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myrmidon

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Myr⋅mi⋅don

[mur-mi-don, -dn]
–noun, plural Myr⋅mi⋅dons, Myr⋅mid⋅o⋅nes [mur-mid-n-eez] .
1. Classical Mythology. one of the warlike people of ancient Thessaly who accompanied Achilles to the Trojan War.
2. (lowercase) a person who executes without question or scruple a master's commands.

Origin:
ME < L Myrmidones (pl.) < Gk Myrmidónes
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Myr·mi·don   (mûr'mə-dŏn', -dn)   
n.  
  1. Greek Mythology A member of a warlike Thessalian people who were ruled by Achilles and followed him on the expedition against Troy.

  2. myrmidon A faithful follower who carries out orders without question.


[From Middle English Mirmidones, Myrmidons, from Latin Myrmidones, from Greek Murmidones.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

myrmidon 
c.1400, from L. Myrmidones (pl.), from Gk. Myrmidones, Thessalian tribe led by Achilles to the Trojan War, fabled to have been ants changed into men, from Gk. myrmex "ant." Transferred sense of "faithful follower" is from 1610.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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