Unit+12


 * Words from Classical Greek and Roman Mythology – word, definition (origin in parentheses) **
 * 1) Adonis – a handsome young man (a youth loved by Aphrodite, goddess of love)
 * 2) aegis – shield or protection; sponsorship (the protective shield of Zeus)
 * 3) amazon – a strong, masculine woman (mythological race of female warriors)
 * 4) ambrosial – exceptionally pleasing to taste or smell (ambrosia was the food of the gods)
 * 5) auroral – pertaining to or resembling the dawn (aurora was goddess of the dawn)
 * 6) bacchanalian – jovial or wild with drunkenness (from Bacchus, the god of wine)
 * 7) chimerical - fantastic, unreal, impossible (chimera was a monster with lion’s head, goat’s body and serpent’s tail)
 * 8) draconian – cruel, harsh, severe (Draco, an Athenian lawmaker known for his harsh punishments)
 * 9) elysian – delightful, blissful, heavenly (the Elysian fields, the mythical paradise for the brave after death)
 * 10) hector – bully, intimidate with threats (Hector was the bravest of the Trojan warriors)
 * 11) hermetic - airtight (Hermes was also the god of magic and trickery)
 * 12) labyrinthine – full of confusing passageways; intriguing or complicated (the fabled maze in Crete)
 * 13) lucullan – sumptuous; luxurious (from Lucullus, a Roman who gave lavish banquets)
 * 14) martial – pertaining to war (from Mars, god of war)
 * 15) mercurial – quick, vivacious; lively; active (from Mercury, patron of travelers)
 * 16) myrmidon – obedient and unquestioning followers (the tribe who accompanied Achilles to the Trojan War)
 * 17) nemesis – due punishment for evil deeds; one who inflicts punishments (the goddess of vengeance)
 * 18) paean – a song or hymn of praise (book written in praise of Apollo)
 * 19) palladium – safeguard or protection (the statue of Pallas Athena, thought to protect the city of Troy)
 * 20) philippic – bitter denunciation (orations denouncing King Philip of Macedon)
 * 21) plutocratic – having influence because of one’s wealth (Pluto, god of underworld and minerals)
 * 22) procrustean – cruel or inflexible (Procrustes either stretched or cut his victims to make them fit a bed)
 * 23) protean – exceedingly variable; readily assuming different forms (Proteus was a sea god who could change shape)
 * 24) solon – wise lawgiver (from Solon who was a noted Athenian lawmaker)
 * 25) stentorian – very loud (from Stentor, a legendary herald whose voice was as loud as fifty voices)
 * 26) stygian – infernal; dark and gloomy (from the river Styx which lead into the underworld)
 * 27) tantalize – excite a hope, but prevent its fulfillment (from Tantalus, cursed with eternal hunger and thirst with food and water just out of his reach)
 * 28) terpsichorean – pertaining to dancing (Terpsichore was the muse of dancing)
 * 29) thespian – pertain to drama or acting (from Thespis, the first actor, the father of Greek drama)
 * 30) titanic – of enormous size, strength or power (from the Titans, lawless powerful giants defeated by Zeus)