MYTHOLOGY WORD MYTHOLOGY WORD ORIGINSORIGINS

AMBROSIAAMBROSIA

• Present Day Meaning: (noun) Present Day Meaning: (noun) Anything Anything deliciousdelicious or or fragrantfragrant

• Mythological Origin: It was the Mythological Origin: It was the foodfood of the gods and it made them of the gods and it made them immortalimmortal..

CHAOTICCHAOTIC

• Present Day Meaning: (adj.) A state Present Day Meaning: (adj.) A state of disorder and of disorder and confusionconfusion

• Mythological Origin: According the Mythological Origin: According the Greek Greek creation mythcreation myth, Chaos was the , Chaos was the first being and was a disorganized first being and was a disorganized mass of seeds and the mass of seeds and the beginningsbeginnings of of all things. all things.

TITANICTITANIC

• Present Day Meaning: (adj.) Very Present Day Meaning: (adj.) Very largelarge or strong, powerful. or strong, powerful.

• Mythological Origin: Titans were Mythological Origin: Titans were fabled giants of ancient mythology fabled giants of ancient mythology who were who were enormousenormous in in sizesize and and strengthstrength..

CHRONOLOGICALCHRONOLOGICAL

• Present Day Meaning: (adj.) Present Day Meaning: (adj.) Arranged in the Arranged in the orderorder of of timetime..

• Mythological Origin: Chronos was Mythological Origin: Chronos was one of the one of the TitansTitans and the son of and the son of Uranus and Gaea. He was Uranus and Gaea. He was TimeTime, and , and said to be the most said to be the most terribleterrible of all the of all the Titans.Titans.

SATURNINESATURNINE

• Present Day Meaning: (adj.) Looking Present Day Meaning: (adj.) Looking sadsad, serious, especially in a , serious, especially in a threateningthreatening way.way.

• Mythological Origin: Mythological Origin: SaturnSaturn is the Greek is the Greek name for Chronos. In terms of Astrology, name for Chronos. In terms of Astrology, the planet Saturn intensifies the planet Saturn intensifies feelingsfeelings of of sadness, sadness, isolationisolation, and depression, just , and depression, just like Saturn/Chronos felt when he became like Saturn/Chronos felt when he became an eternal an eternal prisoner prisoner of of TartarusTartarus..

PLUTONIUMPLUTONIUM• Present Day Meaning: (n.) A Present Day Meaning: (n.) A metalmetal that that

is used in the production of is used in the production of nuclearnuclear power power and it is invisible to the naked eye.and it is invisible to the naked eye.

• Mythological Origin: Mythological Origin: PlutoPluto, God of the , God of the Underworld was given a helmet of Underworld was given a helmet of invisibilityinvisibility by the three Cyclops when he by the three Cyclops when he and his brothers all waged war on Cronos. and his brothers all waged war on Cronos. Just as Pluto wore a helmet of invisibility, Just as Pluto wore a helmet of invisibility, so so PlutoniumPlutonium is an element none of us are is an element none of us are ever likely to see. ever likely to see.

MERCURIALMERCURIAL•Present Day Meaning: (adj.) Changing Present Day Meaning: (adj.) Changing moodsmoods suddenly. Mercury is the metal used in a suddenly. Mercury is the metal used in a thermometer that moves up and down in order thermometer that moves up and down in order to measure to measure temperaturetemperature..

•Mythological Meaning: Mercury is the Mythological Meaning: Mercury is the messenger God and he is the only one who can messenger God and he is the only one who can travel travel up up to Mount Olympus, where the Gods to Mount Olympus, where the Gods live, and live, and downdown to the Underworld. As the to the Underworld. As the escortescort of souls down to Tartarus, he has always been of souls down to Tartarus, he has always been associated with movement and associated with movement and traveltravel. Mercury . Mercury is after all, mercurial and is after all, mercurial and speedspeed is his great skill is his great skill as he is the messenger of the gods. as he is the messenger of the gods.

