pyrrhic

Meanings

1. Of or characterized by pyrrhics (metrical feet with two short syllables).
2. Relating to Pyrrhus, a Macedonian king, or some of his costly victories he had while fighting Rome.
3. Alternative letter-case form of Pyrrhic (“achieved at too great a cost”).

1. An Ancient Greek war dance.
2. A metric foot with two short or unaccented syllables.

1. Of or relating to Pyrrhus (319/318–272 BCE), Greek general and statesman.
2. Achieved at too great a cost or detriment to have been worthwhile (as a victory, accomplishment, etc).

Etymology

From Latin pyrrhichius (“dibrach”), from πυρρίχη (purrhíkhē, “war dance”), from πυρρός (purrhós, “flame-colored, red”), from πῦρ (pûr, “fire”).