| Library / English Dictionary |
PYRRHIC
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
An ancient Greek dance imitating the motions of warfare
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("pyrrhic" is a kind of...):
ceremonial dance; ritual dance; ritual dancing (a dance that is part of a religious ritual)
Derivation:
pyrrhic (of or relating to a war dance of ancient Greece)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A metrical unit with unstressed-unstressed syllables
Synonyms:
dibrach; pyrrhic
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("pyrrhic" is a kind of...):
foot; metrical foot; metrical unit ((prosody) a group of 2 or 3 syllables forming the basic unit of poetic rhythm)
Derivation:
pyrrhic (of or relating to or containing a metrical foot of two unstressed syllables)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Of or relating to or resembling Pyrrhus or his exploits (especially his sustaining staggering losses in order to defeat the Romans)
Example:
a Pyrrhic victory
Classified under:
Relational adjectives (pertainyms)
Pertainym:
Pyrrhus (king of Epirus; defeated the Romans in two battles in spite of staggering losses (319-272 BC))
Derivation:
Pyrrhus (king of Epirus; defeated the Romans in two battles in spite of staggering losses (319-272 BC))
Sense 2
Meaning:
Of or relating to or containing a metrical foot of two unstressed syllables
Example:
pyrrhic verses
Classified under:
Relational adjectives (pertainyms)
Pertainym:
pyrrhic (a metrical unit with unstressed-unstressed syllables)
Derivation:
pyrrhic (a metrical unit with unstressed-unstressed syllables)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Of or relating to a war dance of ancient Greece
Example:
pyrrhic dance movements
Classified under:
Relational adjectives (pertainyms)
Pertainym:
pyrrhic (an ancient Greek dance imitating the motions of warfare)
Derivation:
pyrrhic (an ancient Greek dance imitating the motions of warfare)
