Heracles

[ her-uh-kleez ]

noun

Hercules (def. 1).
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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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 | THE 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 | THE 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 | THE 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 | THE 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

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