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hecatomb definition

heca·tomb (hek′ə 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

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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