odyssey vocab

Question 1

Abyss

Answer 1

(n.) ocean depths
ex: After remaining afloat for several hours, the damaged ship finally sank into the endless abyss.

Question 2

Ardor

Answer 2

(n.) passionate enthusiasm
ex: After four months of dating Nick, Chelsea’s initial ardor for him has softened into a lukewarm affection.

Question 3

Assuage

Answer 3

(v.) to make milder or less severe; to relieve or ease
ex: He tried to assuage her anger by apologizing for his inconsiderate behavior.

Question 4

Bemuse

Answer 4

(adj.) to bewilder or confuse
ex: The Lotus Eaters bemused the crew by inviting them to eat from the lotus plant, which made them forget their homes.

Question 5

Bereft

Answer 5

(adj.) suffering from the loss of something or someone.
ex: I am feeling fatigued after suffering from one night bereft of sleep.

Question 6

Compel

Answer 6

(v.) to force to do something
ex: The storm compelled us to turn back.

Question 7

Contempt

Answer 7

(n.) 1. the feeling that a person or thing is worthless 2. willful disobedience to or open disrespect for the rules or orders of a court
ex: When the attorney did a cartwheel to prove a point, the judge screamed, “Mr. Mason, I hold you in contempt of court!”

Question 8

Entreat

Answer 8

(v.) to plead; to ask for earnestly
ex: I entreat you to give me another chance to make up the quiz that I failed, or my parents will ground me for life!

Question 9

Equity

Answer 9

(n.) the quality of being fair or impartial
ex: A good teacher must treat all students with equity and not play favorites.

Question 10

Haughty

Answer 10

(adj.) arrogantly superior in attitude
ex: The suitor Antinous is haughty; he behaves as though he deserves to be King of Ithaca.

Question 11

Hubris

Answer 11

(n.) excessive pride or self-confidence; in Greek mythology, excessive pride toward or defiance of the gods, leading to a downfall
ex: Full of hubris, the champion surfer braved the 50 foot high waves, despite the warning signs posted on the beach. Later, he crashed under the towering surf.

Question 12

Incredulity

Answer 12

(n.) inability or unwillingness to believe.
ex: I was filled with incredulity when I heard that there will soon be a car that can powered solely on recycled garbage.

Question 13

Insidious

Answer 13

(adj.) occurring in a gradual way, usually with harmful effects
ex: The evil Joker had an insidious plan to turn the city against Batman.

Question 14

Maudlin

Answer 14

(adj.) tearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental
ex: Lots of people enjoy the novel The Notebook of Nicholas Sparks, but I find the story quite maudlin.

Question 15

Muse

Answer 15

(n.) a guiding spirit or a source of inspiration (v.) to think or meditate in silence, as on some subject
ex: Early in her modeling career, Josie became the muse for a famed fashion designer. He designed many of his runway looks for her in particular.

Question 16

Plunder

Answer 16

(v.) to rob or steal, usually in a time of war or disorder
ex: During the Rodney King riots, many citizens of Los Angeles plundered shops, enraged over the beating of Rodney King by police officers.

Question 17

Realm

Answer 17

(n.) a region or an area; a kingdom
ex: King David stood on the balcony of his castle, looking out over his realm.

Question 18

Revelry

Answer 18

(n.) noisy partying
ex: The revelry lasted for many hours, even after the DJ packed up his equipment. Eventually, the neighbors called the police with a noise complaint.

Question 19

Ruse

Answer 19

(n.) a trick or scheme used to deceive someone
ex: Odysseus devised the ruse of the Trojan Horse, which enabled the Greeks to gain access to the walled city of Troy.

Question 20

Siege

Answer 20

(n.) encirclement of a fortified place by an opposing force intending to take it
ex: The castle withstood the siege for two months before falling to the enemy.