JOVIAL:JOVIAL:

• Present Day Meaning: (adj.) To be Present Day Meaning: (adj.) To be friendlyfriendly or cheerful. or cheerful.

• Mythological Meaning: Mythological Meaning: JoveJove is is another name for Zeus, King of the another name for Zeus, King of the Gods and ruler of mankind. He was Gods and ruler of mankind. He was well known for his “friendly” well known for his “friendly” attitudeattitude toward most toward most femalesfemales..

VOLCANOVOLCANO

• Present Day Meaning: (noun) A naturally Present Day Meaning: (noun) A naturally occurring occurring openingopening in the surface of the in the surface of the EarthEarth through which molten, gaseous, through which molten, gaseous, and solid material is ejected. and solid material is ejected.

• Mythological Origin: Mythological Origin: VulcanVulcan (Hephaestus) was the god of fire; (Hephaestus) was the god of fire; blacksmith for the gods. His forge was blacksmith for the gods. His forge was located in a volcano.located in a volcano.

CEREALCEREAL

• Present Day Meaning: (noun) Crop Present Day Meaning: (noun) Crop plant with edible grain; plant with edible grain; breakfast breakfast foodfood. .

• Mythological Origin: The term was Mythological Origin: The term was derived from derived from CeresCeres, the goddess of , the goddess of agricultureagriculture. .

MARTIALMARTIAL

• Present Day Meaning: (adj.) Present Day Meaning: (adj.) WarlikeWarlike and and fiercefierce

• Mythological Origin: It pertained to Mythological Origin: It pertained to MarsMars, the , the Roman god of warRoman god of war..

APHRODISIACAPHRODISIAC

• Present Day Meaning: (noun) Present Day Meaning: (noun) Something that Something that arousesarouses or intensifies or intensifies sexual drivesexual drive. .

• Mythological Origin: Related to Mythological Origin: Related to AphroditeAphrodite, the goddess of love and , the goddess of love and beauty.beauty.

ARACHNIDARACHNID

• Present Day Meaning: (noun) Present Day Meaning: (noun) Eight-Eight-leggedlegged organism. A spider. organism. A spider.

• Mythological Origin: She was a Greek Mythological Origin: She was a Greek maidenmaiden who was turned into a who was turned into a spiderspider after she boastfully won Athena in a after she boastfully won Athena in a weavingweaving contest. contest.

METAMORPHOSISMETAMORPHOSIS

• Present Day Meaning: (n.) The Present Day Meaning: (n.) The processprocess in in which something changes completely into which something changes completely into something very different.something very different.

• Mythological Origin: Taken from the god of Mythological Origin: Taken from the god of dreams, Morpheus. An example of dreams, Morpheus. An example of metamorphosis is in the myth metamorphosis is in the myth Arachne;Arachne; she changes from her she changes from her humanhuman form, into form, into something totally different; a something totally different; a spiderspider..

NARCISSISTICNARCISSISTIC

• Present Day Meaning: (adj.) Present Day Meaning: (adj.) Someone who Someone who admiresadmires his/her own his/her own physical physical appearanceappearance or ability can be or ability can be described as narcissistic.described as narcissistic.

• Mythological Origin: Mythological Origin: NarcissusNarcissus is a is a beautiful young man who rejected all beautiful young man who rejected all admirers, including the nymph Echo. admirers, including the nymph Echo. As a punishment for his vanity, he As a punishment for his vanity, he falls in falls in lovelove with his own with his own reflectionreflection..

LABYRINTHLABYRINTH

• Present Day Meaning: (noun) A Present Day Meaning: (noun) A structure of connecting passages structure of connecting passages through which it is difficult to find through which it is difficult to find one’s way; a one’s way; a mazemaze..

• Mythological Origin: It was used to Mythological Origin: It was used to describe a describe a mazemaze that was designed that was designed by Daedalus for King Minos of Crete by Daedalus for King Minos of Crete to confine Minotaur.to confine Minotaur.

