I. ˈpirik, -rēk noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin pyrrhicha, from Greek pyrrhichē
: an ancient Greek martial dance in quick time performed to the accompaniment of the flute
II. adjective
Etymology: Latin pyrrhichius, from Greek pyrrhichios, from pyrrhichē pyrrhic dance
: of, belonging to, or constituting the pyrrhic dance
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Latin ( pes ) pyrrhichius, from Greek ( pous ) pyrrhichios pyrrhic foot
: a foot in prosody consisting of two short or unaccented syllables
IV. adjective
: of or relating to a pyrrhic : composed of pyrrhics
pyrrhic verse
V. adjective
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: Pyrrh us died 272 B.C. king of Epirus who sustained heavy losses in defeating the Romans at Asculum in Apulia in 279 B.C. (from Latin, from Greek Pyrrhos ) + English -ic
: of, relating to, or resembling that of Pyrrhus