Heracles

[ her-uh-kleez ]

/ ˈhɛr əˌkliz /

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noun

Also called Heracles Furens

[fyoor-uhns]. /ˈfyʊər əns/. (italics) a tragedy (420? b.c.) by Euripides.

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Origin of Heracles

From Greek Hēraklês, literally, “having the glory of Hera,” equivalent to Hḗra + -klēs, akin to kléos “glory, fame”; see Hera

OTHER WORDS FROM Heracles

Her·a·cle·an, adjective

Words nearby Heracles

Hepzibah, her, Hera, Heraclea, Heracleides, Heracles, Heraclid, Heraclidae, Heraclitean, Heracliteanism, Heraclitus

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use Heracles in a sentence

Heracles goes on his twelve labours, not to better mankind, but to achieve immortality and atone for his own sins.
The Walking Dead’s Luke Skywalker: Rick Grimes Is the Perfect Modern-Day Mythical Hero|Regina Lizik|October 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Mythic heroes, especially Heracles, wrestled monsters and wild beasts at the beginning of time.
The Olympics Wimps Out on Wrestling and Competition|James Romm|February 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
See Now Then is the story of Mr. and Mrs. Sweet and their two children Persephone and Heracles.
This Week’s Hot Reads: Jan. 28, 2013|Mythili Rao, David Goodwillie|January 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
One could have found men who were said to have fought alongside Heracles.
This Week’s Hot Reads: March 16, 2012|Jimmy So|March 17, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Hesiod, quite unlike his contemporaries, the "later" poets of Iliad and Odyssey, gives to Heracles an iron helmet and sword.
Homer and His Age|Andrew Lang
The swallowing and disgorging of Heracles by the monster that was to slay Hesione is well known.
Myth, Ritual, and Religion, Vol. 1|Andrew Lang
The euhemeristic explanation of the struggle with the triple monster was that Heracles fought three brothers in succession.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 8|Various
To carry off these cattle to Greece was one of the twelve “labours” imposed by Eurystheus upon Heracles.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 8|Various
Heracles is called , from his being identical with the Sun, and he has this name in common with Apollo and Jove.
Troy and its Remains|Henry (Heinrich) Schliemann

British Dictionary definitions for Heracles

Heracles

Herakles

/ (ˈhɛrəˌkliːz) /

noun

the usual name (in Greek) for Hercules 1

Derived forms of Heracles

Heraclean or Heraklean, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012