The Written World

predilection

"In space, he showed a predilection for another school of poetry: …"

a preference or special liking for something

relish

"… this experience made Lovell relish the safety of home."

to enjoy greatly

wax

"On board Apollo 8, he waxed eloquent: …"

to begin to speak or write about something in the specified manner

bayou

"… the pirates of the bayou in the Gulf of Mexico."

a marshy outlet of a lake or river

accrue

"… texts that accrued power and significance over time …"

to accumulate in regular or increasing amounts over time

preside over

"Foundational texts were often presided over by priests"

to be in charge of something

enshrine

"… who enshrined them at the center of empires and nations"

to preserve and cherish as sacred

prevail

"Gagarin had beaten Borman to space, but Borman had prevailed there with a powerful foundational text."

to prove more powerful or superior

pit against

"… when Christians pitted their holy books against Hebrew scrolls"

to cause (someone or something) to fight or compete against (another person or thing)

broadside

"… ushered in the era of mass production and mass literacy, with newspapers and broadsides …"

a sheet of paper printed on one side only

cone

"… in the cone of their spaceship …"

a 3D shape with a circular base and a point opposite the base

in light of

"The history of literature in this book is written very much in light of this …"

because of

codex

"… invention of parchment … and of the codex in Rome."

an ancient manuscript text in book form

exuberant

"The mood in the old Macedonian capital, …, was exuberant …"

characterized by a lively energy and excitement

put sb to the sword

"… after a short fight, he was put to the sword."

to kill someone

retaliate

"… Paris manages to retaliate and kill Achilles …"

make an attack in return for a similar attack

reprieve

"a brief reprieve from the war"

a temporary relief or delay

mull sth over

"As I was mulling over my disappointment …"

to think about sth deeply and at length

fount

"… and regarded Homer as the fount of Greek culture …"

fountain, source

tutelage

"Under his tutelage, Alexander …"

the state of being under a guardian or tutor

lyre

"… what was allegedly Paris's lyre, …"

a stringed instrument like a small U-shaped harp

mercenary

"… included Persian commanders and Greek mercenaries."

a professional soldier hired by a foreign army

formidable

"… the Greeks had developed formidable battle tactics."

inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large or powerful

fray

"… throwing himself into the fray whenever he could."

a battle or fight

loom large

"The Battle of Issus had loomed large in my mind ever since …"

to have great importance or influence

sack

"… forcing cities to surrender and sacking them when they refused."

to plunder a city

recalcitrant

"… he killed its recalcitrant leader …"