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Webster 1913 Edition

Augean

Au-ge′an

,
Adj.
1.
(Class. Myth.)
Of or pertaining to Augeus, king of Elis, whose stable contained 3000 oxen, and had not been cleaned for 30 years. Hercules cleansed it in a single day.
2.
Hence: Exceedingly filthy or corrupt.
Augean stable
(Fig.),
an accumulation of corruption or filth almost beyond the power of man to remedy.

Webster 1828 Edition

Augean

AUGE'AN

,
Adj.
The Augean stable, in Grecian mythology, is represented as belonging to Augeas or Augias, one of the Argonauts, and afterwards king of Elis. This prince kept a great number of oxen, in a stable which was never cleansed, until Hercules undertook the task; a task which it seemed impracticable to execute. Hence the Augean stable came to represent what is deemed impracticable, or a place which has not, for a long time been cleansed.

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