VOCAB 2 ORGINS

tantalize

Greek; Tantalus was punished in Hades with food and water always out of reach; to tease by creating hope but preventing fulfillment

narcissistic

Greek; Narcissus fell in love with his own reflection; excessively in love with oneself

atlas

Greek; Atlas was a giant forced by Zeus to hold up the heavens; a book of maps

mercurial

Roman; Mercury was a quick and clever god; lively, quick-changing, or unpredictable

iridescent

Greek; Iris was the goddess of the rainbow; showing rainbow-like colors

Achilles' heel

Greek; Achilles had one vulnerable spot, his heel; a weakness or vulnerable spot

auroral

Roman; Aurora was the goddess of dawn; related to dawn or glowing like dawn

chimerical

Greek; the Chimera was a fire-breathing monster made of different animals; imaginary, unrealistic, or impossible

euthanasia

Greek; Thanatos was the personification of death; causing death painlessly to end suffering

zeal

Greek; Zelos was connected with enthusiasm and dedication; intense enthusiasm or devotion

titanic

Greek; the Titans were powerful giants ruled by Cronus until Zeus defeated them; extremely large or powerful

arachnid

Greek; Arachne challenged Athena and was turned into a spider; an eight-legged creature such as a spider

martial

Roman; Mars was the Roman god of war; warlike or related to war

odyssey

Greek; The Odyssey tells of Odysseus's long journey home; a long or difficult journey

panic

Greek; Pan frightened people with his sudden appearances; sudden overwhelming fear

jovial

Roman; Jove was another name for Jupiter, king of the gods; cheerful or good-humored

lethargic

Greek; Lethe was a river in Hades connected with forgetfulness; sleepy, sluggish, or lacking energy

chronology

Greek; Chronos was associated with time; events arranged in the order they happened

ambrosial

Greek; ambrosia was the food of the gods; delicious or excellent

labyrinthine

Greek; the Labyrinth was a maze built to hold the Minotaur; confusing, complicated, or maze-like

accept

To receive, approve, or allow

except

To exclude or leave out

allusion

An indirect reference to something well known

illusion

Something false, misleading, or unreal

complement

Something that completes or improves something else

compliment

Praise or a kind remark

affect

Usually a verb meaning to influence or cause change

effect

Usually a noun meaning the result or consequence of an action

it's

A contraction meaning “it is”

its

A possessive pronoun meaning belonging to it

between

Located in the middle of two things

among

Located within or surrounded by a group of three or more