

Aug 20, 2013 This week's theme

Baddies from fiction



This week's words

bluebeard

procrustes

siren

gorgon

Dr. Strangelove



Theseus slaying Procrustes Photo: Wikimedia Baddies from fiction A.Word.A.Day with Anu Garg



Procrustes PRONUNCIATION: (pro-KRUS-teez)

MEANING: noun: A person imposing conformity without concern for individuality.

ETYMOLOGY: After Procrustes, a giant in Greek mythology, who stretched or cut his victims to make them fit his bed. He was killed by Theseus. From Greek Procroustes (stretcher). The word is more often used in its adjective form procrustean . Earliest documented use: 1581.

USAGE: "But is not almost every man a Procrustes? We have not the power of showing our cruelty exactly in the same method, but actuated by the like spirit, we abridge of their liberty, and torment by scorn, all who either fall short, or exceed the usual standard."

Sarah Scott; Millennium Hall; Broadview Press; 1995.

See more usage examples of Procrustes in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.



A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: The greatest compliment that was ever paid me was when one asked me what I thought, and attended to my answer. -Henry David Thoreau, naturalist and author (1817-1862)





We need your help



Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere



Donate