Herculean
From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: herculean
Alternative forms
Etymology
Pronunciation
Adjective
Herculean (comparative more Herculean, superlative most Herculean)
- Of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.; suggesting Hercules in size or strength.
- c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii], page 343, column 1:
- But this is not the best:—look, pr'ythee, Charmian, / How this Herculean Roman does become / The carriage of his chafe.
- Requiring a huge amount of work; of extraordinary difficulty.
- a Herculean labour
- 1748, Tobias George Smollett, The Adventures of Roderick Random:
- He replied in a dry manner, that I would find it a Herculean task to chastise everybody who should laugh at my expense;
- 2006, Jeremy Clarkson, Top Gear (TV show), commenting on the Bugatti Veyron automobile
- The guys at Volkswagen have a Herculean task.
- 2012, John Nonte, Supercollider 4:
- There are thousands of known isotopes, and to have a functional and easily maintainable exhibit for all of these would require a Herculean effort.
Translations
of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.
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requiring a huge amount of work
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See also
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