Mythology&History Flashcards
cicerone
A guide, especially one who takes tourists to museums, monuments, or architectural sites and explains what is being seen.
hector
To bully or harass by bluster or personal pressure.
hedonism
An attitude or way of life based on the idea that pleasure or happiness should be the chief goal.
nestor
A senior figure or leader in one’s field.
spartan
Marked by simplicity, avoidance of luxury, and often strict self-discipline or self-denial.
stentorian
Extremely loud, often with especially deep richness of sound.
stoic
Seemingly indifferent to pleasure or pain.
sybaritic
Marked by a luxurious or sensual way of life.
Augean stable
A condition or place marked by great accumulation of filth or corruption.
Croesus
A very rich person.
dragon’s teeth
Seeds of conflict.
Hades
The underground home of the dead in Greek mythology.
lethargic
(1) Lazily sluggish. (2) Indifferent or apathetic.
Midas touch
The talent for making money in every venture.
Pyrrhic victory
A victory won at excessive cost.
stygian
Extremely dark, dank, gloomy, and forbidding.
Achilles’ heel
A vulnerable point.
arcadia
A region or setting of rural pleasure and peacefulness.
Cassandra
A person who predicts misfortune or disaster.
cyclopean
Huge or massive.
draconian
Extremely severe or cruel.
myrmidon
A loyal follower, especially one who executes orders unquestioningly.
nemesis
A powerful, frightening opponent or rival who is usually victorious.
Trojan horse
Someone or something that works from within to weaken or defeat.
aeolian harp
A box-shaped instrument with strings that produce musical sounds when the wind blows on them.
cynosure
(1) A guide. (2) A center of attention.
laconic
Using extremely few words.
mnemonic
Having to do with the memory; assisting the memory.
platonic
(1) Relating to the philosopher Plato or his teachings. (2) Involving a close relationship from which romance and sex are absent.
sapphic
(1) Lesbian. (2) Relating to a poetic verse pattern associated with Sappho.
Socratic
Having to do with the philosopher Socrates or with his teaching method, in which he systematically questioned the student in conversation in order to draw forth truths.
solecism
(1) A grammatical mistake in speaking or writing. (2) A blunder in etiquette or proper behavior.
muse
A source of inspiration; a guiding spirit.
iridescent
Having a glowing, rainbowlike play of color that seems to change as the light shifts.
mausoleum
(1) A large tomb, especially one built aboveground with shelves for the dead. (2) A large, gloomy building or room.
mentor
A trusted counselor, guide, tutor, or coach.
narcissism
(1) Extreme self-centeredness or fascination with oneself. (2) Love or desire for one’s own body.
tantalize
To tease or torment by offering something desirable but keeping it out of reach.
thespian
An actor.
zephyr
(1) A breeze from the west. (2) A gentle breeze.
Adonis
A very handsome young man.
amazon
A tall, strong, often masculine woman.
chimera
An often grotesque creature of the imagination.
cornucopia
(1) A container shaped like a hollow horn full of fruits, vegetables, and ears of grain. (2) An abundance of something desirable.
Elysium
A place or condition of ideal happiness; paradise.
epicure
A person with cultivated taste, especially for food and drink; a gourmet.
exodus
A situation in which many people leave a place at the same time.
gorgon
An ugly, repulsive, or terrifying woman.
halcyon
(1) Calm and peaceful. (2) Happy and successful.
meander
(1) To follow a winding course. (2) To wander slowly without a specific purpose or direction.
oedipal
Relating to an intense emotional relationship with one’s mother and conflict with one’s father.
ostracize
To exclude someone from a group by common consent.
paean
(1) A song of joy, praise, tribute, or triumph. (2) A work that praises or honors its subject.
philippic
A speech full of bitter condemnation; a tirade.
satyr
A man with a strong desire for many women.
zealot
A fanatical supporter.
