adj

promethean

Promethean (adj) means of or pertaining to Prometheus, a demigod in Greek mythology who created mortals from clay and stole fire from Zeus to give to them, for which Zeus punished him by chaining him to a rock and having an eagle feed on his liver which grew back each night; he was later rescued by Heracles.

adj

Of or pertaining to Prometheus, a demigod in Greek mythology who created mortals from clay and stole fire from Zeus to give to them, for which Zeus punished him by chaining him to a rock and having an eagle feed on his liver which grew back each night; he was later rescued by Heracles.

Boldly creative, inventive, or original; skilful, talented; also, recklessly daring; audacious.

Of a Romantic literary hero: defying traditional moral categories; rebelling against a larger order; persecuted but dauntless.

Of or pertaining to the promethea silkmoth (Callosamia promethea).

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Etymology

The adjective is derived from Prometheus (“demigod in Greek mythology”) + -an (suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’ forming adjectives; and forming agent nouns). Prometheus is a learned borrowing from Latin Promētheus, and from its etymon Ancient Greek Προμηθεύς (Promētheús), from προμηθής (promēthḗs, “having forethought”) (from προ- (pro-, prefix meaning ‘before’) + μᾰνθᾰ́νω (mănthắnō, “to learn; to know, understand”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *men- (“to mind; to think”) + *dʰeh₁- (“to do; to place, put”), in the sense of putting one’s mind to something)) + -εύς (-eús, suffix forming a masculine noun of the person concerned with a thing). The noun is derived from the adjective.

Rhymes for promethean

lean bean wean dean jean Sean mean Kean clean glean ocean Korean

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Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of promethean?

"promethean" (adj) means of or pertaining to Prometheus, a demigod in Greek mythology who created mortals from clay and stole fire from Zeus to give to them, for which Zeus punished him by chaining him to a rock and having an eagle feed on his liver which grew back each night; he was later rescued by Heracles.

What are the different meanings of promethean?

"promethean" has 3 main meanings: 1. Of or pertaining to Prometheus, a demigod in Greek mythology who created mortals from clay and stole fire from Zeus to give to them, for which Zeus punished him by chaining him to a rock and having an eagle feed on his liver which grew back each night; he was later rescued by Heracles; 2. Boldly creative, inventive, or original; skilful, talented; also, recklessly daring; audacious; 3. Of a Romantic literary hero: defying traditional moral categories; rebelling against a larger order; persecuted but dauntless.