Nero

[ neer-oh ]

noun

1. ( Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus ) ( “Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus” ) a.d. 37–68, emperor of Rome 54–68, known for his cruelty and depravity.
2. a male given name.

Nero

/ ˈnɪərəʊ /

noun

1. Nero3768MRomanPOLITICS: hereditary ruler full name Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus; original name Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus. 37–68 ad , Roman emperor (54–68). He became notorious for his despotism and cruelty, and was alleged to have started the fire (64) that destroyed a large part of Rome

Nero

1. An ancient Roman emperor, famed for his cruelty. He had his mother and wife killed and kicked his mistress to death while she was pregnant. Nero also persecuted Christians (see also Christian ), blaming them for a great fire in Rome . According to tradition, he put the Apostles Peter and Paul to death.

Notes

A famous legend holds that Nero caused the great fire of Rome himself and played a violin while watching it. To say that someone is “ fiddling while Rome burns ” is to say that the person is indifferent to catastrophe.

Example Sentences

For the emperor Otho had had just one wife, early in his life, Poppaea, who later married the emperor Nero.

From Time

The emperor Nero—known for his debauchery apparently collected the things.

From The Daily Beast

Hedonistic distractions have existed from Caligula and Nero to Andreotti and Berlusconi.

From The Daily Beast

Bible scholars have tended to identify the Beast with the Roman emperor Nero.

From The Daily Beast

Nero, the angry Romulan, traveled to the past to kill the present Spock.

From The Daily Beast

At least when Nero fiddled, Romans got to hear music over the flames.

From The Daily Beast

Claudius Domitius Nero, emperor of Rome, destroyed himself at the age of 32, and the 14th of his dominion.

From Project Gutenberg

The conflagration of Rome, attributed by Nero to the Christians, which was the ostensible cause of the first persecution.

From Project Gutenberg

But Jack was only second to Nero in monkey tricks, and he held on in a most tenacious manner.

From Project Gutenberg

But it is Nero that lost out, and it is Paul who reigns a crowned king.

From Project Gutenberg

Black Nero was a magnificent mastiff, with not a white hair on his back.

From Project Gutenberg