Definition of Pyrrhus

1. Noun. King of Epirus; defeated the Romans in two battles in spite of staggering losses (319-272 BC).

Generic synonyms: King, Male Monarch, Rex
Derivative terms: Pyrrhic

Definition of Pyrrhus

1. Proper noun. Ancient Greek given name, particularly worn by the king of Epirus (319-272 BC) who defeated Romans in several battles, but sustained heavy losses, from which the term Pyrrhic victory was coined. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Lexicographical Neighbors of Pyrrhus

Pyrolaceae
Pyrophorus
Pyrophorus noctiluca
Pyrrhic
Pyrrhic victories
Pyrrhic victory
Pyrrhocoridae
Pyrrhonian
Pyrrhonism
Pyrrhonisms
Pyrrhonist
Pyrrhonists
Pyrrhula
Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Pyrrhuloxia sinuata
Pyrrhus (current term)
Pyrrophyta
Pyrrosia
Pyrrosia lingua
Pyrularia
Pyrularia pubera
Pyrus
Pyrus communis
Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Pythagoras
Pythagorean
Pythagorean theorem
Pythagorean triple
Pythagoreanism
Pythagoreans

Literary usage of Pyrrhus

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Ancient History of the Egyptians, Carthaginians, Assyrians, Babylonians by Charles Rollin (1830)
"The joy with which Pyrrhus received a proposal so agreeable to his disposition, ... Pyrrhus, when he returned into Epirus, after he had entirely abandoned ..."

2. The History of Rome by Wilhelm Ihne (1871)
"They were placed between two dangers, and it was not less in their interest to hasten the departure of Pyrrhus from Italy than it was in the interest of the ..."

3. The American Cyclopaedia: A Popular Dictionary of General Knowledge edited by George Ripley, Charles Anderson Dana (1883)
"Pyrrhus came and restored him to his kingdom. Soon afterward Demetrius ... Hostilities soon arose between Pyrrhus and Demetrius, who had formerly been close ..."

4. The Historians' History of the World: A Comprehensive Narrative of the Rise by Henry Smith Williams (1904)
"Pyrrhus, returning from Italy and at a loss how to pay his troops, sought an occasion ... This called forth complaints from the Macedonians ; but Pyrrhus, ..."

5. The Attic Orators from Antiphon to Isaeos by Richard Claverhouse Jebb (1893)
"O adopted son of Plaintiff Pyrrhus and speaker Scheibe, in his stemma (p. xix. ... Pyrrhus had bequeathed his estate to his adopted . son ..."

6. A History of Rome from the Earliest Times to the Establishment of the Empire by Henry George Liddell (1855)
"Adventurous youth of Pyrrhus, King of Epirus: lust of conquest. § 2. ... Locri joins Pyrrhus: Rhegium seized by Campanian captain. ..."

7. The History of Rome by Thomas Arnold (1868)
"by an accident; for one of Pyrrhus' elephants was wounded, and running wild among its own men, threw them into disorder; nor could they offer a long ..."

8. A History of Rome from the Earliest Times to the Establishment of the Empire by Henry George Liddell (1855)
"Adventurous youth of Pyrrhus, King of Epirus: lust of conquest. § 2. ... Report of Cineas: Pyrrhus marches into Latium, but Rome remains firm. § 9. ..."

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