The Odyssey by Homer Vocabulary

1. The Odysseyby HomerVocabulary

2. Invocation (7) • Invocation: (noun) • the act or process of petitioning for help or support; specificallyoften capitalizeda: prayer of entreaty (as at the beginning of a service of worship) b: a calling upon for authority or justification • “The invocation to the Muse”

3. Navel (9) • Navel: (noun) • the central point :middle • “He’s on an island, surrounded by the sea, the one that forms the ocean’s navel stone.” (Ogygia).

4. Relent (10) • Relent: (verb) • a: to become less severe, harsh, or strict usually from reasons of humanity b: to cease resistance : give in c: let up, slacken: d: soften, mollify • synonyms see yield • “Poseidon’s anger will relent. He can’t fight the immortal gods all by himself, not with all of us opposing him.”

5. Gorge (13) • Gorge: (noun) • : to eat greedily or to repletion; also: to partake of something in large amounts • 1 a: to stuff to capacity : glut b: to fill completely or to the point of distension • 2: to consume greedily • “These men here, they spend all their time like this, with songs and music—it’s so easy for them, because they gorge themselves on what belongs to someone else and with IMPUNITY.”

6. Impunity (13) • Impunity: (noun) • Freedom from punishment or harm. • “These men here, they spend all their time like this, with songs and music—it’s so easy for them, because they gorge themselves on what belongs to someone else and with IMPUNITY.”

7. Insolent (21) • Insolent: (adjective) • insultingly contemptuous in speech or conduct : overbearing • “You suitors of my mother, who all have such insolent arrogance, let us for now enjoy our banquet, but no more shouting . . .”

8. Braggart (22) • Braggart: (noun) • a loud arrogant boaster • “Telemachus, the gods themselves, it seems, are teaching you to be a braggart and give rash speeches.”

9. Rash (22) • Rash: (adj) • marked by or proceeding from undue haste or lack of deliberation or caution • “Telemachus, the gods themselves, it seems, are teaching you to be a braggart and give rash speeches.”

10. Soothsayers (23) • Soothsayers: (noun) • : a person who predicts the future by magical, intuitive, or more rational means : prognosticator • “I no longer trust in messages, no matter what the source. Nor do I care for any prophecy my mother picks up from those soothsayers she summons to these halls.”

11. Auspicious (26) • Auspicious: (adj) • affording a favorable auspice • Auspice: Latin auspicium, from auspic-, auspex diviner by birds, from avis bird + specere to look, look at • a prophetic sign; especially: a favorable sign • “Odysseus’ dear son rejoiced at such auspicious words.”

12. Sceptre (28) • Scepter: (noun) • staff or baton borne by a sovereign as an emblem of authority • “Telemachus spoke. Then is his anger he threw the sceptre on the ground and burst out crying” (28)

13. Retribution (30) • Retribution: (noun) • 1: recompense, reward • 2: the dispensing or receiving of reward or punishment especially in the hereafter3: something given or exacted in recompense; especially: punishment • “But I will call upon the immortal gods to ask if somehow Zeus will give me retribution.”

14. Scourge (31) • Scourge: (noun) • 1whip; especially: one used to inflict pain or punishment2: an instrument of punishment or criticism3: a cause of wide or great affliction • “I think that even now he’s near by, planning a disastrous fate for all the suitors. And he’ll be a scourge to many others here in sunny Ithaca.”

15. Fruition (32) • Fruition: (noun) • 1: the state of bearing fruit 2: realization • I don’t think Achaea’s sons will end their unwelcome wooing, for there’s no one we’re afraid of yet—not Telemachus, for all his wordiness—nor do we care about a prophecy which you, old man, may spout. It won’t come to fruition, and people will despise you all the more.

16. Sea-girt (36) • Sea girt: (adj) • Surrounded by/enclosed by the sea. • “I’ll go through the town and quickly round up a group of comrades, all volunteers. In sea-girt Ithaca, I’ll choose from the many ships, new and old, the best one for you. .”

17. Libations (41) • Libations: (noun) • an act of pouring a liquid as a sacrifice (as to a deity • “When they had lashed the rigging on that fast black ship, they set out bowls brimful of wine and poured libations to the eternal ageless gods. . . ” (41).

18. Aegis (43) • Aegis: (noun) • a shield or breastplate emblematic of majesty that was associated with Zeus and Athena • “He made a toast to Pallas Athena, daughter of aegis-bearing Zeus, . . . (43).

19. Recompense (44) • Recompense: (noun) • an equivalent or a return for something done, suffered, or given : compensation • “And to begin with, give Nestor and his sons a glorious name, and then grant all other men of Pylos a pleasing recompense in answer to these lovely offerings” (44).

20. Crag (43) • Crag: (noun) • a steep rugged rock or cliff • “But when he re-launched his hollow ships upon the wine-dark sea and quickly reached the steep crag of Malea. . . (53).

21. propitiate • verb • to gain or regain the favor or goodwill of : appease • “My dear children, you must act on my desires, and quickly, so I can propitiate Athena, before the other gods” (58).

