Sekirov Dictionary

holocaust

UK /ˈhɒl.ə(ʊ)ˌkɔːst/US /ˈhɑl.əˌkɔst/

noun 4
verb 3
forms 3

noun4

An offering or sacrifice to a deity that is completely burned to ashes.
•
(figurative) Extensive destruction of a group of animals or (especially) people; a large-scale massacre or slaughter.
- None will emerge the victor from this holocaust. — 1953
•
Complete destruction by fire; also, the thing so destroyed.
- A horrible holocaust occurred near Hollow Rock, in Benton County, about 7 o'clock last night. The residence of William F. Flowers was consumed by fire. — 1889
•
A complete or large offering or sacrifice.
- Insnar'd she was in Shechems Treachery, / And, silly Mayden, suddenly became / An Holocaust to Lusts unhappy Flame. — 1648

verb3

•
To destroy (something) completely, especially by fire.
- I at once holocausted / My clothes to stamp out the infection—infection. — 1874
•
To subject (a group of people) to a holocaust (mass annihilation); to destroy en masse.
- Over the centuries, we [Jews] were expelled, pogromed, crusaded, inquisitioned, jihaded, and holocausted out of countries that we helped to make great. — 1991
•
To sacrifice (chiefly an animal) to be completely burned.
- Such acts must needs be his, who did devise / By crying Altars down, to sacrifice / To private malice; where you might have seen / His conscience holocausted to his spleen. — 1647

forms

holocausted · holocausting · holocausts

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