hecatomb

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Quotations

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Etymology

From Latin hecatombē, from Ancient Greek ἑκατόμβη, from ἑκατόν (“‘hundred’”) + βοῦς (“‘ox’”).

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈhɛk.ə.tuːm/, SAMPA: /"hEk.@.tu:m/

[edit] Noun

hecatomb (plural hecatombs)

1. In ancient Greece or Rome, a great feast and public sacrifice to the gods, originally of a hundred oxen.
2. Hence loosely, any great sacrifice; a great number of people, animals or things; a large amount.

[edit] Quotations

• For examples of the usage of this term see the citations page.