TANTALIZETANTALIZE

• Present Day Meaning: (verb) To Present Day Meaning: (verb) To teasetease by by presenting something presenting something desirabledesirable to view, but to view, but keeping it continually keeping it continually out of reachout of reach..

• Mythological Origin: Tantalus, a Phrygian Mythological Origin: Tantalus, a Phrygian King, was condemned to remain in Tartarus, King, was condemned to remain in Tartarus, standingstanding, , thirstythirsty, , hungryhungry, and chin-deep in , and chin-deep in water with fruit-laden branches hanging water with fruit-laden branches hanging above his head. As he tried to drink, the above his head. As he tried to drink, the water level retreated. When he attempted to water level retreated. When he attempted to eat the fruit, it would slip away from his eat the fruit, it would slip away from his hands.hands.

LETHALLETHAL

• Present Day Meaning: (adj.) Causing Present Day Meaning: (adj.) Causing deathdeath or or disorderdisorder

• Mythological Origin: Mythological Origin: LetheLethe is the river is the river of forgetfulness on the way to Hades. of forgetfulness on the way to Hades. LetumLetum was a monster, who lived in was a monster, who lived in the underworld. His name meant the underworld. His name meant death.death.

SISYPHEANSISYPHEAN

• Present Day Meaning: (adj.) Involving Present Day Meaning: (adj.) Involving endless, but endless, but pointlesspointless labor.labor.

• Mythological Origin: Mythological Origin: SisyphusSisyphus was a was a cruel king of Corinth condemned cruel king of Corinth condemned forever forever to rollto roll a huge stonea huge stone up a hill up a hill in Hades. Once the stone reached in Hades. Once the stone reached the top, it would fall back down. the top, it would fall back down.

FATE(S)FATE(S)• Present Day Meaning: (n.) A Present Day Meaning: (n.) A powerpower that is that is

believed to believed to controlcontrol what happens in people’s what happens in people’s lives.lives.

• Mythological Origin: The Fates Are three Mythological Origin: The Fates Are three ancient goddesses, daughters of Zeus, who ancient goddesses, daughters of Zeus, who were in charge of deciding the were in charge of deciding the lengthlength of each of each mortal’s mortal’s lifelife. One Fate is in charge of starting . One Fate is in charge of starting the “thread of life”; the “thread of life”; BIRTHBIRTH;; another is in another is in charge of weaving “the thread of life”; charge of weaving “the thread of life”; WHAT WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU IN YOURHAPPENS TO YOU IN YOUR LIFELIFE; and the third ; and the third is in charge of cutting “the thread of life”; is in charge of cutting “the thread of life”; DEATHDEATH..

““The Midas Touch”The Midas Touch”

• Present Day Meaning: The ability to Present Day Meaning: The ability to makemake, , managemanage, and , and keepkeep large large amounts of amounts of moneymoney..

• Mythological Origin: Mythological Origin: MidasMidas, King of , King of Phrygia, a Phrygia, a greedygreedy man who Dionysus man who Dionysus gave the power of turning everything gave the power of turning everything he touched into he touched into goldgold..

PSYCHOLOGYPSYCHOLOGY

• Present Day Meaning: (n) The Present Day Meaning: (n) The studystudy of the mind and how it works.of the mind and how it works.

• Mythological origin: Psyche was Mythological origin: Psyche was considered a perfect woman, in considered a perfect woman, in mindmind, body and spirit. Therefore, her , body and spirit. Therefore, her mind was used as the mind was used as the standardstandard for all for all others to be judged.others to be judged.

ATLASATLAS

• Present Day Meaning: (noun) A book Present Day Meaning: (noun) A book or or collection of mapscollection of maps

• Mythological Origin: He was a Titan Mythological Origin: He was a Titan who fought against Zeus, and his who fought against Zeus, and his punishment was that he supported punishment was that he supported the the world on his shouldersworld on his shoulders. In some . In some myths it is the sky.myths it is the sky.

AMAZONIANAMAZONIAN

• Present Day Meaning: (noun) A Present Day Meaning: (noun) A physically or mentally physically or mentally strongstrong; ; aggressive womanaggressive woman..

