Words from Greek Myth/History Flashcards
a single vulnerable spot
Achilles’ heel
an extremely handsome young man
Adonis
sponsorship or protection
aegis
a powerful, masculine woman
amazon
a collection of maps
atlas
a person who warns of coming evil but whose prophecies are disregarded
Cassandra
calm; peaceful
halcyon
a complicated arrangement of passageways or roads; a maze
labyrinth
a wise counselor
mentor
abnormal attachment to one’s own appearance and personality
narcissism
retribution; one who inflicts retribution
nemesis
a song of thanksgiving or praise
paean
forcing rigid conformity
procrustean / Procrustean
tease
tantalize
a school or learned society
academy
one who sarcastically doubts human motives
cynic
extremely severe
Draconian
a person of refined taste in matters of food and drink
epicure / epicurean
to solve a difficult problem by direct and drastic means
to cut the Gordian knot
brief, pithy, concise
laconic
exclusion from society
ostracism
a bitter denunciation
philippic
a victory won at too great a cost
a Pyrrhic victory
a substandard usage of language
a social blunder
clever but deceptive argumentation meant to mislead
sophistry / sophism
impassive
stoic
a constantly threatening danger
sword of Damocles
one devoted to luxury and pleasure
sybarite
