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hécatombe. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
hécatombe, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
hécatombe in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
hécatombe you have here. The definition of the word
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hécatombe, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
French
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin hecatombē.
Pronunciation
Noun
hécatombe f (plural hécatombes)
- (historical) hecatomb (sacrifice to the gods, originally of a hundred oxen)
- (by extension) bloodbath
- Synonym: massacre
1972, Georges Brassens (lyrics and music), “Mourir pour des idées”, in Fernande:Encor s’il suffisait de quelques hécatombes / Pour qu’enfin tout changeât, qu’enfin tout s’arrangeât !- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
2020 March 28, Annick Cojean, “L’appel du prix Nobel de la paix Denis Mukwege”, in Le Monde:« Il faut agir au plus vite si nous voulons éviter l’hécatombe en Afrique » : l’appel de Denis Mukwege, Prix Nobel de la paix- We must act as quickly as possible if we want to avoid a bloodbath in Africa.
- (by extension) mass destruction (destruction of a huge quantity of things)
Further reading