holocaust

== English == === Etymology === The noun is derived from Middle English holocaust (“burnt offering”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman holocauste, Old French holocauste, olocauste (modern French holocaust), from Late Latin holocaustum, from Ancient Greek ὁλόκαυστον (holókauston), the neuter form of ὁλόκαυστος (holókaustos, “wholly burnt”), from ὅλος (hólos, “entire, whole”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *solh₂- (“whole”)) + καυστός (kaustós, “burnt”) (from καίω (kaíō, “to burn, burn up”); further etymology uncertain, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *keh₂w-). By surface analysis, holo- +‎ -caust. The verb is derived from the noun. As regards verb sense 3 (“to subject (a group of people) to a holocaust”), compare the use of genocide as a verb. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈhɒl.ə(ʊ)ˌkɔːst/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈhɑl.əˌkɔst/, /ˈhoʊ.lə-/ (cot–caught merger) IPA(key): /ˈhɑl.əˌkɑst/, /ˈhoʊ.lə-/ Hyphenation: ho‧lo‧caust === Noun === holocaust (plural holocausts) (religion) An offering or sacrifice to a deity that is completely burned to ashes. [from 13th c.] Hypernym: burnt offering Coordinate term: moirocaust (by extension) (religion, also figuratively) A complete or large offering or sacrifice. Synonym: hecatomb Complete destruction by fire; also, the thing so destroyed. (figuratively) Extensive destruction of a group of animals or (especially) people; a large-scale massacre or slaughter. Alternative letter-case form of Holocaust (“the systematic mass murder (democide or genocide) of Jews (and, more broadly, of disabled people, homosexuals, Romanis, Slavs, and others) perpetrated by Nazi Germany shortly before and during World War II”); hence, the state-sponsored mass murder of a particular group of people in society. [from 20th c.] ==== Usage notes ==== According to the Oxford English Dictionary, use of the word Holocaust to refer to the mass murder of Jews by Nazi Germany dates back to 1942. By the 1970s, “the Holocaust” was often synonymous with the Jewish exterminations. This use of the term has been criticised because it appears to imply that there was a voluntary religious purpose behind the Nazi actions, which was not the case from either the perspective of the Nazis or the victims. Hence, some people prefer the term Shoah, which is Hebrew for “catastrophe”. The word continues to be used in its other senses. For example, part of the action of the BBC radio drama Earthsearch (1981) by the English author and screenwriter James Follett (1939–2021) takes place in “Holocaust City”, so named because the inhabitants were the only survivors of a global nuclear war. However, this usage is considered by some to be Holocaust trivialization. For more information on the use of the term Holocaust, see Holocaust. ==== Hyponyms ==== animal holocaust homocaust nuclear holocaust ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== caustic holo- ==== Translations ==== ==== See also ==== ethnic cleansing pogrom === Verb === holocaust (third-person singular simple present holocausts, present participle holocausting, simple past and past participle holocausted) (transitive) (religion, also figuratively) To sacrifice (chiefly an animal) to be completely burned. To destroy (something) completely, especially by fire. To subject (a group of people) to a holocaust (mass annihilation); to destroy en masse. ==== Translations ==== === Notes === === References === === Further reading === holocaust (sacrifice) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia The Holocaust on Wikipedia.Wikipedia holocaust (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia “holocaust”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present. “holocaust”, in Merriam-Webster.com Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present. == Czech == === Alternative forms === holokaust m === Pronunciation === IPA(key): [ˈɦolot͡sau̯st] === Noun === holocaust m inan holocaust (the state-sponsored mass murder of an ethnic group) ==== Declension ==== == Dutch == === Etymology === From Middle Dutch holocaust, from Latin holocaustum, from the neuter of Ancient Greek ὁλόκαυστος (holókaustos). The shift to masculine was influenced by Middle French holocauste. The meaning “genocide” derives from English holocaust. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈɦoː.loːˌkɑu̯st/, /ˈɦɔ.loːˌkɑu̯st/ Hyphenation: ho‧lo‧caust === Noun === holocaust m (plural holocausten, no diminutive) holocaust, genocide (dated) holocaust (complete burnt offering) ==== Related terms ==== Holocaust == Old Spanish == === Alternative forms === olocaust (alternative spelling) === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /oloˈkaust/ === Noun === holocaust m (plural holocaustos) apocopic form of holocausto, burnt offering == Polish == === Alternative forms === holokaust === Etymology === Learned borrowing from Latin holocaustum, from Ancient Greek ὁλόκαυστος (holókaustos). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /xɔˈlɔ.kawst/ Rhymes: -ɔkawst Syllabification: ho‧lo‧caust Homophones: Holocaust, Holokaust, holokaust === Noun === holocaust m inan (biblical, historical, literary, religion) burnt offering, holocaust (slaughtered animal burnt on an altar) Synonym: całopalenie (literary) holocaust (extensive destruction of a group of animals or people) ==== Declension ==== ==== Related terms ==== === Further reading === “holocaust”, in Wielki słownik języka polskiego‎[2] (in Polish), Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN “holocaust”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎[3] (in Polish) == Romanian == === Etymology === Borrowed from French holocauste. === Noun === holocaust n (plural holocausturi) holocaust ==== Declension ====