Hecatomb

Quick meaning: Hecatomb is a noun meaning (transitive) To provide (someone or something) with a hecatomb.

Meaning

(transitive) To provide (someone or something) with a hecatomb.

More Meanings

1. (Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, historical) A great public sacrifice to the gods, originally of a hundred oxen; also, a great number of animals reserved for such a sacrifice.
2. (by extension, religion, historical) A great public sacrifice in other religions; also, a great number of animals or people reserved for such a sacrifice.
3. (figuratively, literary and poetic) A great number of animals, people, or things that are sacrificed or destroyed; any great sacrifice; also (generally), a large amount.

Example Sentences

O hecatombe! O catastrophe! / From Mydas pompe to Irus beggery!

[I]n th' olden time / Some sacrifices ask'd a single victim, / Great expiations had a hecatomb.

For the god they speedily stationed the sacred hecatomb all in good order surrounding the well-built altar.

[B]oth the muſes and the graces are his hard Miſtriſſes, though he daily Invocate them, though he ſacrifize Hecatombs, they ſtil look a ſquint, […]

Word Forms

• hecatombs
• hecatombing
• hecatombed

Synonyms for hecatomb

Depending on context, synonyms include abundance, battalion, arseload, assload, bellyload, boatload.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include xenismos, centauromachy, theophagy, bacchanalia, centauromachia, godslaughter.

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