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hecatomb

Syllabification: (hec·a·tomb)
Pronunciation: /ˈhekəˌtōm/
Definition of hecatomb

noun

  • (in ancient Greece or Rome) a great public sacrifice, originally of a hundred oxen.
  • an extensive loss of life for some cause.

Origin:

late 16th century: via Latin from Greek hekatombē (from hekaton 'hundred' + bous 'ox')

hecatomb in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of hecatomb in the British & World English dictionary

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