herodotus: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic
Quick answer
What does “herodotus” mean?
The name of an ancient Greek historian from the 5th century BC, often called 'The Father of History'.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The name of an ancient Greek historian from the 5th century BC, often called 'The Father of History'.
Used metonymically to refer to his body of work ('The Histories') or to the field of early historical writing. Sometimes used to represent meticulous inquiry or ancient wisdom.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage or meaning. Both regions use the name in identical scholarly and general contexts.
Connotations
Same connotations of classical learning, foundational scholarship, and ancient authority in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialised in both UK and US English, appearing primarily in academic, historical, or literary discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “herodotus” in a Sentence
[Subject] cites/consults/reads HerodotusHerodotus [verb of reporting] that...In Herodotus, [event] is describedVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “herodotus” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Herodotean methodology
- a Herodotean digression
American English
- Herodotean style
- a Herodotean approach
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in history, classics, literature, and anthropology departments when discussing ancient sources, methodology, or the development of historical narrative.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might appear in crossword puzzles, quizzes, or general knowledge discussions.
Technical
Used in technical philology or papyrology when referencing specific manuscripts or textual traditions of 'The Histories'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “herodotus”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “herodotus”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “herodotus”
- Misspelling as 'Heroditus' or 'Heradotus'.
- Incorrect pronunciation with stress on the first syllable (HE-ro-doh-tus).
- Confusing him with the later historian Thucydides.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
He wrote 'The Histories', an account of the Greco-Persian Wars and a wide-ranging inquiry into the cultures of the ancient world.
He lived in the 5th century BC, approximately from 484 BC to 425 BC.
He is valued for preserving much information unavailable elsewhere, but scholars distinguish between his reporting of events he witnessed or investigated and the myths, legends, and rumours he also included. Critical reading is essential.
In British English, it's /hɪˈrɒd.ə.təs/ (hi-ROD-uh-tuhs). In American English, it's /həˈrɑː.də.təs/ (huh-RAH-duh-tuhs).
The name of an ancient Greek historian from the 5th century BC, often called 'The Father of History'.
Herodotus is usually formal, academic in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A regular Herodotus (informal, rare: meaning someone who tells long, detailed stories)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Herodotus Hears and Records Old Tales Of The Unknown Surroundings. (Emphasises his role as an inquirer and recorder of foreign cultures.)
Conceptual Metaphor
HERODOTUS IS A FOUNDATION (of history), HERODOTUS IS A SOURCE (of stories/information)
Practice
Quiz
What is Herodotus most famously known as?