It's All Greek to Me
I learned recently that there are more than a few Greek mythological figures whose names are, verbatim, English words. It thought this would be a good excuse for an internet quiz, so here you go.
The quoted definitions are all from Merriam Webster, but I exercised some editorial control to pick recognizable versions and keep them short (and to skip any mythological definitions, obviously).
JavaScript Required
This page is interactive, and only works with JavaScript enabled!
Right!
Wrong!
nemesis
/ˈnɛməsɪs/a: one that inflicts retribution or vengeance
b: a formidable and usually victorious rival or opponent
Nemesis is the goddess of retributive justice.
psyche
/ˈsaɪkiː/a: soul, personality
b: the totality of elements forming the mind
Psyche is the goddess of the soul.
aura
/ǎu̯raː/a: a distinctive atmosphere surrounding a given source
b: a subtle sensory stimulus (such as an aroma)
Aura is the goddess of the breeze.
pan
/pæn/a: a usually broad, shallow, and open container for domestic use (as for cooking)
b: any of various similar usually metal receptacles
Pan is the god of the wild, shepherds/flocks and that kind of stuff.
iris
/ˈaɪrɪs/the opaque contractile diaphragm perforated by the pupil and forming the colored portion of the eye
Iris is the goddess of the rainbow.
atlas
/ˈætləs/a: a bound collection of maps often including illustrations, informative tables, or textual matter
b: a bound collection of tables, charts, or plates
Atlas is the Titan condemned to hold up the sky for all eternity.
chaos
/ˈkeɪ.ɑs/a: a state of utter confusion
b: a confused mass or mixture
Chaos is the “void state” that existed before the universe existed.
paean
/ˈpiːən/a joyous song or hymn of praise, tribute, thanksgiving, or triumph
Paean is the physician of the gods.
panacea
/ˌpæn.əˈsiː.ə/a remedy for all ills or difficulties
Panacea is the goddess of universal health (that’s a pretty direct borrowing).
echo
/ˈɛkoʊ/a: the repetition of a sound caused by reflection of sound waves
b: the sound due to such reflection
Echo was a nymph cursed to only be able to repeat the last words said to her.
python
/ˈpaɪθɑn/any of various large constricting snakes
Python is the serpent that lives at the center of Earth.
hyacinth
/ˈhaɪəsɪnθ/a: a precious stone of the ancients sometimes held to be the sapphire
b: a gem zircon or hessonite
Hyacinth was Apollo’s lover.
aether/ether
/ˈiːθər/a: the rarefied element formerly believed to fill the upper regions of space
b: the upper regions of space
Aether is the personification of the upper sky (very specific!).
siren
/ˈsaɪɹən/a: an apparatus producing musical tones especially in acoustical studies by the rapid interruption of a current of air, steam, or fluid by a perforated rotating disk
b: a device often electrically operated for producing a penetrating warning sound
Sirens are women-like beings that alluringly sing men to their doom.
drama
/ˈdɹɑmə/a: a composition in verse or prose intended to portray life or character or to tell a story usually involving conflicts and emotions through action and dialogue and typically designed for theatrical performance
b: a movie or television production with characteristics (such as conflict) of a serious play
δρᾶμα (drâma): “deed” or “act”
idea
/aɪˈdi.ə/a formulated thought or opinion
ἰδέα (idéa): “form” or “pattern”
crisis
/ˈkɹaɪsɪs/a: an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending
b: a situation that has reached a critical phase
κρίσις (krísis): “discrimination”, “decision” or… “crisis”
rhythm
/ˈɹɪð.əm/a: an ordered recurrent alternation of strong and weak elements in the flow of sound and silence in speech
b: a particular example or form of rhythm
ῥυθμός (rhuthmós): “regular recurring motion” or “symmetry”
encyclopedia
/ɪnˌsaɪ.kləˈpi(ː).dɪə/a work that contains information on all branches of knowledge or treats comprehensively a particular branch of knowledge usually in articles arranged alphabetically often by subject
ἐγκύκλιος παιδεία (enkúklios paideíā): “general education”, but univerbated
hyperbole
/haɪˈpɝbəli/extravagant exaggeration
ὑπερβολή (huperbolḗ): meaning “above” + “throw”
aesthete
/ɛs.θiːt/one having or affecting sensitivity to the beautiful especially in art
αἰσθητής (aisthētḗs): “one who perceives”
cosmos
/ˈkɑzˌmoʊs/a: universe
b: an orderly harmonious systematic universe
κόσμος (kósmos): “cosmos” (yup!)
phantom
/ˈfæntəm/a: something apparent to sense but with no substantial existence
b: something elusive or visionary
c: an object of continual dread or abhorrence
φάντασμα (phántasma): “appearance”, “image” or “apparition”
euphoria
/juˈfo.ɹi.ə/a feeling of well-being or elation
εὐφορία (euphorĭ́ā): meaning “well” + “bearing”
cacophony
/kəˈkɑfəni/harsh or jarring sound
κακοφωνία (kakophōnía): meaning “bad” + “sound”
apathy
/ˈæ.pə.θi/lack of feeling or emotion
ἀπάθεια (apắtheia): meaning “not” + “emotion” (or “passion”)
melancholy
/ˈmɛl.ənˌkɑ.li/a: depression of spirits
b: a pensive mood
μελαγχολία (melankholía): meaning “black” + “bile”, whereupon I discovered the Latin-based equivalent atrabiliousness
hysteria
/hɪˈstɛɹiə/behavior exhibiting overwhelming or unmanageable fear or emotional excess
ὑστερικός (husterikós): “suffering in the uterus”… yikes
meteor
/ˈmiːtiɚ/a: any of the small particles of matter in the solar system that are directly observable only by their incandescence from frictional heating on entry into the atmosphere
b: the streak of light produced by the passage of a meteor
μετέωρον (metéōron): meaning “among” + “to lift” (or “raise up”)
apocalypse
/əˈpɑkəlɪps/a: something viewed as a prophetic revelation
b: Armageddon
ἀποκάλυψις (apokálupsis): “revelation” or “uncovering”, which reminds me, check out this bizarre op-ed where Peter Thiel demonstrates how much of a elitist douchebag he is with phrases like “…augurs the apokálypsis of the ancien regime’s secrets”
All done!
You can refresh the page to try with a different random selection.
Score: