Words from Greek History

Question 1

Achilles’ heel

Answer 1

a single vulnerable spot

Question 2

Adonis

Answer 2

an extremely handsome young man

Question 3

aegis

Answer 3

sponsorship or protection

Question 4

amazon

Answer 4

a powerful, masculine woman

Question 5

atlas

Answer 5

a collection of maps

Question 6

Cassandra

Answer 6

a person who warns of coming evil but whose prophecies are disregarded

Question 7

halcyon

Answer 7

calm; peaceful

Question 8

labyrinth

Answer 8

a complicated arrangement of passageways or roads; a maze

Question 9

mentor

Answer 9

a wise counselor

Question 10

narcissism

Answer 10

abnormal attachment to one’s own appearance and personality

Question 11

nemesis

Answer 11

retribution; one who inflicts retribution

Question 12

paean

Answer 12

a song of thanksgiving or praise

Question 13

procrustean/Procustean

Answer 13

forcing rigid conformity

Question 14

tantalize

Answer 14

tease

Question 15

academy

Answer 15

a school or learned society

Question 16

cynic

Answer 16

one who sarcastically doubts human motives

Question 17

draconian

Answer 17

extremely severe

Question 18

epicure/epicurean

Answer 18

a person of refined taste in matters of food and drink

Question 19

to cut the Gordian knot

Answer 19

to solve a difficult problem by direct and drastic means

Question 20

laconic

Answer 20

brief, pithy, concise

Question 21

ostracism

Answer 21

exclusion from society

Question 22

philippic

Answer 22

a bitter denunciation

Question 23

a Pyrrhic victory

Answer 23

a victory won at too great a cost

Question 24

solecism

Answer 24

a substandard usage of language, a social blunder

Question 25

sophistry/sophism

Answer 25

clever but deceptive argumentation meant to mislead

Question 26

stoic

Answer 26

impassive

Question 27

sword of Damocles

Answer 27

a constantly threatening danger

Question 28

sybarite

Answer 28

one devoted to luxury and pleasure