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Webster 1913 Edition

Augean

Au-ge′an

,
Adj.
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.
2.
Hence: Exceedingly filthy or corrupt.
Augean stable
(Fig.),
an accumulation of corruption or filth almost beyond the power of man to remedy.

Webster 1828 Edition

Augean

AUGE'AN

,
Adj.
The Augean stable, in Grecian mythology, is represented as belonging to Augeas or Augias, one of the Argonauts, and afterwards king of Elis. This prince kept a great number of oxen, in a stable which was never cleansed, until Hercules undertook the task; a task which it seemed impracticable to execute. Hence the Augean stable came to represent what is deemed impracticable, or a place which has not, for a long time been cleansed.

Definition 2024

Augean

Augean

English

Alternative forms

Adjective

Augean ‎(comparative more Augean, superlative most Augean)

  1. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of Augeas.
  2. Hence, very filthy.

Derived terms

References

  1. ↑ Ariadne’s Thread: A Guide to International Tales Found in Classical Literature by William F. Hansen (2002; Cornell University Press; ISBN 9780801475726, 9780801436703), page 160
      Herakles Cleans the Augean Stables
      One of the best-known stories attached to Herakles tells how in one day he removed the dung from King Augeias’s cattle yard, which had not been cleaned in years.

Etymology

From Latin Augeas +‎ -an.

A reference to Augeas, a figure in Greek mythology whose stables were never cleaned until Hercules was given the task of cleaning them.[1]

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɔːˈdʒiːən/

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