week 1 vocab

Question 1

Bedlam

Answer 1

noise and confusion (Bedlam was the name of a London hospital for the insane. The full name of the hospital was St. Mary of Bethlehem)

Question 2

Machiavellian

Answer 2

crafty (Niccolo Machiavelli was an Italian writer who believed a ruler should use any means necessary – honorable or deceitful – to maintain a strong government

Question 3

Iridescent

Answer 3

brilliant colors, shifting like the colors of a rainbow (Iris was the goddess of the rainbow)

Question 4

Quixotic

Answer 4

impractical (Don Quixote, hero of Cervantes’ novel by the same name, was a foolish dreamer who resolved to remake the world by impossible knightley feats)

Question 5

Achilles’ heel

Answer 5

source of weakness (In Greek mythology, the mother of the hero Achilles dipped him, while a baby, into the River Styx to render him safe from injury. She held him by his heel, which was thus not protected.)

Question 6

Berserk

Answer 6

raging violently (Berserkers were wild warriors, who in battle howled, growled, bit their shields, and foamed at the mouth)

Question 7

Meander

Answer 7

wander aimlessly (The Meander was a river in Asia Minor noted for its twists and turns.)

Question 8

Mesmerism

Answer 8

hypnotic fashion (Franz Anton Mesmer was an Australian physician who believed that his hands had miraculous healing powers, “animal magnetism.”)

Question 9

Maverick

Answer 9

an unbranded calf is the primary meaning; a fiery independent person is the secondary meaning (Samuel August Maverick was a fiery Texas rancher who did not brand his cattle - maverick cattle do not stay with their group - mavericks in politics can’t be tied down to a rigid doctrine or party line)

Question 10

Blarney

Answer 10

clever flattery (Blarney Castle in Ireland has a famous stone. The person who kisses it is supposed to gain great skill in giving compliments and charming people. And great skill in compliments is related to clever flattery.)