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Words derived from Greek and Roman

Mythology (Part I)
1. Adonis (Noun)
Origin: from Adonis, a handsome youth, whom Aphrodite, the Goddess of love, loved
Meaning: a very beautiful or sexually attractive young man
Example: Did you see that Adonis in Beckam's study group?

2. Aegis (Noun)
Origin (Greek): from aegis, protective shield of Zeus that was made from goatskin
Meaning: the protection, backing, or support of a particular person or an organization
Example: The space programme will continue under the aegis of the armed forces.

3. Amazon (Noun)
Origin (Greek): a member of a legendary race of female warriors believed by the ancient
Greeks to exist in Scythia (near the Black Sea in modern Russia) or elsewhere on the edge
of the known world
Meaning: tall, strong, or forceful woman
Example: I felt dwarfed, standing beside this redheaded amazon.

4. Ambrosial (Adjective)
Origin: from ambrosia, the food worthy of the gods
Meaning: exceptionally pleasing to taste or smell; especially delicious or fragrant.;
excellent
Example: The ambrosial aroma of the roast stimulated our appetites.

5. Atlas (Noun)
Origin: the Titan of Greek mythology who supported the heavens on his shoulders
Meaning: a book of maps or charts
Example: The atlas contains forty maps, including three of Great Britain.

6. Auroral (Adjective)
Origin: from Aurora, Roman goddess of the dawn
Meaning: of or like the dawn
Example: More normal auroral rings had been previously imaged around Saturn.

7. Bacchanalian (Adjective)
Origin: from Bacchanalia, a festival in honour of Bacchus, the Roman God of wine
Meaning: characterized by or given to drunken revelry
Example: The winning team celebrated the victory with a bacchanalian party.

8. Cassandra (Noun)
Origin: from Cassandra, a prophet cursed by Apollo so that her prophecies, though true,
were fated never to be believed
Meaning: one who prophesies doom or disaster
Example: All the Cassandras who predicted our loss in the general election, were
silenced by the results.

9. Chimerical (Adjective)
Origin: from the Chimera, a fire-breathing female monster with a lion's head, a goat's
body, and a serpent's tail
Meaning: unreal; imaginary; visionary
Example: His Utopia is not a chimerical commonwealth but a practical improvement on
what already exists.

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10. Draconian (Adjective)

Origin: from Draco, an Athenian law scribe under whom small offences had heavy
punishments
Meaning: (of laws or their application) excessively harsh and severe
Example: He criticized the draconian measures taken by the police in controlling the
demonstrators.

11. Echolalia (Noun)

Origin: from Echo, a mountain nymph (in Greek mythology) who was punished by Hera.
Hera deprived her of speech, except for the ability to repeat the last words of another
Meaning:
1. a meaningless repetition of another person's spoken words as a symptom of psychiatric
disorder
2. repetition of speech by a child learning to talk
Example: Einstein had a mild form of echolalia, causing him to repeat phrases to himself,
two or three times, especially if they amused him.

12. Elysian (Adjective)

Origin: from Elysium (in Greek mythology), which was originally the paradise to which
heroes, on whom the gods conferred immortality, were sent
Meaning: blissful; delightful
Example: Students studying for final examinations yearn for the Elysian idleness of the
summer vacation.

13. Eristic (Noun/ Adjective)

Origin: from Eris, goddess of strife
Meaning:
1. of or characterized by debate or argument. (Adjective)
2. a person who engages in disputation; controversialist. (Noun)
Example: It is difficult to come to amicable terms with someone who has an eristic
temperament.

14. Fauna (Noun)

Origin: from Faunus (Roman God of animals), the bestower of fruitfulness on fields and
flocks
Meaning: the animals of a particular region, habitat, or geological period
Example: Tourism is damaging the flora and fauna of the island.

15. Flora (Noun)

Origin: from Flora, Roman goddess of the flowering of plants
Meaning: the plants of a particular region, habitat, or geological period
Example: Given the state of Britain's flora, it is not surprising that the centre will focus
on the conservation of native plants.

16. Forum (Noun)

Origin: from forum- the place of public meetings, law courts, and gladiatorial combats in
Rome
Meaning: a meeting or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be
exchanged
Example: The conference provides a useful forum for the exchange of views and ideas.

17. Hector (Verb)

Origin: from Hector, the bravest of the Trojans
Meaning: talk to (someone) in a bullying way
Example: I suppose you'll hector me until I call him.

18. Herculean (Adjective)

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Origin: from Hercules, one of the most famous Greco-Roman legendary heroes
Meaning:
1. requiring great strength or effort.
2. (of a person) muscular and strong.
Example: She faces the herculean task of bringing up four children all by herself.

19. Hermetic (Adjective)

Origin: from Hermes, Zeus’ swift messenger. Also associated with the protection of cattle
and sheep, and he was often closely connected with deities of vegetations a messenger
Meaning:
1. (of a seal or closure) complete and airtight.
2. insulated or protected from outside influences.
Example: The hermetic seal on the packet means that the food lasts longer.

20. Iridescent (Adjective)

Origin: from Iris, the personification of the rainbow and a messenger of the gods
Meaning: showing luminous colours that seem to change when seen from different angles
Example: A magnificent dragonfly with its iridescent wings settled on Priya’s shoulder.

21. Jovial (Adjective)

Origin: from Jove (Jupiter), king of the Roman gods
Meaning: cheerful and friendly
Example: Michael was in a jovial and optimistic mood.

