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hecatomb Definition

heca·tomb (hekə tōm′, -to̵̅o̅m′)

noun

  1. in ancient Greece, any great sacrifice to the gods; specif., the slaughter of 100 cattle at one time
  2. any large-scale sacrifice or slaughter

Etymology: L hecatombe < Gr hekatombē < hekaton, hundred + bous, ox: see cow

hecatomb Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • whole: What say you to the drunkenness which costs us, year by year, vast millions of money and whole hecatombs of human lives?

Browse dictionary entries near hecatomb

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