procrustean

English

WOTD – 30 September 2007

Alternative forms

• Procrustean

Etymology

From Procrustes +‎ -an.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /pɹəʊˈkɹʌsti.ən/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

Adjective

procrustean (comparative more procrustean, superlative most procrustean)

1. Enforcing strict conformity through disregard of individual differences or special circumstances. [from 17th c.]
   • 1862, Anthony Trollope, chapter IX, in North America. […], volume I, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC:

     The object in choosing the political capital is average nearness of approach from the various confines of the State; but commerce submits to no such Procrustean laws in selecting her capitals, and consequently she has placed Detroit on the borders of Michigan, […]

   • 2011, Steven Pinker, The Better Angels of Our Nature, Penguin, published 2012, page 287:

     The concept of an Age of Nationalism is a bit procrustean.

Derived terms

• procrustean bed
• Procrustean assignment

Translations

Enforcing strict conformity through disregard of individual differences or special circumstances

• Armenian: պրոկրուստյան (hy) (prokrustyan)
• Spanish: procústeo (es)

See also

• ergonomic
• one-size-fits-all