out-herod

  • 1out-Herod — [out΄her′əd] vt. to surpass in excess, as in violence or cruelty: usually in the phrase out Herod Herod, Hamlet s reference to the usual characterization of Herod the Great in the old mystery plays …

    English World dictionary

  • 2Out-Herod — Out Her od, v. t. To surpass (Herod) in violence or wickedness; to exceed in any vicious or offensive particular. Compare {outpope the Pope}. It out Herods Herod. Shak. [1913 Webster] Out Heroding the preposterous fashions of the times. Sir W.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3out-Herod — out Her′od v. t. to outdo in violence or excess (usu used in the phrase out Herod Herod). Etymology: 1595–1605 …

    From formal English to slang

  • 4out-Herod — transitive verb Etymology: out + Herod the Great, depicted in medieval mystery plays as a blustering tyrant Date: 1602 to exceed in violence or extravagance usually used in the phrase out Herod Herod …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 5out-Herod — /owt her euhd/, v.t. to outdo in extravagance, violence, or excess: His cruelty out Herods Herod. [1595 1605; OUT + HEROD (ANTIPAS)] * * * …

    Universalium

  • 6out-herod — out her·od …

    English syllables

  • 7out-Herod — verb (Always with Herod as a direct object) surpass even Herod in evil and cruelty. It out Herods Herod. Pray you, avoid it. (Hamlet, act 3, scene 2) …

    Wiktionary

  • 8out-herod — verb surpass someone in cruelty or evil • Hypernyms: ↑surpass, ↑outstrip, ↑outmatch, ↑outgo, ↑exceed, ↑outdo, ↑surmount, ↑outperform • Verb Frames …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 9out-herod herod — Be very extravagant, overdo the matter, surpass …

    New dictionary of synonyms

  • 10out- — [out] [< OUT] combining form 1. situated at or coming from a point away, outside, external [outbuilding, outpatient] 2. going away or forth, outward [outbound] 3. better, greater, or more than: used to form verbs from verbs, adjectives, or… …

    English World dictionary