Promethean
Part of speech: adjective
Origin: Greek, late 16th century
Relating to or characteristic of the demigod Prometheus, especially in being rebelliously creative and innovative.
Examples of promethean in a sentence
“The Promethean scientists worked to unlock the mysteries of the universe.”
“The protesters described their mission as rebellious and Promethean.”
The eponymous adjective “Promethean” comes from the name of the Greek demigod Prometheus.
In Greek mythology, Prometheus was a demigod made from clay who stole fire from heaven to share with humankind. In the early 1830s, (before modern matches were invented), small glass vials of sulphuric acid were surrounded by a flammable mixture that would ignite when pressed; these glass tubes were called “Prometheans.”
