Vocabulary 1 Flashcards
Bacchanal (n)
A wild party; drunken carousel; a revelor or a partier
Extra credit: Word comes from Roman god of wine Bacchus
Cupidity (n)
Excessive greed and desire usually for wealth
Extra credit: comes from Cupid Roman symbol of love and desire
Cynosure (n)
A center of attention or attraction (person or place)
Extra credit: cynosura one of nurses of Zeus
Draconian (adj)
Extremely severe or harsh
Extra credit: Draco an Athenian lawmaker known for implementing severe punishment
Ethereal (adj)
Exceedingly delicate and lovely or intangible
Extra credit: Ether daughter night soul of universe
Mentor (n)
Respected guide or counselor more than tutor or teacher
Extra credit: Mentor in the Odyssey
Mercurial (adj)
Greatly variable or changeable
Extra credit: mercury the messenger god able to change shape in an instant
Mnemonic (adj)
Assisting memory, technique improving memory
Extra credit: Mnemosyne one of Zeus’ wives, Goddess of memory, mother to musical
Narcissism (n)
Self-centered, extreme absorption of oneself
Extra credit: Narcissus caused to fall in love with him self (reflection in water)
Nemesis (n)
Relentless pursuer of evil doers; opponent who usually wins
Extra credit: Nemesis sister of ether, daughter of night, goddess of fate
Promethean (adj)
Unusually creative and original or life giving (always capital)
Extra credit, Prometheus stole fire from gods and gave to man
Saga (n)
Lengthy prose story, includes all details
Extra credit: saga a Scandinavian goddess friend to Oden
Saturnine* (adj)
Gloomy and heavy of temperament, slow to change (animal or person)
Extra credit: Saturn Roman god rarely changed his mind
Solon (n)
Extremely intelligent law giver, member of government
Extra credit: solon Athenian statesman brought legal reform in government
Somnolent (adj)
Drowsy or sleepy or likely to cause sleep
Extra credit: somnus Greek god of sleep