22. Portico (61) • noun • a colonnade or covered ambulatory especially in classical architecture and often at the entrance of a building • “. . . They hitched their horses, climbed in the splendid chariot, and set off from the echoing portico and gate” (61).

23. Electrum (65) • Noun • a natural pale yellow alloy of gold and silver • “. . . Throughout the echoing hall, there’s so much sparkling bronze and gold, electrum, silver, ivory. . . ” (65).

24. Pre-eminent (69) • adjective • : having paramount rank, dignity, or importance : outstanding, supreme • Eminent: standing out • “You were pre-eminent among all men” (69).

25. Vestibule (74) • Noun • a passage, hall, or room between the outer door and the interior of a building :lobby • “A herald led the guests away. And so they slept there in the palace vestibule. . “ (74).

26. Ambrosia (79) • Noun • 1 a: the food of the Greek and Roman gods • b: the ointment or perfume of the gods • “. . . She got ambrosia, sweet-smelling oil of the immortal gods. . . “ (79).

27. Sedge (86) • Noun • any of a family of usually tufted marsh plants • “. . . With sedge, broad-eared white barley, wheat, and rye. . . “ (86). • Adjective: sedgy!!

28. Intemperately (93) • Adverb • NOT keeping or held within limits • given to excessive use of intoxicating liquors • “Noble lords, you must not speak out so intemperately” (93).

29. Cormorant (99) • Noun • any of various dark-colored web-footed water birds that have a long neck, hooked bill, and distensible throat pouch • “Across the waves he raced, just like a comorant. . .” (99)

30. Fallow (101) • adjective • usu. cultivated land that is allowed to lie idle during the growing season obsolete: plowed land • : of a light yellowish-brown color • “Demeter was overcome with passion and had sex with Iasion in a thrice-ploughed fallow field. . . (101)

31. Augers (106) • Noun • any of various tools or devices having a helical shaft or member that are used for boring holes (as in wood, soil, or ice) or moving loose material (as snow) • “The fair Calypso then brought him augers, so he bored each timber. . . (106)

32. Assuage (160) • verb • ease • “something to assuage their anger. . (160)

33. Laurel (170) • Noun • an evergreen shrub or tree • “. . .we saw a high cave, overhung with laurel” (170).

34. Reconnoiter (192) • verb • : to make a reconnaissance of (a preliminary survey to gain information; especially: an exploratory military survey of enemy territory) • “. . .let my comrades eat, then send them out to reconnoiter” (192).

35. Stalwart (217) • adjective • strong • “They became two stalwart followers of mighty Zeus” (217).

36. Gaoler (218) • Noun • One who guards prisons • “But she descended down to Hades’ home, the mighty gaoler.” (218)

37. Asphodel (229) • Noun • any of various Old World herbs of the lily family • “Achilles moved off with massive strides through meadows filled with asphodel. . “ (229)

38. Adjudicates (250) • Verb • to settle judicially • “One who adjudicates the many quarrels young men have, who then seek judgment . . .” (250)

39. Spar (251) • Noun • a stout rounded usually wood or metal piece (as a mast, boom, gaff, or yard) used to support rigging • “I fell into the sea beyond those lenghty spars.” (251)

40. Diadem (266) • Noun • crown • “. . .when we loosed the bright diadem of Troy” (266)

41. Sties (269) • Noun • pigpens • “. . .he’d packed twelve sties together.” (269).

42. prerogatives (310) • Noun • an exclusive or special right, power, or privilege “He’s the best man by far and really keen to marry my mother and then possess the royal prerogatives of Odysseus” (310).

43. Suppliant (314) • Noun • One who asks humbly and earnestly of • “’I give him to you. Do as you wish. He’s a suppliant,’ he says” (314).

44. Forager • Noun • One who ravages or raids “This present business, you should know, is forager Athena’s work. . .” (320).

45. Impiety (328) • Noun • the state of being irreverent “It’s impiety to plan evil things for one another” (328).

46. Impunity (347) • Noun • exemption or freedom from punishment, harm, or loss • Odysseus was soon going to retrace his steps back to the doorway and sound out the Achaeans with impunity, but he stopped. . . .” (347).

47. Gluttonous (356) • Adj: • marked by excessive eating and drinking • “Then a vagrant from the community arrived, who used to bag trough all the town if Ithaca, a man celebrated for his gluttonous stomach, with an incessant appetite for food and drink.”

48. Incessant (356) • adjective • continuing or following without interruption :unceasing; continual “Then a vagrant from the community arrived, who used to bag trough all the town if Ithaca, a man celebrated for his gluttonous stomach, with an incessant appetite for food and drink.”

49. Voracious (370) • Adjective • having a huge appetite :ravenous • “You’d prefer to beg throughout the land, collecting food for your voracious gut” (370).

50. Besotted (378) • Verb • 1:infatuate2: to make dull or stupid; especially: to muddle with drunkenness • — be·sot·ted·lyadverb “I swim in tears because my mind is now besotted, loaded down with wine” (378).