hecatomb

hecatomb Definition

heca·tomb (hek′ə tōm′, -to̵̅o̅m′)

noun

in ancient Greece, any great sacrifice to the gods; specif., the slaughter of 100 cattle at one time
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?

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