Herodian, a. and n.1
(hɪˈrəʊdɪən)
[ad. L. Hērōdiān-us, a. Gr. Ἡρωδιαν-ός of or pertaining to Herod, subst. pl. followers of Herod: see -ian.]
A. adj.
1. Of or pertaining to Herod, king of Judæa (b.c. 38–4), or to members of his family of the same name; built by Herod. Herodian disease: phthiriasis or other loathsome skin disease, like that of which Herod Agrippa died (Acts xii. 23).
| 1633 Earl of Manchester Al Mondo (1636) 153 We may not wash our hands of crying, and from bloudy sins, and hug in our bosomes beloved, and Herodian sinnes, sinnes of higher tincture. 1650 Weldon Crt. Jas. I, 13 He dyed opportunely..to leave a mark of ignominy on himselfe by that Herodian disease. 1861 Sat. Rev. 21 Dec. 644 For the Herodian period of Jerusalem the chief, or rather only, authority is Josephus. |
2. Blustering, grandiose, magniloquent; after the style attributed to Herod in the miracle-plays. (Cf. out-herod.)
| 1886 F. York Powell in Academy 15 May 337/2 The plain sensible style of this book is pleasantly in contrast with the Herodian vein of many local histories. |
B. n. pl. A Jewish party, mainly political, who were partisans of the Herodian or Idumæan dynasty (chiefly under Herod Antipas, b.c. 4–a.d. 39), and lax in their adherence to Judaism. Hence transf. as a term of reproach.
| [c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Mark xii. 13 Sume of phariseum and herodianum.] 1382 Wyclif ibid., Summe of the Farisees and Erodians. c 1400 Apol. Loll. 56 Prelats not preching are raþer pilats than prelatis,..herodians of Heroud, not heyris of Crist. a 1592 H. Smith Serm. 451 They jumpe with Caesar, like the Herodians. 1727–41 Chambers Cycl. s.v., F. Hardouin will have the Herodians and Sadduces to have been the same thing. 1838 Penny Cycl. XII. 163/1 The Herodians are not mentioned either by Philo or by Josephus in his enumeration of the Jewish sects. |