Procrustes

[ proh-kruhs-teez ]

noun

, Classical Mythology.

1. a robber who stretched or amputated the limbs of travelers to make them conform to the length of his bed. He was killed by Theseus.

Procrustes

/ prəʊˈkrʌstiːz /

noun

1. Greek myth a robber, who put travellers in his bed, stretching or lopping off their limbs so that they fitted it

Procrustes

1. A mythical Greek giant who was a thief and a murderer. He would capture travelers and tie them to an iron bed. If they were longer than the bed, he would hack off their limbs until they fit it. If they were too short, he would stretch them to the right size.

Notes

A “procrustean” method is one that relentlessly tries to shape a person, an argument, or an idea to a predetermined pattern.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Procrustes¹

C16: from Greek Prokroustēs the stretcher, from prokrouein to extend by hammering out

Example Sentences

Theseus entered Procrustes's home, and partook freely of the food set before him.

From Project Gutenberg

The literary committee were so impressed with this idea that they presented it to Baxter in regard to the Procrustes.

From Project Gutenberg

When the Procrustes was ready for distribution, each subscriber received his copy by mail, in a neat pasteboard box.

From Project Gutenberg

In pursuance of my duty in the premises, it of course became necessary for me to read the Procrustes.

From Project Gutenberg

He offered to pay all the bills for the sham Procrustes, or to replace the blank copies with the real thing, as we might choose.

From Project Gutenberg