22. Labyrinthine (Adjective)

Origin: from Labyrinth, a system of intricate passageways and blind alleys. “Labyrinth”
was the name given by the ancient Greeks and Romans to buildings
Meaning:
1. (of a network) like a labyrinth; irregular and twisting
2. (of a system) intricate and confusing
Example: Beneath the city lies a labyrinthine network of tunnels.

23. Laconic (Adjective)

Origin: from Lakonikos, meaning, a native of Laconia, i.e., a Spartan
Meaning: (of a person, speech, or style of writing) using very few words
Example: The popular image of him as a laconic, amiable figure is not entirely accurate.

24. Lethargic (Adjective)

Origin: from Lethe, daughter of Eris (Strife) and the personification of oblivion.
Meaning: affected by lethargy; sluggish and apathetic
Example: He felt too miserable and lethargic to get dressed.

25. Lucullan (Adjective)

Origin: from Lucullus, a Roman host who gave luxurious banquets
Meaning: (especially of banquets, parties, etc.) marked by lavishness and richness;
sumptuous.
Example: Thanksgiving dinner at grandmother’s is no less than a Lucullan feast.

26. Marathon (Noun)

Origin: from Marathon, a place where Greeks defeated the Persians in 490 BC
Meaning:
1. a long-distance running race, strictly one of 26 miles 385 yards (42.195 km).
2. a long-lasting or difficult task or activity.
Example: Towards the end of the marathon, several runners showed signs of distress.

27. Martial (Adjective)

Origin: from Mars, the god of war

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Meaning: inclined or disposed to war; warlike

Example: The Emperor issued the decree repealing the martial law.

28. Mentor (Noun/ Verb)

Origin: from Mentor, to whom Odysseus entrusted the education of his son
Meaning:
1. an experienced and trusted adviser. (Noun)
2. advise or train (someone, especially a younger colleague). (Verb)
Example: She was a friend and mentor to many young actors.

29. Mercurial (Adjective)

Origin: from Mercury, the Roman God of shopkeepers and merchants, travellers and
transporters of goods, and thieves and tricksters
Meaning:
1. subject to sudden or unpredictable changes of mood or mind.
2. of or containing the element mercury.
Example: His mercurial and fickle temperament left him with few friends

30. Myrmidon (Noun)

Origin: from the Myrmidons, one of the warlike people of ancient Thessaly who
accompanied Achilles to the Trojan War
Meaning: a person who executes without question or scruple a master's commands
Example: The other countries used to view Canada as nothing but a myrmidon of
western countries.

31. Narcissistic (Adjective)

Origin: from Narcissus, a young man who fell in love with his own image
Meaning: having an undue fascination with oneself; vain
Example: Narcissistic personality disorder is one of the most familiar personality
disorders in our modern society.

32. Nectar (Noun)

Origin: from nectar, the life-giving drink of the gods
Meaning: a delicious drink.
Example: On a hot summer day, a long cool drink is like nectar.

33. Nemesis (Noun)

Origin: from Nemesis, the goddess of divine retribution/ vengeance
Meaning:
1. the inescapable agent of someone's or something's downfall.
2. a long-standing rival; an arch-enemy.
Example: The tax increases proved to be the President's political nemesis at the
subsequent election.

34. Odyssey (Noun)

Origin: an epic poem attributed to Homer, describing Odysseus's adventures in his ten-
year attempt to return home to Ithaca after the Trojan War.
Meaning: a long series of wanderings or adventures, especially when filled with notable
experiences, hardships, etc.
Example: The film follows the protagonist’s odyssey to find his mother from whom he
was separated at birth.

35. Olympian (Adjective/ Noun)

Origin: from Mt. Olympus, mythical abode of the greater Grecian gods
Meaning:
1. pertaining to Mount Olympus or dwelling thereon, as the gods of classical Greece. (Adj)
2. relating to the ancient or modern Olympic Games. (Adj)

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3. resembling or appropriate to a god, especially in superiority and aloofness. (Adj)

4. an Olympian deity. (Noun)
5. contender in the Olympic Games. (Noun)
6. a native or inhabitant of Olympia. (Noun)
Example: The college principal was an Olympian figure whom we hardly ever saw.

36. Paean (Noun)

Origin: from paean, a hymn of invocation or thanksgiving to Apollo or some other ancient
Greek deity.
Meaning: any song of praise, joy, or triumph.
Example: The song is a paean to solitude and independence.

37. Palladium (Noun)

Origin: from Pallas Athena, a statue of the goddess, especially one on the citadel of Troy
on which the safety of the city was supposed to depend.
Meaning: a safeguard or source of protection
Example: The young boy fell asleep clutching his palladium, a doll.

38. Panic (Noun)

Origin: from Pan, a fertility deity, more or less bestial in form.
Meaning:
1. sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety, often causing wildly unthinking behaviour.
2. a frenzied hurry to do something.
Example: An earthquake hit the capital, causing panic among the population.

39. Philippic (Noun)

Origin: any of the orations delivered by Demosthenes, the Athenian orator, in the 4th-
century B.C., against Philip, king of Macedon.
Meaning: a bitter attack or denunciation, especially a verbal one.
Example: In an hour-long philippic, the legislator denounced the lobbyist opposing his
bill.

40. Plutocratic (Adjective)

Origin: from Plutus, god of abundance or wealth
Meaning: having great influence because of one’s wealth
Example: Ultimately, the plutocratic takeover of rural America has a downside for the
wealthy too.