Pyr|rhic

pyr|rhic¹ «PIHR ihk», noun, adjective.

–n.

an ancient Greek dance: »

A thrilling weapon dance, the pyrrhic, was performed by warriors (Hanya Holm).

–adj.

of or having to do with a war dance.

╂[< Greek pyrrhíchē (órchēsis) perhaps (dance) of Pýrrhichos, supposedly the creator of the dance, or perhaps (as Aristotle says) < pyr pyre (because it was first used at the funeral, that is, burning, of Patroclus)]

pyr|rhic² «PIHR ihk», noun, adjective.

–n.

a measure in poetry consisting of two short syllables or two unaccented syllables: »

They intended to vary the ordinary rhythm by introducing an accentual pyrrhic (English Metre).

–adj.

consisting of or having to do with pyrrhics.

╂[< Latin pyrrhichius < Greek pyrrhíchios (poús) pyrrhic (foot) < pyrrhíchē; see etym. under pyrrhic¹ (Cf. ↑pyrrhic) (because the meter was used in that dance)]

Pyr|rhic «PIHR ihk», adjective.

of or having to do with Pyrrhus, a king of Epirus in Greece.