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adjective
Greek

Herculean

Requiring enormous strength, effort, or endurance.

Origin

From Heracles (Latin: Hercules), whose Twelve Labors โ€” killing the Nemean lion, cleaning the Augean stables, capturing Cerberus โ€” set the bar for impossible tasks.

Modern usage

Used to dignify any massive effort, real or rhetorical. 'A herculean effort by the recovery team.'

Tags

strength
effort

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