pyrrhic

Where does the word "pyrrhic" come from? It comes from Greek Pyrrhos, and was adopted directly into English (1885).

Pyrrhic’s story begins in Greek: Pyrrhos meant “a king's name.” A king of Epirus whose costly victory over Rome came at devastating cost to his own army. It reached English by 1885 as pyrrhic. Coined for a victory won at such great cost it amounts to defeat. Today, pyrrhic means describing a victory won at such a devastating cost it is tantamount to defeat.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient Pyrrhos "a king's name", a king of Epirus whose costly victory over Rome came at devastating cost to his own army.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1885 pyrrhic "won at a cost too great to justify the victory", coined for a victory won at such great cost it amounts to defeat.