pyrrhic

¹

[ pir-ik ]

adjective

1. consisting of two short or unaccented syllables.
2. composed of or pertaining to pyrrhics.

noun

1. Also called dibrach. a pyrrhic foot.

pyrrhic

²

[ pir-ik ]

noun

1. an ancient Greek warlike dance in which the motions of actual warfare were imitated.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or denoting this dance.

Pyrrhic

³

[ pir-ik ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, or his costly victory.

pyrrhic

¹

/ ˈpɪrɪk /

noun

1. a war dance of ancient Greece

adjective

1. of or relating to this dance

pyrrhic

²

/ ˈpɪrɪk /

noun

1. a metrical foot of two short or unstressed syllables

adjective

1. of or relating to such a metrical foot
2. (of poetry) composed in pyrrhics

Word History and Origins

Origin of pyrrhic¹

1620–30; < Latin pyrrhichius < Greek pyrrhíchios pertaining to the pyrrhíchē pyrrhic ²

Origin of pyrrhic²

1590–1600; < Latin pyrrhicha < Greek pyrrhíchē a dance; said to be named after Pyrrhichus, the inventor

Origin of pyrrhic³

First recorded in 1880–85; Pyrrh(us) + -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of pyrrhic¹

C17: Latin from Greek purrhikhios belonging to the purrhikhē war dance performed in armour; see pyrrhic ¹

Origin of pyrrhic²

C16: via Latin, from Greek purrhikhē, traditionally said to be named after its inventor Purrhikhos

Example Sentences

It's a pyrrhic symbolic victory that could actually be causing extra environmental damage.

From The Daily Beast

This will be a war of attrition and a Pyrrhic and Camdean Victory for myself.

From The Daily Beast

Legislators are no longer thinking ahead even as far as the next election; all their focus is on the next Pyrrhic victory.

From The Daily Beast

But Howard Kurtz says it could prove a pyrrhic victory that could threaten his second-term agenda.

From The Daily Beast

However, if that is all that isaccomplished, it will be a Pyrrhic victory.

From The Daily Beast

Pyrrhic, pir′ik, n. a kind of war-dance among the ancient Greeks: a poetical foot consisting of two short syllables.

From Project Gutenberg

The weak feet are those which have the most short syllables or end in a short syllable; as the Pyrrhic, the Trochee, the Tribrach.

From Project Gutenberg

Here the measure and melody are perfect; the period closing with three Iambics, preceded by a Pyrrhic.

From Project Gutenberg

Do not be so imbecile as to believe that your garden will be hailed upon, if you have missed dancing the pyrrhic or the cordax.

From Project Gutenberg

The figures of our losses made the Somme a Pyrrhic victory, and there was troubled wonder where the new drafts were to be found.

From Project Gutenberg