• Mythological Origin: A group of Mythological Origin: A group of womenwomen warriorswarriors who lived in Scythia who lived in Scythia or in the northern limits of the world.or in the northern limits of the world.

HERCULEANHERCULEAN

• Present Day Meaning: (adj.) Something Present Day Meaning: (adj.) Something that requires great that requires great strengthstrength or that is or that is enormous in size or enormous in size or couragecourage..

• Mythological Origin: Hercules was a Mythological Origin: Hercules was a famous famous herohero, known for his courage and , known for his courage and strength. He performs strength. He performs 12 labors12 labors; very ; very difficult difficult taskstasks; as a punishment for ; as a punishment for murdering his wife and children murdering his wife and children

ACHILLES’ HEELACHILLES’ HEEL• Present Day Meaning: (noun) The Present Day Meaning: (noun) The

vulnerablevulnerable or weak spot of a or weak spot of a man’sman’s charactercharacter or a of a nation. or a of a nation.

• Mythological Origin: It is from the tale of Mythological Origin: It is from the tale of when Thetis took her son, Achilles, by the when Thetis took her son, Achilles, by the heel and dipped him in the heel and dipped him in the Styx RiverStyx River, so , so that he would be invincible. The water that he would be invincible. The water washed every part of his body, excluding washed every part of his body, excluding his heel, which had been his heel, which had been covered by hiscovered by his mother’s handsmother’s hands. It was on this vulnerable . It was on this vulnerable point that caused the point that caused the herohero to be slain. to be slain.

““Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts”Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts”

• Present Day Meaning: Be careful of Present Day Meaning: Be careful of accepting a accepting a giftgift from a potential from a potential enemy because it may bring enemy because it may bring misfortunemisfortune..

• Mythological Origin: The Mythological Origin: The Trojan HorseTrojan Horse, , a wooden horse, was a gift from a wooden horse, was a gift from Athena which contained Athena which contained armed menarmed men who attacked the city Troy. who attacked the city Troy.

““The Face that Launched a The Face that Launched a Thousand Ships”Thousand Ships”

• Present Day Meaning: Any one Present Day Meaning: Any one person causing person causing disasterdisaster or or warwar. .

• Mythological Origin: Mythological Origin: Helen of TroyHelen of Troy was one of the most beautiful Greek was one of the most beautiful Greek women. She fled with women. She fled with Prince ParisPrince Paris, , which launched the which launched the Trojan WarTrojan War. .

MUSEMUSE

• Present Day Meaning: (noun) A Present Day Meaning: (noun) A source of source of inspirationinspiration; a ; a guiding spiritguiding spirit

• Mythological Origin: Muse was one of Mythological Origin: Muse was one of the nine daughters of Zeus and the nine daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, goddess of memory. Mnemosyne, goddess of memory. The Muses The Muses inspiredinspired different creative different creative artists.artists.

ODYSSEYODYSSEY

• Present Day Meaning: (noun) A Present Day Meaning: (noun) A longlong, , adventurous adventurous voyagevoyage..

• Mythological Origin: A Greek Mythological Origin: A Greek epic epic poempoem that explains the adventures of that explains the adventures of Ulysses in his voyage after the fall of Ulysses in his voyage after the fall of Troy. Troy.

MENTORMENTOR

• Present Day Meaning: (n.) An Present Day Meaning: (n.) An experiencedexperienced person who person who advisesadvises, , encourages, and helps a less encourages, and helps a less experienced experienced personperson..

• Mythological Meaning: Mythological Meaning: MentorMentor is an is an elder whom Odysseus asks to watch elder whom Odysseus asks to watch over the over the educationeducation and the raising of and the raising of his his sonson, , TelemachusTelemachus..

““Between Scylla & CharybidisBetween Scylla & Charybidis

• Present Day Meaning: In a position where Present Day Meaning: In a position where avoidance of one dangeravoidance of one danger exposes one to exposes one to another danger.another danger.

