/ 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)

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