: an ancient Greek and Roman sacrifice of 100 oxen or cattle
2
: the sacrifice or slaughter of many victims
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebThe vast majority of this hecatomb would be people with limited life expectancies. John P.a. Ioannidis, STAT, 17 Mar. 2020 After the hecatombs created in communism’s name, such a call to arms is evidence of a faith untroubled when prophecy fails again and again. Andrew Stuttaford, WSJ, 29 Sep. 2017
Word History
Etymology
Latin hecatombe, from Greek hekatombē, from hekaton hundred + -bē; akin to Greek bous cow — more at hundred, cow