• Mythological Origin: Mythological Origin: ScyllaScylla was a six-headed was a six-headed monstermonster who lived on a rock on one side of a who lived on a rock on one side of a narrow strait. narrow strait. CharybdisCharybdis was a was a whirlpoolwhirlpool on the on the other side. Whenever ships passed close to other side. Whenever ships passed close to Scylla’s rock so that they would avoid Scylla’s rock so that they would avoid Charybdis, she would seize and devour their Charybdis, she would seize and devour their sailors. sailors.

““A Lotus Eater”A Lotus Eater”

• Present Day Meaning: Anyone who Present Day Meaning: Anyone who surrenders to indolent surrenders to indolent pleasurepleasure

• Mythological Origin: Mythological Origin: OdysseusOdysseus was was driven to North Africa, the land of the driven to North Africa, the land of the Lotus Eaters. They consumed the fruit Lotus Eaters. They consumed the fruit of the lotus and lived in constant state of the lotus and lived in constant state of dreamy of dreamy forgetfulnessforgetfulness and and happyhappy irresponsibility.irresponsibility.

ADONISADONIS

• Present Day Meaning: (noun) An extremely Present Day Meaning: (noun) An extremely handsomehandsome young man young man

• Mythological Origin: A handsome young Mythological Origin: A handsome young man was man was lovedloved by by AphroditeAphrodite and and PersephonePersephone. He was . He was killedkilled while hunting while hunting boar, but was allowed by Zeus to boar, but was allowed by Zeus to divide divide his timehis time between Aphrodite on earth and between Aphrodite on earth and Persephone in the Underworld.Persephone in the Underworld.

FURIOUSFURIOUS

• Present Day Meaning: (adj.) Present Day Meaning: (adj.) Extremely Extremely angryangry..

• Mythological Origin: The Furies are Mythological Origin: The Furies are threethree female creatures who female creatures who punishpunish all all crimescrimes and breaking of society’s and breaking of society’s rules. First and foremost they punish rules. First and foremost they punish those who hunt or kill their own those who hunt or kill their own family members.family members.

HALCYON DAYSHALCYON DAYS

• Present Day Meaning: (noun) A time of Present Day Meaning: (noun) A time of peace, , serenityserenity, and , and happinesshappiness..

• Mythological Origin: Halcyon is Greek for Mythological Origin: Halcyon is Greek for KingfisherKingfisher. The ancient Sicilians believed . The ancient Sicilians believed that because the Kingfisher laid and that because the Kingfisher laid and incubated his incubated his eggseggs for fourteen days on for fourteen days on the surface of the sea, the waves would the surface of the sea, the waves would calmcalm before the winter solstice.before the winter solstice.

AURORAAURORA

• Present Day Meaning: (noun) Present Day Meaning: (noun) EarlyEarly Morning; glowing.Morning; glowing.

• Mythological Origin: In Grecian Mythological Origin: In Grecian mythology, the goddess Aurora was mythology, the goddess Aurora was said to have been the “pioneer” of said to have been the “pioneer” of the the rising sunrising sun. .

NEMESISNEMESIS

• Present Day Meaning: (noun) A Present Day Meaning: (noun) A source of source of harmharm or or ruinruin

• Mythological Origin: The goddess of Mythological Origin: The goddess of retributive retributive justicejustice or or vengeancevengeance..

IRIDESCENTIRIDESCENT

• Present Day Meaning: (noun) A Present Day Meaning: (noun) A rrainbow-likeainbow-like display of colors. display of colors.

• Mythological Origin: Iris was the Mythological Origin: Iris was the goddess of the goddess of the rainbowrainbow and and messengermessenger of the gods. of the gods.

PHOBIAPHOBIA

• Present Day Meaning: (noun) An Present Day Meaning: (noun) An irrational or very irrational or very powerful fearpowerful fear and and dislike of somethingdislike of something

• Mythological Origin: Mythological Origin: PhobosPhobos, son of , son of Ares, was the representation of fear.Ares, was the representation of fear.

