Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- In the phrase to out-herod Herod, to be more violent than Herod (as represented in the old mystery plays); hence, to exceed in any excess of evil.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- transitive verb To surpass (Herod) in violence or wickedness; to exceed in any vicious or offensive particular. Compare
outpope the pope .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- verb surpass someone in cruelty or evil
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word out-herod.
Examples
-
Simon-Pure Southerner from the very fact of their nativity, and visited with the most horrible retribution wherever they have shown a leaning toward the land of their birth, they find it necessary to out-herod
The Continental Monthly, Vol. III, No. V, May, 1863 Devoted to Literature and National Policy Various
-
(For Virgil and Nativity play and prophecy see authorities in Comparetti, "Virgil in Middles Ages", p. 310 sqq.) "To out-herod Herod", i.e. to over-act, dates from
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 3: Brownson-Clairvaux 1840-1916 1913
-
Every man’s invention seemed on the stretch, and each extravagant simile seemed to set one half of your men of wit into a brown study to produce something which should out-herod it.”
-
Every man's invention seemed on the stretch, and each extravagant simile seemed to set one half of your men of wit into a brown study to produce something which should out-herod it. "
The Fortunes of Nigel Walter Scott 1801
qms commented on the word out-herod
The poor, given voice in debate,
Often parrot the lies of the great;
So error is mirrored,
They out-herod Herod
And blame but themselves for their fate.
September 15, 2014