Procrustes

English > Greek (Woodhouse)

Latin > English (Lewis & Short)

Prŏcrustes: ae, m., = Προκρούστης,
I a noted highwayman in Attica. He had a bed upon which he compelled travellers to lie down; when they were longer than the bed he cut off as much of their limbs as would suffice to make the length equal; and when they were shorter he stretched them out to its length. He was slain by Theseus: vidit et immitem Cephisias ora Procrusten, Ov. M. 7, 438: torvus, id. H. 2, 69; Sen. Clem. 2, 4, 1; cf. Hyg. Fab. 38.

Latin > French (Gaffiot 2016)

Prŏcrustēs,¹⁴ æ, m. (Προκρούστης), Procruste ou Procuste, brigand de l’Attique, tué par Thésée : Ov. M. 7, 438 ; Sen. Clem. 2, 4, 1.

Latin > German (Georges)

Procrūstēs, ae, m. (Προκρούστης), ein Räuber in Attika, eig. Damastes oder Polypemon mit Namen, der die gefangenen Wanderer auf ein Folterbett spannte und ihnen, wenn sie länger waren, die überragenden Glieder abhieb, wenn sie kürzer waren, sie bis zur Länge des Bettes ausreckte; er wurde von Theseus getötet, Ov. met. 7, 438. Sen. de clem. 2, 4, 1. Hyg. fab. 38.

Wikipedia EN

In Greek mythology, Procrustes (/proʊˈkrʌstiːz/; Greek: Προκρούστης Prokroustes, "the stretcher [who hammers out the metal]"), also known as Prokoptas or Damastes (Δαμαστής, "subduer"), was a rogue smith and bandit from Attica who attacked people by stretching them or cutting off their legs, so as to force them to fit the size of an iron bed.

The word "Procrustean" is thus used to describe situations where an arbitrary standard is used to measure success, while completely disregarding obvious harm that results from the effort.

Translations

ar: بروكرست; be: Пракруст; bg: Прокруст; br: Prokoustes; ca: Damastes; co: Procusti; cs: Prokrústés; de: Prokrustes; el: Προκρούστης; en: Procrustes; eo: Prokrusto; es: Procusto; et: Prokrustes; eu: Prokusto; fa: پروکروستس; fi: Prokrustes; fr: Procuste; he: פרוקרוסטס; hu: Prokrusztész; hy: Պրոկրուստյան մահիճ; it: Procuste; ja: プロクルーステース; ko: 프로크루스테스; lt: Prokrustas; lv: Prokrusts; mk: Прокруст; ml: പ്രൊക്രൂസ്റ്റസ്; nl: Procrustes; no: Prokrustes; pl: Prokrust; pt: Procusto; ro: Procust; ru: Прокруст; sk: Prokroustes; sr: Прокруст; sv: Prokrustes; tr: Procrustes; uk: Прокруст; zh: 普洛克路斯忒斯