Herculean

• Herculæan
• Herculian
• herculean
• herculian

From Hercules +‎ -an.

• (US) IPA^(key): /hɜːɹˈkjuːliən/, /ˌhɜːɹkjəˈliːən/

• Audio (Southern England)

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Herculean (comparative more Herculean, superlative most Herculean)

1. Of extraordinary might, power, size, etc.; suggesting Hercules in size or strength.
   • c. 1606–1607, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii], page 343, column 1:

     But this is not the best:—look, pr'ythee, Charmian, / How this Herculean Roman does become / The carriage of his chafe.

2. Requiring a huge amount of work; of extraordinary difficulty.

   a Herculean labour

   • 1748, Tobias George Smollett, The Adventures of Roderick Random:

     He replied in a dry manner, that I would find it a Herculean task to chastise everybody who should laugh at my expense;

   • 2006, Jeremy Clarkson, Top Gear (TV show), commenting on the Bugatti Veyron automobile

     The guys at Volkswagen have a Herculean task.

   • 2012, John Nonte, Supercollider 4:

     There are thousands of known isotopes, and to have a functional and easily maintainable exhibit for all of these would require a Herculean effort.

• Augean