PANDEMONIUMPANDEMONIUM• Present Day Meaning: (noun) A situation in Present Day Meaning: (noun) A situation in

which there is a lot of which there is a lot of noisenoise because people are because people are angryangry, confused or , confused or frightenedfrightened..

• Mythological Origin: Named after the God Pan, Mythological Origin: Named after the God Pan, God of shepherds, forests, wildlife, and fertility. God of shepherds, forests, wildlife, and fertility. Like other Gods who dwelt in Like other Gods who dwelt in forestsforests, he was , he was dreaded by dreaded by travelerstravelers to whom sometimes he to whom sometimes he appeared and whom he appeared and whom he startledstartled with a sudden with a sudden terrorterror. His unseen presence aroused feelings of . His unseen presence aroused feelings of panicpanic in men passing through the remote lonely in men passing through the remote lonely places of the wild, thus creating a feeling of places of the wild, thus creating a feeling of pandemonium in the hunters.pandemonium in the hunters.

PROTEANPROTEAN

• Present Day Meaning: (noun) Having Present Day Meaning: (noun) Having the ability to the ability to changechange your your appearanceappearance or or behavior again and behavior again and againagain..

• Mythological Origin: Mythological Origin: ProteusProteus is a subject is a subject of Poseidon, and he lives in the sea. He of Poseidon, and he lives in the sea. He can tell the can tell the futurefuture, but you have to catch , but you have to catch him in order to find out what your future him in order to find out what your future holds. He had the power to holds. He had the power to change change shapeshape in order to in order to escapeescape those trying to those trying to catch him.catch him.

HARPYHARPY

• Present Day Meaning: (noun) A Present Day Meaning: (noun) A shrewish, shrewish, quarrelsomequarrelsome woman woman

• Mythological Origin: This term was Mythological Origin: This term was used to signify a used to signify a monstermonster that was that was half half womanwoman and half and half birdbird of prey. of prey. Harpies hounded their victims.Harpies hounded their victims.

NIKENIKE

• Present Day Meaning: (noun) Present Day Meaning: (noun) VictoriousVictorious

• Mythological Origin: She can run and Mythological Origin: She can run and fly at great fly at great speedspeed.. She was the She was the goddess of victory.goddess of victory.

CHIMERACHIMERA

• Present Day Meaning: (noun) An illusory Present Day Meaning: (noun) An illusory fancy, a wild, fancy, a wild, absurd schemeabsurd scheme, a castle in , a castle in the air.the air.

• Mythological Origin: Homer described the Mythological Origin: Homer described the chimera as a chimera as a monstermonster with a goat’s body, with a goat’s body, a lion’s head, and a dragon’s tail. It was a lion’s head, and a dragon’s tail. It was born in Lycia, and then was slain by born in Lycia, and then was slain by Bellerophon. Bellerophon.

ZEPHYRZEPHYR

• Present Day Meaning: (noun) A Present Day Meaning: (noun) A mild mild windwind or a or a gentle breezegentle breeze..

• Mythological Origin: He was the Mythological Origin: He was the westwest windwind, the , the son of Aeolus and Aurorason of Aeolus and Aurora, , and the lover of Flora. and the lover of Flora.

NECTARNECTAR

• Present Day Meaning: (noun) A Present Day Meaning: (noun) A delicious, delicious, enjoyable drinkenjoyable drink from a from a plantplant

• Mythological Origin: It was the drink Mythological Origin: It was the drink of the gods that sustained their of the gods that sustained their beautybeauty and and immortalityimmortality..

PANICPANIC

• Present Day Meaning: (noun) A Present Day Meaning: (noun) A sudden feeling of sudden feeling of fearfear and and anxietyanxiety

• Mythological Origin: Mythological Origin: PanPan, the , the woodland god, and the son of woodland god, and the son of Hermes.Hermes.

FLORALFLORAL

• Present Day Meaning: (adj.) Present Day Meaning: (adj.) FlowersFlowers

• Mythological Origin: Mythological Origin: FloraFlora was the was the Roman goddess of FlowersRoman goddess of Flowers