The Odyssey Vocabulary Definitions

Vocabulary definitions of the 84 key words and SAT terms identified in Homer's The Odyssey.

acclaim

praise, approval; to salute; to hail

archaic

antiquated, old, out of use

ardor

warmth or heat of emotion; extreme force, vigor, or energy

artful

skillful, clever, tricky

ascendancy

domination; growing power

augury

an omen or prophecy

begrudge

to give reluctantly, to envy a possession or one's enjoyment

beguile

to deceive, to mislead, to persuade with charm

bestow

to grant or to give

blandishment

flattery

brazen

shameless, insolent, disrespectful

bulwark

a strong defense or something that defends

chaste

morally pure

circumspect

careful to consider consequences, cautious, prudent

communal

pertaining to a group or community

compliance

a yielding; acquiescence

conciliate

to reconcile, to pacify, to renew a friendship

conspicuous

obvious, noticeable, attracting attention

contempt

scorn, extreme dislike or disdain

covert

secret, concealed

demur

to hesitate, to delay, to object

dissemble

to disguise, to pretend

divination

foretelling the future by means of magic

elucidate

to make clear, to explain

endow

to provide with income or property, to supply with a talent or quality

ennoble

to elevate, to raise in rank

enthralling

captivating, spellbinding

ethereal

heavenly, unusually delicate, light, lacking material substance, intangible

flourish

to thrive, to grow well

formidable

menacing, causing fear or awe

forsake

to quit or to leave entirely; to depart or to withdraw from

fortuitous

something that happens by accident or chance (usually good)

furrow

to make wrinkles or grooves

gambol

to playfully skip or leap

gilded

covered with gold or a golden color; having a background of wealth

gravity

seriousness, importance

grievous

characterized by severe suffering or sorrow, serious or grave

grisly

ghastly, inspiring fear

guile

deceitfulness, duplicity

harbor

to give shelter or refuge

haughty

arrogant, excessively proud and vain

hearten

to encourage

heed

to give attention to

heralded

announced or publicized

illustrious

notably outstanding, famous

incessant

uninterrupted

indignation

anger as a result of something unjust

innumerable

very many; more than can be counted

insolence

insulting or contemptuous behavior

interloper

one who interferes in the affairs or with the rights of others

lament

to mourn or to express sorrow in a demonstrative manner

lucid

easily understood, mentally sound

malign

to utter injuriously misleading reports about

mundane

ordinary, commonplace

muse

to ponder

obsequious

overly attentive, like a sycophant, servile

pernicious

very destructive or harmful, deadly

piety

devotion and reverence to God

ponderous

very heavy, unwieldy from weight

potent

powerful, having a strong effect