Vocabulary for the College Bound Student-Chapter 6

Adonis (n.)

very handsome young man

ageis (n.)

shield or protection; auspices; sponsorship

amazon (n.)

tall, strong, bold woman

ambrosial (adj.)

exceptionally pleasing to taste or smell; extremely delicious; excellent

atlas (n.)

book of maps

auroral (adj.)

pertaining to or resembling the dawn; rosy; radiant

bacchanalian (adj.)

jovial or wild with drunkenness

Cassandra (n.)

one who prophesies doom or disaster; pessimist

chimerical (adj.)

fantastic; unreal; impossible; absurd

Draconian (adj.)

cruel; harsh; severe; ironhanded

echolalia (n.)

automatic and immediate repetition (echoing) of what others say

Elysian (adj.)

delightful; blissful; heavenly

eristic (adj.)

prone to controversy; disputatious; argumentative

fauna (n.)

animal life; animal of a particular region or period

flora (n.)

plant life; plants of a particular region or period

forum (n.)

medium or place for open discussion and expression of ideas; a public meeting, radio or TV discussion, editorial page, etc.

hector (v.)

bully; intimidate with threats; bluster

herculean (adj.)

very difficult; requiring the strength of Hercules

hermetic (adj.)

airtight; secret; obscure; magical; mysterious

iridescent (adj.)

having colors like the rainbow

jovial (adj.)

jolly; merry; good-humored

labyrinthine (adj.)

full of confusing passageways; intricate; complicated; like the Labyrinth

laconic (adj.)

using words sparingly; terse; concise

lethargic (adj.)

unnaturally drowsy; sluggish; dull

Lucullan (adj.)

sumptuous; luxurious

marathon (n.)

1. long-distance footrace of 26 miles 385 yards

2. endurance contest, as a dance marathon

martial (adj.)

pertaining to war; warlike

mentor (n.)

1. wise and trusted adviser

2. tutor; coach

mercurial (adj.)

1. quick; vivacious; active; lively

2. inconstant; unstable; capricious; subject to rapid and unpredictable mood changes

myrmidon (n.)

obedient and unquestioning follower

narcissistic (adj.)

in love with oneself; excessively fascinated and gratified by one's own physical and mental qualities; egocentric

nectar (n.)

something exceptionally delicious to drink

nemesis (n.)

1. due punishment for evil deeds

2. one who inflicts such punishment

odyssey (n.)

long series of wanderings or travels

Olympian (adj.)

1. majestic; godlike; lofty

2. having to do with the Olympic Games, international athletic competitions held every four years

paean (n.)

song or hymn of praise, joy, or triumph

palladium (n.)

safeguard; protection

panic (n.)

sudden overpowering terror, sometimes causing mass flight

philippic (n.)

bitter denunciation; tirade

plutocratic (adj.)

having great influence because of one's wealth

procrustean (adj.)

cruel or inflexible in enforcing conformity

protean (adj.)

exceedingly variable; readily assuming different forms or shapes

Pyrrhic (adj.)

ruinous; gained at too great a cost

saturnine (adj.)

heavy; dull; sullen; gloomy; morose

siren (n.)

1. dangerous attractive woman

2. woman who sings with bewitching sweetness

3. apparatus for sound loud warnings

solon (n.)

legislator; wise lawgiver

Spartan (adj.)

marked by simplicity and avoidance of comfort; marked by self-discipline, bravery, and ability to endure pain

stentorian (adj.)

very loud

Stygian (adj.)

infernal; especially dark; gloomy

tantalize (v.)

excite a hope but prevent its fulfillment; tease

terpsichorean (adj. or n.)

pertaining to dancing

thespian (adj. or n.)

pertaining to the drama or acting

titanic (adj.)

of enormous strength, size or power