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Blackadder vocabulary

219 vocabulary words, including people, places, music, artists, etc.

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Herod: tags: [personage]

► definition

Definition:

can refer to any one of 8 kings of the Herod dynasty which ruled parts in and around Judea from 37 BC to AD 92, but often refers to the founder Herod the Great (who killed his own wife and children) or Herod Antipas (who had John the Baptist executed) . Generally the dynasty was considered despotic, cruel and self-serving.

► uses

Uses:

Bishop: It was exactly one year ago to the day that the Bank of the Black Monks of St. Herod -"Banking with a smile and a stab"- of which I am the assistant manager, lent you one thousand pounds. Our motto is "Repayment or Revenge."

BBC. Blackadder, season 2: Money

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Herod's despotic rule has been demonstrated by many of his security measures aimed at suppressing the contempt his people, especially Jews, had towards him. For instance, it has been suggested that Herod used secret police to monitor and report the feelings of the general populace towards him. He sought to prohibit protests, and had opponents removed by force.

Wikipedia: Herod the Great

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I would have such a fellow whipped for o'erdoing Termagant; it out-herods Herod: pray you avoid it.

William Shakespeare. Hamlet.

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Zotov pretended not to notice her, but when she faintly wagged her tail, and, wriggling as before, licked his golosh, he stamped his foot angrily.[...]

"You devils!" he went on. "You are the last straw on my back, you Herods."

Anton Chekhov. The Cook's Wedding and Other Stories.