Pyr·rhus

(pĭr′əs) c. 319-272 bc.

King of Epirus (306-302 and 297-272) who defeated the Romans at Heraclea (280) and Asculum (279) despite his own staggering losses.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Pyrrhus

(ˈpɪrəs)

1. (Biography) 319–272 bc, king of Epirus (306–272). He invaded Italy but was ultimately defeated by the Romans (275 bc)

2. (Classical Myth & Legend) another name for Neoptolemus

ˈPyrrhic adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

Pyr•rhus

(ˈpɪr əs)

n.

c318–272 B.C., king of Epirus c300–272.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

Pyrrhus - king of Epirus; defeated the Romans in two battles in spite of staggering losses (319-272 BC)

Translations

Pyrrhus

[ˈpɪrəs] N → Pirro

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

King Pyrrhus was at dinner at an ale-house bordering on the theatre, when he was summoned to go on the stage.

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When these things are remembered no one will marvel at the ease with which Alexander held the Empire of Asia, or at the difficulties which others have had to keep an acquisition, such as Pyrrhus and many more; this is not occasioned by the little or abundance of ability in the conqueror, but by the want of uniformity in the subject state.

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In Pierces Supererogation, Harvey ironically compares Nashe's 'Orient witt' to 'the renowned achates of king Pyrrhus, that is, the tabernacle or chauncell of the Muses, Apollo sitting in the midst, and playing vpon his Iuory harpe most enchauntingly' (Aa2v).

Underemployed Elizabethans: Gabriel Harvey and Thomas Nashe in the Parnassus Plays

One of the prominent rulers in the Greek world at the time was Pyrrhus, the king of Epirus and a distant relative of Alexander.

NPLs and the unaffordable luxury of populist lawmakers

Could members of the public be excused for asking 'what price justice' whilst marvelling at a victory even Pyrrhus himself may have been proud of?

A wise use of police cash? Letters

Aux vers 107 a 140 du premier livre de la Franciade, en effet, Jupiter raconte comment il a derobe le jeune Astyanax a la furie de Pyrrhus, lui substituant une "image feint" (133) que l'agresseur porta aussitot au sommet d'une haute tour et lanca "pie contre-mont au travers de la rue / A chef froisse" (138-39).

FRANCUS EN NORMANDIE. UNE EPIGRAMME LATINE DE JACQUES DE CAHAIGNES POUR LE PUY DE CAEN (1574)

"Nestor" opens on a note of historical decorum when Cochrane, one of Stephen's students, responds correctly with "Tarentum" (the query being, what city sent Pyrrhus?); but the episode quickly devolves into a pedagogical farce.

The consolation of objects in Joyce's: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Ulysses

This happened in the battle of Asculum in 279 BC when Greek King Pyrrhus defeated a Roman army in a pitched battle at a cost of more than one third of his army.

Winning battles can be habit-forming

That general was Pyrrhus and we now call these situations--apparent victories that cost so much they're not sustainable--Pyrrhic victories.

Activating innovation using foresight tools

The sorrowful: "Pyrrhus to his colleague Chius: I grieve because I hear you have died; and so farewell."

Nothing's new about the writing on the wall