English
herostratic fame
Herostratic fame comes from Ancient Greek Ἡρόστρατος.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἩρόστρατοςHēróstratos
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEHērostratus
- Englishtodayherostratic fame
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEἩρόστρατοςHēróstratos
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEHērostratus
- Englishtodayherostratic fame
The story
Herostratic is derived from Herostratus (learned borrowing from Latin Hērostratus, from Ancient Greek Ἡρόστρατος (Hēróstratos) + -ic (suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’ forming adjectives from nouns)). Herostratus (died c. 356 B.C.E.) was a Greek arsonist who sought fame by destroying the second Temple of Artemis at Ephesus (now in Izmir Province, Turkey), according to tradition by setting fire to it on 21 July 356 B.C.E., the birth date of Alexander the Great.
Every English word from Ancient Greek Ἡρόστρατος
Today it means
noun Fame (or infamy) won through crime, destruction, or some other misdeed.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek Ἡρόστρατος / herostratic fame