Promethian

Adjective

Promethean (comparative more Promethean, superlative most Promethean)

1. Of or pertaining to Prometheus, a demigod in Greek mythology who created mortals from clay and stole fire from Zeus to give to them, for which Zeus punished him by chaining him to a rock and having an eagle feed on his liver which grew back each night; he was later rescued by Heracles.
   • And, like Promethian life-begetting flame, / Pure bodies in the element should frame; / As to what part of heauen they hapt to stray, / There should they make another milkie way.1596, Michael Drayton, “Mortimeriados. The Lamentable Ciuell Warres of Edward the Second and the Barrons.”, in J[ohn] Payne Collier, editor, Poems by Michael Drayton. […], London: […] J[ohn] B[owyer]...
   1. Boldly creative, inventive, or original; skilful, talented; also, recklessly daring; audacious.
      • Therefore Promethean poets with the coals / Of their most genial, more-than-human souls / In living verse, created men like these, / With shapes of Centaurs, Harpies, Lapithes, […]1594, George Chapman, “The Shadow of Night”, in Richard Herne Shepherd, editor, The Works of George Chapman: Poems and Minor Translations. […], London: Chatto and Windus, […], published 1875, →OCLC...
   2. Of a Romantic literary hero: defying traditional moral categories; rebelling against a larger order; persecuted but dauntless.
2. (rare) Of or pertaining to the promethea silkmoth (Callosamia promethea).

See all 6 meanings of Promethean