"Herculean" meaning in English

See Herculean in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Adjective

IPA: /hɜːɹˈkjuːliən/ [US], /ˌhɜːɹkjəˈliːən/ [US] Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-Herculean.wav [Southern-England] Forms: more Herculean [comparative], most Herculean [superlative]
Etymology: From Hercules + -an. Etymology templates: {{root|en|ine-pro|*ḱlew-}}, {{af|en|Hercules|-an}} Hercules + -an Head templates: {{en-adj}} Herculean (comparative more Herculean, superlative most Herculean)
  1. Of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.; suggesting Hercules in size or strength. Synonyms: Herculæan, Herculian, herculean, herculian Related terms: Augean Translations (of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.): ἡράκλειος (hērákleios) (Ancient Greek), herculeu (Asturian), herculi (Catalan), herkulovský (Czech), herculéen (French), hercúleo (Galician), herkulisch (German), ηράκλειος (irákleios) (Greek), herkulesi (Hungarian), erculeo (Italian), hercúleo (Portuguese), богаты́рский (bogatýrskij) (Russian), исполи́нский (ispolínskij) (Russian), геркуле́сов (gerkulésov) (Russian), гера́клов (geráklov) (Russian), hercúleo (Spanish)
    Sense id: en-Herculean-en-adj-Gord1ejE Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English entries with language name categories using raw markup, English terms suffixed with -an Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 75 25 Disambiguation of English entries with language name categories using raw markup: 67 33 Disambiguation of English terms suffixed with -an: 84 16 Disambiguation of 'of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.': 88 12
  2. Requiring a huge amount of work; of extraordinary difficulty. Translations (requiring a huge amount of work): herculi (Catalan), herkulovský (Czech), herculéen (French), herkulisch (German), benedyktyński (Polish), hercúleo (Portuguese)
    Sense id: en-Herculean-en-adj-L9txa25Z Categories (other): English terms with collocations Disambiguation of 'requiring a huge amount of work': 2 98

Alternative forms

Download JSON data for Herculean meaning in English (5.9kB)

