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hecatomb

Pronunciation:  'heku`towm

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Matching Terms:  hecatompedon

WordNet Dictionary
 
 Definition: [n]  a great sacrifice; an ancient Greek or Roman sacrifice of 100 oxen
 
 See Also: ritual killing, sacrifice

 

 

Webster's 1913 Dictionary
 
 Definition: 
\Hec"a*tomb\, n. [L. hecatombe, Gr. ?; ? hundred + ?
ox: cf. F. h['e]catombe.] (Antiq.)
A sacrifice of a hundred oxen or cattle at the same time;
hence, the sacrifice or slaughter of any large number of
victims.

      Slaughtered hecatombs around them bleed. --Addison.

      More than a human hecatomb.              --Byron.

 

 

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