Promethean

== English == === 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. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /pɹəˈmiː.θɪ.ən/ (General American) IPA(key): /pɹəˈmi.θi.ən/, /pɹoʊ-/ Hyphenation: Pro‧me‧the‧an === Adjective === Promethean (comparative more Promethean, superlative most Promethean) 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. (rare) Of or pertaining to the promethea silkmoth (Callosamia promethea). ==== Derived terms ==== Prometheanism ==== Translations ==== === Noun === Promethean (plural Prometheans) One with the qualities of Prometheus, or who acts in a Promethean manner (audaciously, creatively, etc.). (also attributive, historical) A kind of lucifer match consisting of a glass tube containing sulfuric acid coated on the outside with a flammable mixture of potassium chlorate and sugar and wrapped in paper rolls; the match was lit by crushing the tube with pliers, causing the acid to react with and ignite the flammable components. This type of match was superseded by the friction match which was lit by rubbing against a rough surface. ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === match on Wikipedia.Wikipedia Prometheus on Wikipedia.Wikipedia === Anagrams === heptameron, thermopane