Added 9 October 2026
holocaust
/ˈhɒl.ə(ʊ)ˌkɔːst/ noun
Latin root: holocaustum Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about holocaust at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
verb
- To sacrifice (chiefly an animal) to be completely burned.
- To destroy (something) completely, especially by fire.
- To subject (a group of people) to a holocaust (mass annihilation); to destroy en masse.
Origin
The noun is derived from Middle English holocaust (“burnt offering”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman holocauste, Old French holocauste, olocauste (modern French holocaust), from Late Latin holocaustum, from Ancient Greek ὁλόκαυστον (holókauston), the neuter form of ὁλόκαυστος (holókaustos, “wholly burnt”), from ὅλος (hólos, “entire, whole”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *solh₂- (“whole”)) + καυστός (kaustós, “burnt”) (from καίω (kaíō, “to burn, burn up”); further etymology uncertain, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *keh₂w-). By surface analysis, holo- + -caust. The verb is derived from the noun.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)