Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- Relating to Cadmus, a legendary hero, founder of Thebes in Bœotia, who is said to have introduced into Greece, from Phenicia, the sixteen simple letters of the Greek alphabet,
α ,β ,γ ,δ ,ε ,ι ,κ ,λ ,μ ,ν ,ο ,π ,ρ ,σ ,τ ,υ , which are therefore calledCadmean letters.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective Of or pertaining to Cadmus, a fabulous prince of Thebes, who was said to have introduced into Greece the sixteen simple letters of the alphabet -- α, β, γ, δ, ε, ι, κ, λ, μ, ν, ο, π, ρ, σ, τ, υ. These are called
Cadmean letters. - adjective a victory that damages the victors as much as the vanquished; probably referring to the battle in which the soldiers who sprang from the dragon's teeth sown by Cadmus slew each other. Similar to a
Pyhrric victory .
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective Of or relating to Cadmus, a
mythical prince ofThebes , said to have introduced intoGreece the sixteen simple letters of thealphabet .
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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And the Phocaians also manned their vessels, sixty in number, and came to meet the enemy in that which is called the Sardinian sea: and when they encountered one another in the sea-fight the Phocaians won a kind of Cadmean victory, for forty of their ships were destroyed and the remaining twenty were disabled, having had their prows bent aside.
The History of Herodotus Herodotus 2003
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[29] Proverbial for a victory in which the victor is slain; probably from the story of the Theban, or "Cadmean," heroes Eteocles and
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The obscure poem of Lycophron enumerates many of these dispersed and expatriated heroes, whose conquest of Troy was indeed a "Cadmean" victory (according to the proverbial phrase of the Greeks), wherein the sufferings of the victor were little inferior to those of the vanquished.
The Great Events by Famous Historians, Volume 01 Rossiter Johnson 1885
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And the Phocaians also manned their vessels, sixty in number, and came to meet the enemy in that which is called the Sardinian sea: and when they encountered one another in the sea-fight the Phocaians won a kind of Cadmean victory, for forty of their ships were destroyed and the remaining twenty were disabled, having had their prows bent aside.
The history of Herodotus — Volume 1 480? BC-420? BC Herodotus 1883
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Him (Amphiaraus) did the Cadmean (Theban) women with trailing robes admire when they saw face to face his eyes and well-grown frame, as he was busied about the burying of
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So, Mother used to come home from the Cadmean and tie them up in the corner of her handkerchief [unknown] And the ladies in those days were dressy [unknown] and everybody wore big hats and chiffons and pearls and white gloves and they would discuss literary subjects.
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Cadmean victory, as it is called, and at a time when the knowledge can avail them nothing they perceive that their plans were ill drawn.
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The Cadmean magic has passed from the hands of hierophants into those of the people.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 14, No. 83, September, 1864 Various
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Altogether, perhaps, in some way or other, seven-eighths of the life of man is taken up by the Cadmean
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 14, No. 83, September, 1864 Various
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Before the Royal Palace in the Cadmean citadel of Thebes.
The Seven Plays in English Verse 495? BC-406 BC Sophocles
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