Word of the Day Archive
Wednesday April 14, 2004
myrmidon \MUR-muh-don; -duhn\
, noun:
1. (Capitalized) A member of a warlike Thessalian people who followed Achilles on the expedition against Troy.
2. A loyal follower, especially one who executes orders without question.
He risked assassination, torture or . . . retaliation, the defining signatures of Mr. Milosevic and his ultranationalist myrmidons.
-- Bruce Fein, "Follow U.S. war crimes advice?", Washington Times, May 10, 2001
I felt quite sure that the myrmidon on duty in Gadsby Row would tell you all about my visit.
-- Georgette Heyer, Behold, Here's Poison
The best hotel, and all its culinary myrmidons, were set to work to prepare the feast.
-- Charles Dickens, Little Dorrit
Myrmidon derives from Greek Myrmidones, a warlike people of ancient Thessaly.
Dictionary.com Entry and Pronunciation for myrmidon
