Greek Tragedy Vocab Definitions and Parts of Speech

Anagnorisis

N. (in ancient Greek Tragedy) the critical moment of recognition or discovery

Caparison

N. An unusually ornamental covering for a horse’s saddle or harness, trappings, richly ornamented clothing; finery

Catharsis

N. pl. -ses. A purifying or figurative cleansing or release of emothings or of tension, esp, through art

Didactic

Adj. Intended to instruct. Morally instructive; inclined to teach or moralized excessively

Dirge

N. A funeral hymn or lament; a slow, mournful musical composition or poem

Effulgent

Adj. Shining brilliantly; resplendent

Elegiac

Adj. N. Pertaining to an elegy; expressing sorrow, mournful; composed in couplets whose first line is dactylic hexameter and a second a pentameter.

Flinty

Adj. Unyielding, stern; containing or composed of a very hard fine-grained quartz

Hamartia

N. “missing the mark.” A tragic flaw, weakness of character or error in judgement, which causes the downfall of the hero

Hubris

N. Arrogance or overweening pride which causes the hero’s transgression against the gods

Incarnadine

Adj. Tr. V Flesh-colored; blood-red; to make incarnadine, esp. red

Jobbery

N. Corruption among public officials

Legion

N. Adj. The major unit of the Roman army consisting of 3,000-6,000 infantry troops and 100 to 200 cavalrymen. A large number, multitude; Constituting a large number; multitudinous

Myrmidon

N. One of a legendary Greek warrior people of ancient Thesaly who followed their king Achilles on the expedition against Troy. (lowercase) A faithful follower who carries out orders without question. 

Paean or pean

N. A song of joyful praise or exultation; a fervent expression of joy or praise

Peripeteia

N. An abrupt and unexpected change in the course of events or situation (such as a sudden reversal), especially in a literary work

Progeny

N. Children or descendents, offspring; result of creative effort; product

Promulgate

Tr. V. To make known (a decree, for example) by public declaration; announce officially. To put (a law) into effect by formal public announcement.

Putrescence

N. Putrid matter; decaying character or matter

Vicissitude

N. (often -s) a change or variation. Mutability. One of the sudden or unexpected changes or shifts often encountered in one’s life, activities or surroundings.