Words from Greek History and Philosophy

academy

a school or learned society

Arcadian

simple, peaceful, rustic

Croesus

a very rich man

cynic

one who sarcastically doubts human motives

Draconian

extremely severe

epicure

a person of refined taste in matters of food and drink

to cut the Gordian knot

to solve a difficult problem by direct and drastic means

laconic

brief, pithy, concise

mausoleum

a large tomb

meander

to follow a winding course

ostracism

exclusion from society

philippic

a bitter denunciation

a Pyrrhic victory

a victory won at too great a cost

solecism

a substandard usage of language, a social blunder

sophistry, sophism

clever but deceptive argumentation meant to mislead

Spartan

rigorous, austere, disciplined

stoic

impassive

sword of Damocles

a constantly threatening danger

sybarite

one devoted to luxury and pleasure