Herodian

[ huh-roh-dee-uhn ]

adjective

1. of or relating to Herod the Great, his family, or its partisans.

noun

1. a partisan of the house of Herod.
2. a member of a political group that supported the dynasty of Herod and opposed Jesus.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Herodian¹

< Late Latin (Vulgate) Hērōdiānī (plural); Herod, -ian

Example Sentences

These unfortunate innocents were known familiarly in the office as “June bugs,” and they were exterminated with worse than Herodian malignity by my young gentlemen.

From Slate

It wants Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to guarantee Israeli control over sites such as the remnants of hilltop Hasmonean and Herodian forts dating back two millennia, and hundreds of ruins from earlier Jewish rule.

From Reuters

Merriam-Webster cites this example of how the word was used in 1643: “He tels us of Maistet Pims death, as remarkable newes, and how he was impeached of Treason, and that he died of the Herodian visitation, and that hee was a most loathsome and foule Carcasse.”

From Seattle Times

During that work, Reich also discovered the Siloam Pool deep in the valley below Wadi Hilweh, as well as three steps leading up to the Herodian street.

From Washington Post

Consequently, we are deluged with books and symposia on what could and should be done to balance food and population … Optimists tend to overlook the fact that, unless a population control policy depends on a dictatorial act along Herodian lines, it will not be effective until people have learnt the rudiments of biology and hygiene.

From Nature