Progression

cyclopean (sy-kluh-PEE-uhn, si-KLOP-ee-uhn) adjective

1. Of or suggestive of Cyclops; one-eyed.

2. Huge.

3. Formed with large, irregular stones closely fitted without the use of mortar.

[From Latin Cyclopeus, from Greek Kyklops (Cyclops), from kyklos (circle) + ops (eye). Cyclops were a race of savage one-eyed giants in Greek mythology. They forged thunderbolts for Zeus in return for their freedom. Cyclopean walls were attributed to them for their strength in building such massive walls.]

Today's word in Visual Thesaurus: http://visualthesaurus.com/?w1=cyclopean

Cyclops pictures: http://images.google.com/images?q=cyclops

A cyclopean wall: http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~ajm/Pages/cyclopean.htm

"Unlike the Tate Modern, which cleared out all its cyclopean turbines and boilers, the Wapping Project has retained as much as is sensible."
Hugh Pearman; Power for the People; Sunday Times (London, UK); Oct 8, 2000.

"The stones of the arch have been replaced, but there are still the huge original cyclopean slabs at the base."
Barry Unsworth; Volterra's Past Speaks In Its Stones; The New York Times; Mar 31, 2002.

This week's theme: words derived from the names of mythical creatures.

Permalink:
http://wordsmith.org/words/cyclopean.html

Posted by Keya at April 6, 2005 07:38 PM