Argus: M-W's Word of the Day

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The Word of the Day for October 19 is:

Argus \AHR-gus\ noun
1 : a hundred-eyed monster of Greek mythology
*2 : a watchful guardian

Example sentence:
The students moved nervously through the hallway under the watchful eyes of Principal Burns, an all-seeing Argus who seemed to be able to spot horseplay even with his back turned.

Did you know?
If you've ever seen a peacock display his magnificent spotted tail, then you've seen the eyes of Argus the All-Seeing, a mythological creature reputed to have one hundred eyes on his head and body. Argus was chosen by the Greek goddess queen Hera to keep an eye on Io, a priestess turned heifer who had caught the eye of Hera's dallying husband Zeus. Argus proved to be a vigilant watchman, but all of his eyes were eventually lulled to sleep by Hermes, who then killed him. After his death, Hera transferred the eyes of Argus to the tail of the peacock. Despite his fate, "Argus" survives in English today as a word for someone who vigilantly oversees everything around him or her.

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