Herod

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A historical figure known as a king of Judea who is recognized for his role in the birth of Jesus and his significant building projects
2. Referring to a ruler infamous for his tyrannical reign and the massacre of infants as told in biblical texts
3. A notable monarch in ancient times who has been the subject of various religious narratives and historical accounts

Etymology: Herod the Great, the king of Judea remembered from the Gospel of Matthew, has a name that comes to English through Greek from Hērōídēs, a form that is ultimately tied to the Greek word for "hero" (hērōs). Whether the name was originally a Greek personal name or a Hellenized version of a Semitic one is less certain, and the link to "hero" is best read as a resemblance rather than a settled derivation. Within English the name has outlived its bearer's fame in an unexpected way. The surname-like use of "Herod" as a byword for a tyrant came from the Massacre of the Innocents story in the Gospels, where he orders the killing of infants in Bethlehem. Because the name was so firmly tied to that episode, people began using it generically for a cruel ruler, so the historical king gradually became a symbol rather than a person.

Synonyms: king, ruler