The Epic of Gilgamesh — Vocabulary
Author Unknown
translated by: K. Sandars
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Exemplary sample Uses ACT/SAT
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endureendureendured:suffered through
I endured insult and injury without complaint.more
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my friend who was very dear to me and endured dangers beside me,8 more
endureendured:suffered through something difficult
Show general definition for endure (as in: endured the pain) to suffer through (or put up with something difficult or unpleasant)
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endure#2continue to exist
She is gone, but her teachings endure through the ages.more
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Enkidu cried to Gilgamesh, "My friend, we boasted that we would leave enduring names behind us."8 more
endureenduring:continuing to exist
Show general definition for endure (as in: endure through the ages) to continue to exist
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lamentlamentlamented:expressed grief about
She lamented the loss.more
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Gilgamesh lamented; seven days and seven nights he wept for Enkidu,10 more
lamentlamented:expressed grief and sorrow passionately
Show general definition to express grief or regret
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despaira feeling of hopelessness
Don't give in to despair.more
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Despair is in my heart.9 more
hopelessness
Show general definition for despair (as in: she felt despair) hopelessness; or distress (such as extreme worry or sadness from feeling powerless to change a bad situation)
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serpentsnake
There was a picture of a serpent eating its tail.more
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Gilgamesh saw a well of cool water and he went down and bathed; but deep in the pool there was lying a serpent, and the serpent sensed the sweetness of the flower.†5 more
Show general definition a snake
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tempestviolent storm
The ship struggled to navigate through the raging tempest.more
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The great winds he appointed: the north wind, the whirlwind, the storm and the icy wind, the tempest and the scorching wind.†4 more
a violent commotion or disturbance
Show general definition a violent commotion or disturbance -- especially a violent storm or emotional outburst
Show editor's word notes The expression tempest in a teapot describes people as being upset over an unimportant matter.
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rouserouseroused:awakened
A persistent knocking at the door finally roused her from her dreams.more
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Let your courage be roused by the battle to come; forget death and follow me, a man resolute in action, but one who is not foolhardy.†4 more
rouseroused:to awaken, make more active, or excite
Show general definition to awaken, make more active, or excite
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torrentan overwhelming amount
She screamed a torrent of abuse.more
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When he roars it is like the torrent of the storm, his breath is like fire, and his jaws are death itself.†3 more
an overwhelming amount -- especially of quickly moving water
Show general definition an overwhelming amount -- especially of quickly moving water
2 top 200
eminentrespected and well-known
She studied under an eminent scientist who had won multiple international awards.more
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Gilgamesh is the most glorious of heroes, Gilgamesh is most eminent among men.1 more
respected and famous or important
Show general definition famous, respected, or important within a particular field or profession
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scornscornscorned:rejected
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.more
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He slapped his thigh in scorn.†1 more
disrespect or reject as not good enough
Show general definition disrespect or reject as not good enough
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perishbe destroyed or cease to exist
...government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.Abraham Lincoln  —  Gettysburg Addressmore
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Here in the city man dies oppressed at heart:, man perishes with despair in his heart.†1 more
perishperishes:dies or is destroyed
Show general definition to die -- especially in an unnatural way

or:

to be destroyed or cease to exist
Show editor's word notes You may encounter an informal expression, "Perish the thought."  It means that the speaker hopes the thought will cease to exist and the thing it represents will never happen.
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divinewonderful
Her pies are divine.more
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Gilgamesh shouted, "By the life of Ninsun my mother and divine Lugulbanda my father, ..."2 more
or god-like
Show general definition for divine (as in: to forgive is divine) wonderful; or god-like or coming from God
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abominableexceptionally bad
She described the abominable treatment of prisoners.more
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He dragged off his splendid robes and flung them down as though they were abominations.†2 more
abominableabominations:things that are exceptionally bad or detestable
Show general definition exceptionally bad or intensely disliked
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ominousthreatening
I'm beginning to hear ominous rumblings of discontent.more
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And Gilgamesh lamented, 'Now I will pray to the great gods, for my friend had an ominous dream.'1 more
suggestive of bad things to come
Show general definition threatening (suggestive of, or foreshadowing bad things to come)
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transgresstransgresstransgressed:violated
Her actions transgressed the boundaries of acceptable behavior.more
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Lay upon the sinner his sin, Lay upon the transgressor his transgression, Punish him a little when he breaks loose, Do not drive him too hard or he perishes; Would that a lion had ravaged mankind Rather than the flood, Would that a wolf had ravaged mankind Rather than the flood, Would that famine had wasted the world Rather than the flood, Would that pestilence had wasted mankind Rather than the flood.†1 more
transgresstransgression:an act that violates a rule, promise, or social norm
Show general definition to violate a rule, promise, or social norm
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abhorabhorabhors:hates
She abhors violence.more
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From the day I go until I return, till I reach the cedar forest and destroy the evil which Shamash abhors, pray for me to Shamash.1 more
abhorabhors:hates or detests
Show general definition to hate or detest something
Show editor's word notes Synonym Comparison (if you're into word choice):

As compared to "hate", "despise", or "loathe", "abhor" is often chosen to indicate moral revulsion.
2
beseechbeseechbeseeches:begs
She beseeches her students to think about their future.more
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Grant, I beseech, your protection, and let the omen be good.†1 more
to ask strongly or beg for something
Show general definition to ask strongly or beg for something
Show editor's word notes Beseech is common in classic literature. Though its usage has doubled in recent decades, it remains a rare word in modern writing.

Synonym Comparison (if you're into word choice):

Beseech is similar to beg or entreat. Beg implies the request for a personal favor, while entreat implies an attempt to overcome resistance.
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meteormeteormeteors:a streak of light in the night sky that results from a space rock burning in the earth's atmosphere
Most meteors come from rocks that are about the size of a pebble.more
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I was full of joy, the young heroes were round me and I walked through the night under the stars of the firmament, and one, a meteor of the stuff of Anu, fell down from heaven.†1 more
a streak of light in the sky caused by a small space rock burning up in Earth’s atmosphere
Show general definition a streak of light in the sky caused by a small space rock (a meteoroid) burning up in Earth’s atmosphere
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exultexultexultation:extreme happiness or elation
I was filled with a both exultation and fear.more
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He became merry, his heart exulted and his face shone.†
exultexulted:felt or expressed extreme happiness or elation
Show general definition feel or express extreme happiness or elation
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incantationincantationincantations:combinations of words believed to have a magical effect when they are said aloud
She believes in the power of magical incantations.more
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In the house of dust which I entered were high priests and acolytes, priests of the incantation and of ecstasy, there were servers of the temple, and there was Etana, that king of Kish whom the eagle carried to heaven in the days of old.†
words believed to have a magical effect when said aloud
Show general definition words believed to have a magical effect when they are said aloud; or the saying of such words