2. Hence: Exceedingly filthy or corrupt.
[1913 Webster]
{Augean stable} (Fig.), an accumulation of corruption or filth almost beyond the power of man to remedy. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
augean stable — noun Usage: usually capitalized A : a condition or place marked by a staggering accumulation of corruption and filth every government ought to attend to cleaning its own Augean stables … Useful english dictionary
Augean stable — noun Date: 1622 a condition or place marked by great accumulation of filth or corruption … New Collegiate Dictionary
Augean — Au*ge an, a. 1. (Class. Myth.) Of or pertaining to Augeus, king of Elis, whose stable contained 3000 oxen, and had not been cleaned for 30 years. Hercules cleansed it in a single day. [1913 Webster] 2. Hence: Exceedingly filthy or corrupt. [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Augean — filthy, 1590s, in reference to Augean stable, the cleansing of which was one of the labors of Herakles, from Gk. Augeias, like the stable of Augeas, king of Elis, which contained 3,000 oxen and had gone uncleansed for 30 years. Herakles purified… … Etymology dictionary
Augean — [ô jē′ən] adj. [< L Augeas < Gr Augeias] 1. Gr. Legend of Augeas, king of Elis, or his stable, which holds 3,000 oxen and remains uncleaned for 30 years until Hercules, as one of his twelve labors, cleans it in one day by diverting a river… … English World dictionary
Augean stables — noun (Greek mythology) the extremely dirty stables that were finally cleaned by Hercules who diverted two rivers through them • Usage Domain: ↑plural, ↑plural form • Topics: ↑Greek mythology • Instance Hypernyms: ↑stable, ↑ … Useful english dictionary
stable — n. 1) a livery; riding stable 2) (misc.) (Greek mythology) to clean the Augean stables * * * [ steɪb(ə)l] riding stable (misc.) (Greek mythology) to clean the Augean stables a livery … Combinatory dictionary
Augean — adjective Etymology: Latin Augeas, king of Elis, from Greek Augeias; from the legend that his stable, left neglected for 30 years, was finally cleaned by Hercules Date: 1599 extremely formidable or difficult and occasionally distasteful < an… … New Collegiate Dictionary
stable — Synonyms and related words: Augean stables, abiding, accordant, accountable, adamantine, age group, age long, aged, alike, ancient, antique, articulated, assiduous, automatic, balanced, band, barn, battalion, bed, beleaguer, berth, beset, besiege … Moby Thesaurus
Augean stables — /ɔˈdʒiən steɪbəlz/ (say aw jeeuhn staybuhlz) plural noun Greek Legend the, the stables in which a king (Augeas) kept 3000 oxen and which had not been cleaned for thirty years. Hercules accomplished the task in a single day by turning the river… …
