myrmidon

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noun myr·mi·don \ ˈmər-mə-ˌdän , -dən \

Updated on: 24 Jul 2017

Definition of myrmidon

1 capitalized :a member of a legendary Thessalian people who accompanied their king Achilles in the Trojan War

2 :a loyal follower; especially :a subordinate who executes orders unquestioningly or unscrupulously

myrmidon was our Word of the Day on 09/11/2016. Hear the podcast!

Recent Examples of myrmidon from the Web

OK, first of all, George III didn't have myrmidons.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "This Week In The Laboratories Of Democracy," 20 Mar. 2014

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'myrmidon.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

myrmidon and Ants

The Myrmidons, legendary inhabitants of Thessaly in Greece, were known for their fierce devotion to Achilles, the king who led them in the Trojan War. Myrmex means "ant" in Greek, an image that evokes small and insignificant workers mindlessly fulfilling their duties. Whether the original Myrmidons were given their name for that reason is open to question. The "ant" association is strong, however. Some say the name is from a legendary ancestor who once had the form of an ant; others say the Myrmidons were actually transformed from ants. In any case, since the 1400s, we've employed myrmidon in its not-always-complimentary, ant-evoking, figurative sense.