L.
pyrrhichius
, Gr. [GREEK] belonging to the [GREEK] (sc. [GREEK]) a kind of war dance.]
1.
Of or pertaining to an ancient Greek martial dance.
“ ye have the pyrrhic dance as yet.”
Byron.
2.
(Pros.)
Of or pertaining to a pyrrhic, or to pyrrhics; containing pyrrhic;
as, a
pyrrhic
verse
.

Pyr′rhic

,
Noun.
1.
[Gr. [GREEK]: cf. F.
pyrrhique
, fem.]
An ancient Greek martial dance, to the accompaniment of the flute, its time being very quick.
2.
[L.
pyrrhichius
(sc.
pes
), Gr. [GREEK] (sc. [GREEK]): cf. F.
pyrrhique
, masc.]
(Pros.)
A foot consisting of two short syllables.

Webster 1828 Edition


Pyrrhic

PYRRHIC

,
Noun.
[L., Gr., a nimble dance.]
1.
In poetry, a foot consisting of two short syllables.
2.
An ancient military dance.

Definition 2024


Pyrrhic

Pyrrhic

See also: pyrrhic

English

Adjective

Pyrrhic (comparative more Pyrrhic, superlative most Pyrrhic)

  1. (not comparable) Of or relating to Pyrrhus (319/318–272 BC), Greek general and statesman.
    The Pyrrhic army lost the Pyrrhic war.
  2. Achieved at excessive cost.
    • 1993, Steven Berglas, Roy F. Baumeister, Your Own Worst Enemy: Understanding the Paradox, page 166
      Although this syndrome is thought to resemble patterns of Pyrrhic revenge

Related terms

Translations

pyrrhic

pyrrhic

See also: Pyrrhic

English

Adjective

pyrrhic (not comparable)

  1. (prosody) Of or characterized by pyrrhics.
  2. Relating to Pyrrhus, a Macedonian king, or some of his costly victories he had while fighting Rome.

Translations

Noun

pyrrhic (plural pyrrhics)

  1. An Ancient Greek war dance.
  2. (prosody) A metric foot with two short or unaccented syllables.