Words From Classical History And Mythology

Front 1

Adonis

Back 1

very handsome young man

Hint 1

from Adonis, a handsome youth loved by Aphrodite

Front 2

aegis

Back 2

1. shield or protection 2. auspices or sponsorship

Hint 2

from aegis, the protective shield of Zeus

Front 3

amazon

Back 3

tall, strong, masculine woman

Hint 3

from the Amazons, a mythological race of women warriors

Front 4

ambrosial

Back 4

exceptionally pleasing to taste or smell; extremely delicious; excellent

Hint 4

from ambrosia, the food of the gods

Front 5

atlas

Back 5

book of maps

Hint 5

from Atlas, a giant who supported the heavens on his shoulders. The figure of Atlas supporting the world was prefaced to early map collections

Front 6

auroral

Back 6

1. pertaining to the dawn or resembling it 2. rosy

Hint 6

from Aurora, goddess of the dawn

Front 7

bacchanalian

Back 7

jovial or wild with drunkenness

Hint 7

from Bacchus, the god of wine

Front 8

chimerical

Back 8

fantastic; unreal; impossible; absurd

Hint 8

from the Chimera, a fire-breathing monster with a lion's head, goat's body, and serpent's tail

Front 9

Draconian

Back 9

cruel; harsh; severe

Hint 9

from Draco, an Athenian lawmaker who drew up a harsh code of laws

Front 10

Elysian

Back 10

delightful; blissful; heavenly

Hint 10

from Elysium, the mythological paradise where the brave and good live after death

Front 11

hector

Back 11

1. bully; intimidate with threats 2. bluster

Hint 11

from Hector, bravest of the Trojans

Front 12

Herculean

Back 12

1. very difficult 2. having or requiring the strength of Hercules

Hint 12

from Hercules, a hero of super-human strength

Front 13

hermetic

Back 13

airtight

Hint 13

from Hermes, who, among his other attributes, was god of magic

Front 14

iridescent

Back 14

having colors like the rainbow

Hint 14

from Iris, goddess of the rainbow

Front 15

jovial

Back 15

jolly; merry; good-humored

Hint 15

from Jove, or Jupiter. The planet Jupiter was believed to make persons born under its influence cheerful or jolly

Front 16

labyrinthine

Back 16

1. full of confusing passageways; intricate 2. complicated, like the Labyrinth

Hint 16

a fable maze in Crete

Front 17

laconic

Back 17

using words sparingly; terse; concise

Hint 17

from Lakonikos, meaning "Spartan." The Spartans were known for their terseness

Front 18

lethargic

Back 18

unnaturally drowsy; sluggish; dull

Hint 18

from Lethe, river in Hades whose water, if drunk, caused forgetfulness of the past

Front 19

Lucullan

Back 19

sumptuous; luxurious

Hint 19

from Lucullus, a Roman who gave lavish banquets

Front 20

martial

Back 20

pertaining to war; warlike

Hint 20

from Mars, god of war

Front 21

mentor

Back 21

1. wise and trusted adviser 2. athletic coach

Hint 21

from Mentor, to whom Odysdeus entrusted the education of his son

Front 22

mercurial

Back 22

1. quick; vivacious 2. changeable 3. crafty 4. eloquent

Hint 22

these are characteristics f Mercury, the messenger of the gods, who was also god of commerce, magic, and eloquence, as well as the patron of travelers, rogues, and thieves. His name designates a planet as well as a metal

Front 23

myrmidon

Back 23

obedient and unquestioning follower

Hint 23

from thw Myrmidons, a martial tribe who accompanied Achilles to the Trojan War

Front 24

nemesis

Back 24

1. due punishment for evil deeds 2. one who inflicts such punishment

Hint 24

from Nemesis, goddess of vengeance

Front 25

odyssey

Back 25

any long series of wanderings or travels

Hint 25

from the Odyssey, the poem dealing with Odysseus' ten years of wandering on his way home from the Trojan War

Front 26

paean

Back 26

song or hymn of praise, joy, or triumph

Hint 26

A paean was a hymn in praise of Apollo, the god of deliverance

Front 27

palladium

Back 27

safeguard or protection

Hint 27

from Palladium, the statue of Pallas Athena, which was thought to protect the city of Troy

Front 28

panic

Back 28

unreasoning, sudden fright that grips a multitude

Hint 28

from Pan, a god believed to cause fear

Front 29

philippic

Back 29

bitter denunciation

Hint 29

from the Philippics, orations by Demosthenes denouncing King Philip of Macedon

Front 30

plutocratic

Back 30

having great influence because of one's wealth

Hint 30

from Plutus, god of wealth

Front 31

procrustean

Back 31

cruel or inflexible in enforcing conformity

Hint 31

from Procrustes, a robber who made his victims fit the length of his bed, either stretching them or cutting off their legs

Front 32

protean

Back 32

1. exceedingly variable 2. readily assuming different forms or shapes

Hint 32

from Proteus, a sea god who could readily change his shape to elude capture

Front 33

Pyrrhic

Back 33

ruinous; gained at too great a cost

Hint 33

from Pyrrhus, who suffered enormous losses in a "victory" over the Romans

Front 34

saturnine

Back 34

heavy; dull; gloomy; morose

Hint 34

from Saturn, father of Jupiter. Though Saturn's reign was supposedly a golden age, he has become a symbol of heaviness and dullness because astrologers associated his name with the metal lead

Front 35

siren

Back 35

1. dangerous, attractive woman 2. a woman who sings sweetly 3. apparatus for sounding loud warnings

Hint 35

from the Sirens, creatures half woman and half bird, whose sweet winging lured sailors to destruction on the rocks

Front 36

solon

Back 36

1. legislator 2. wise man

Hint 36

from Solon, noted Athenian lawgiver

Front 37

stentorian

Back 37

very loud

Hint 37

from Stentor, a legendary herald whose voice was as loud as fifty voices

Front 38

Stygian

Back 38

infernal; dark; gloomy

Hint 38

from Styx, a river of the lower world leading into Hades, or Hell

Front 39

tantalize

Back 39

1. excite a hope but prevent its fulfillment 2. tease

Hint 39

from Tantalus, who was kept hungry and thirsty in the lower world with food and water very hear but just beyond his reach

Front 40

terpsichorean

Back 40

pertaining to dancing

Hint 40

from Terpsichore, the muse of dancing

Front 41

thespian

Back 41

pertaining to the drama or acting

Hint 41

from Thespis, reputed father of Greek drama

Front 42

titanic

Back 42

of enormous strength, size, or power

Hint 42

from Titans, lawless, powerful giants defeated by Zeus