a. Also Cadmian, -mæan. [ad. L. Cadmēus, a. Gr. Καδμεῖος, f. Κάδμος Cadmus.] Pertaining to Cadmus, the legendary founder of Thebes in Bœotia, and introducer of the alphabet into Greece. Cadmean victory (Gr. Καδμεία νίκη), ‘a victory involving one’s own ruin’ (Liddell and Scott); usually associated with Thebes or the Thebans.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 12. A Cadmian victorie, that is to say, which turneth to the detriment and losse of the winner.
1678. Cudworth, Intell. Syst., 146. Made them like the Cadmean Offspring, to do immediate Execution upon themselves.
1762. Gentl. Mag., 430. Our conquests would prove Cadmean victories.
1821. Shelley, Prometh. Unb., IV. The cup Which Agave lifted up In the weird Cadmæan forest.
1868. Tennyson, Lucr., 50. Dragon warriors from Cadmæan teeth.
