Pyrrhic Definition

pĭrĭk
noun
A war dance of the ancient Greeks.
Webster's New World
A metrical foot of two short or unaccented syllables.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
  • dibrach
adjective
Of or made up of pyrrhics.
Webster's New World
Relating to Pyrrhus, a Macedonian king, or some of his costly victories he had while fighting Rome.
Wiktionary

(not comparable) Of or relating to Pyrrhus (319/318-272 BC), Greek general and statesman.

The Pyrrhic army lost the Pyrrhic war.
Wiktionary
Achieved at excessive cost.
Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Pyrrhic

Noun

Singular:
pyrrhic
Plural:
pyrrhics

Origin of Pyrrhic

  • Latin pyrrhicius from Greek purrikhios from purrikhē a war dance perhaps from Purrikhos , supposed inventor of the dance

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Latin pyrrhichius, from Ancient Greek πυρρίχιος (pyrrichos), from πυρρίχη (pyrriche, “war dance")

    From Wiktionary

  • From Pyrrhus (318-272 BC), a king of Epirus whose forces sustained heavy losses in defeating the Romans

    From Wiktionary

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