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  "etymology_templates": [
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      "args": {
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        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*ḱlew-"
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      "expansion": "",
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      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "Hercules",
        "3": "-an"
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      "expansion": "Hercules + -an",
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    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Hercules + -an.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "more Herculean",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "most Herculean",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
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  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
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      "categories": [
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      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.; suggesting Hercules in size or strength."
      ],
      "id": "en-Herculean-en-adj-Gord1ejE",
      "links": [
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          "_dis1": "93 7",
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        {
          "_dis1": "76 24",
          "word": "Herculæan"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "76 24",
          "word": "Herculian"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "76 24",
          "word": "herculean"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "76 24",
          "word": "herculian"
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      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "ast",
          "lang": "Asturian",
          "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
          "word": "herculeu"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
          "word": "herculi"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
          "word": "herkulovský"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
          "word": "herculéen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "gl",
          "lang": "Galician",
          "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
          "word": "hercúleo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
          "word": "herkulisch"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "irákleios",
          "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
          "word": "ηράκλειος"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "grc",
          "lang": "Ancient Greek",
          "roman": "hērákleios",
          "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
          "word": "ἡράκλειος"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
          "word": "herkulesi"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
          "word": "erculeo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
          "word": "hercúleo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "bogatýrskij",
          "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
          "word": "богаты́рский"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "ispolínskij",
          "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
          "word": "исполи́нский"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "gerkulésov",
          "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
          "word": "геркуле́сов"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "geráklov",
          "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
          "word": "гера́клов"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "88 12",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
          "word": "hercúleo"
        }
      ]
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      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "a Herculean labour",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1748, Tobias George Smollett, The Adventures of Roderick Random",
          "text": "He replied in a dry manner, that I would find it a Herculean task to chastise everybody who should laugh at my expense;",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "text": "2006, Jeremy Clarkson, Top Gear (TV show), commenting on the Bugatti Veyron automobile\nThe guys at Volkswagen have a Herculean task."
        },
        {
          "ref": "2012, John Nonte, Supercollider 4",
          "text": "There are thousands of known isotopes, and to have a functional and easily maintainable exhibit for all of these would require a Herculean effort.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Requiring a huge amount of work; of extraordinary difficulty."
      ],
      "id": "en-Herculean-en-adj-L9txa25Z",
      "links": [
        [
          "work",
          "work"
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      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "2 98",
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "requiring a huge amount of work",
          "word": "herculi"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "2 98",
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "requiring a huge amount of work",
          "word": "herkulovský"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "2 98",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "requiring a huge amount of work",
          "word": "herculéen"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "2 98",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "requiring a huge amount of work",
          "word": "herkulisch"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "2 98",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "requiring a huge amount of work",
          "word": "benedyktyński"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "2 98",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "requiring a huge amount of work",
          "word": "hercúleo"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
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      "ipa": "/hɜːɹˈkjuːliən/",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˌhɜːɹkjəˈliːən/",
      "tags": [
        "US"
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      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-Herculean.wav",
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      "tags": [
        "Southern-England"
      ],
      "text": "Audio (Southern England)"
    }
  ],
  "word": "Herculean"
}
{
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    "English 4-syllable words",
    "English adjectives",
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    "English eponyms",
    "English lemmas",
    "English terms derived from Greek mythology",
    "English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
    "English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ḱlew-",
    "English terms suffixed with -an",
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  "etymology_templates": [
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  "etymology_text": "From Hercules + -an.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "more Herculean",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
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    },
    {
      "form": "most Herculean",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
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  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "related": [
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      "word": "Augean"
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  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.; suggesting Hercules in size or strength."
      ],
      "links": [
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          "Hercules",
          "Hercules"
        ]
      ]
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      "categories": [
        "English terms with collocations",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned"
      ],
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          "text": "a Herculean labour",
          "type": "example"
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        {
          "ref": "1748, Tobias George Smollett, The Adventures of Roderick Random",
          "text": "He replied in a dry manner, that I would find it a Herculean task to chastise everybody who should laugh at my expense;",
          "type": "quotation"
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        {
          "text": "2006, Jeremy Clarkson, Top Gear (TV show), commenting on the Bugatti Veyron automobile\nThe guys at Volkswagen have a Herculean task."
        },
        {
          "ref": "2012, John Nonte, Supercollider 4",
          "text": "There are thousands of known isotopes, and to have a functional and easily maintainable exhibit for all of these would require a Herculean effort.",
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        "Requiring a huge amount of work; of extraordinary difficulty."
      ],
      "links": [
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      "tags": [
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      "tags": [
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  "synonyms": [
    {
      "word": "Herculæan"
    },
    {
      "word": "Herculian"
    },
    {
      "word": "herculean"
    },
    {
      "word": "herculian"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "ast",
      "lang": "Asturian",
      "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
      "word": "herculeu"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
      "word": "herculi"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
      "word": "herkulovský"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
      "word": "herculéen"
    },
    {
      "code": "gl",
      "lang": "Galician",
      "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
      "word": "hercúleo"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
      "word": "herkulisch"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "irákleios",
      "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
      "word": "ηράκλειος"
    },
    {
      "code": "grc",
      "lang": "Ancient Greek",
      "roman": "hērákleios",
      "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
      "word": "ἡράκλειος"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
      "word": "herkulesi"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
      "word": "erculeo"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
      "word": "hercúleo"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "bogatýrskij",
      "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
      "word": "богаты́рский"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "ispolínskij",
      "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
      "word": "исполи́нский"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "gerkulésov",
      "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
      "word": "геркуле́сов"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "geráklov",
      "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
      "word": "гера́клов"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.",
      "word": "hercúleo"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "requiring a huge amount of work",
      "word": "herculi"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "requiring a huge amount of work",
      "word": "herkulovský"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "requiring a huge amount of work",
      "word": "herculéen"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "requiring a huge amount of work",
      "word": "herkulisch"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "requiring a huge amount of work",
      "word": "benedyktyński"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "requiring a huge amount of work",
      "word": "hercúleo"
    }
  ],
  "word": "Herculean"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-05-06 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-05-02 using wiktextract (f4fd8c9 and c9440ce). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

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