Augean
[aw-jee-uh n]
- resembling the Augean stables in filthiness or degradation.
- difficult and unpleasant: an Augean chore.
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Origin of Augean
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for augean
Contemporary Examples
I had to chase the chickens back into the coop and close the door so I could finish with the Augean Stables of the chicken pen.
The Bush White House staff has begun the Augean task of spinning the Bush legacy.
Historical Examples
He has done much to cleanse the Augean stables of the English theatre.
Personality in LiteratureRolfe Arnold Scott-James
As well might Hercules have attempted to tidy up the Augean stables with a squirt.
Diary of a PilgrimageJerome K. Jerome
It is an Augean stable we have to clean, but Hercules was one, and we are many.
But the task is vast, it is herculean, like unto the cleaning of the Augean stables.
The Johnstown HorrorJames Herbert Walker
Cleaning the Augean stables was something of the same sort of a job.
With the Doughboy in FranceEdward Hungerford
Augean
- extremely dirty or corrupt
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Word Origin
C16: after Augeas; see Augean stables
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for augean
Augean
adj.
"filthy," 1590s, in reference to Augean stable, the cleansing of which was one of the labors of Herakles, from Greek Augeias, like the stable of Augeas, king of Elis, which contained 3,000 oxen and had gone uncleansed for 30 years. Herakles purified it in one day by turning the river Alpheus through it.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper