Promethean
One with the qualities of Prometheus, or who acts in a Promethean mannerOne with the qualities of Prometheus, or who acts in a Promethean manner (audaciously, creatively, etc.).
Meaning
2 sensesOne 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 This type of match was superseded by the friction match which was lit by rubbing against a rough surface.
Origin
The adjective is derived from Prometheus (“demigod in Greek mythology”) + -an (suffix meanThe 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).
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Forms
plural: Prometheans| Singular | Promethean |
|---|---|
| Plural | Prometheans |
regular