Pyrrhic (Adjective)

Definition 1: Used in the phrase "Pyrrhic victory," meaning a victory with losses or costs so great, it's no victory at all.[@more@]

Usage 1: Today's word is usually capitalized, since it comes from a proper name (see the Etymology). It is used almost exclusively in the phrase "Pyrrhic victory." As a noun it can refer to an ancient Greek military dance, the pyrrhic, or a metric foot in poetry comprising two unaccented syllables.

Suggested usage: Arguably, every victory in war is Pyrrhic because the costs of any battle are always too great. Pyrrhic victories often win the battle but lose the campaign: "Besting Lettucia in the state salad-making finals turned into a Pyrrhic victory for Leonard when Lettucia returned the engagement ring to him the following day." Revenge is generally Pyrrhic in that, having achieved it, the avenger usually feels sympathy for his victim.

Etymology: The eponym of today's word is Pyrrhus (318-272 BC), a Greek king of Epirus who fought the Roman Empire. Twice, he defeated the Romans, at Heraclea (280) and Asculum (279), but suffered such loses that he is quoted after the second battle in Plutarch's 'Lives' as saying, "One more victory like this will be the end of me." Legend has it that Pyrrhus also invented the pyrrhic dance, hence its name. Perhaps he would have sustained fewer losses had he focused more on the battlefield and less on the dance floor. (Today's word, all too useful in current events, comes from YDC's own Web wizard, Brad Ross-MacLeod of Lewisburg, PA.)

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