The Odyssey — Vocabulary
Homer
recommended version -- translated by Fagles
(Auto-generated)

Exemplary sample Uses ACT/SAT
9 top 500
devourdevourdevoured:ate rapidly and completely
She devoured everything on her plate in less than two minutes and asked for more.more
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She found Odysseus in the thick of slaughtered corpses,
splattered with bloody filth like a lion that's devoured
some ox of the field and lopes home, covered with blood,p.451.918 more
Show general definition for devour (as in: devoured three sandwiches) eat rapidly and completely -- usually due to being very hungry
10 top 500
devour#2devourdevoured:completely consumed or destroyed
The entire block was devoured in the fire.more
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So, we will devour your worldly goods and wealth
as long as she holds out, holds to that course
the gods have charted deep inside her heart.
Great renown she wins for herself, no doubt,
great loss for you in treasure.p.97.318 more
consuming (using up) completely
Show general definition for devour (as in: devoured by flames) to completely consume, destroy, or engulf (surround or cover)
33 top 1000
cunningclever and deceitful
She came up with a cunning scheme to cheat him.more
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  Orestes took revenge,
  he killed that cunning, murderous Aegisthus,
  who'd killed his famous father.†p.113.832 more
good at achieving goals through cleverness and deception
Show general definition for cunning (as in: a cunning thief) being good at achieving goals through cleverness -- and typically through deception as well (tricking others)
41 top 2000
immortalto live forever
Zeus and the other gods were supposed to be immortal.more
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  Proteus of Egypt does,
  the immortal Old Man of the Sea who never lies,
  who sounds the deep in all its depths, Poseidon's servant.†p.136.740 more
living or existing forever; OR someone famous throughout history…
Show general definition living or existing forever

or:

someone famous throughout history

or:

someone who will never die -- such as a mythological god
20 top 500
mentorsomeone who guides and advises another who is less experienced
Each new employee is matched with a mentor.more
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  I saw good Mentor
  yesterday, just at sunup, here.†p.145.419 more
someone who guides and advises another who is less experienced…
Show general definition someone who guides and advises another who is less experienced; or the act of providing such guidance
25 top 2000
poisecomposure (calm confidence -- even when under pressure)
She has great charm and great poise.more
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  Poised or on the prowl, learning of these rank crimes
  he's sowing seeds of ruin for all your suitors.†p.359.524 more
poisepoised:calm, confident, and in control
Show general definition calm, confident, and in control—especially in movement, behavior, or when ready to act
25 top 2000
rouserouseroused:awakened
A persistent knocking at the door finally roused her from her dreams.more
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  If any other woman of mine had come to me,
  rousing me out of sleep with such a tale,
  I'd have her bundled back to her room in pain.†p.456.324 more
rouserousing:to awaken, make more active, or excite
Show general definition to awaken, make more active, or excite
22 top 2000
brazenbold and improper
She made a brazen attempt to take credit for her colleague’s work during the meeting.more
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Eurymachus—the rest of you fine, brazen suitors—I have done with appeals to you about these matters.p.100.121 more
Show general definition bold and unrestrained by what others consider proper
2 top 200
subtlesubtlesubtly:working in a way that is hard to see
She is working subtly against us.more
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and round the posts he poured the chains in a sweeping net
with streams of others flowing down from the roofbeam,
gossamer-fine as spider webs no man could see,
not even a blissful god—
the Smith had forged a masterwork of guile.
Once he'd spun that cunning trap around his bed
...
and uncontrollable laughter burst from the happy gods
when they saw the god of fire's subtle, cunning work.p.201.97 more
working in an indirect or hidden way
Show general definition for subtle (as in: a subtle poison) working in an indirect or hidden way
6 top 200
subtle#2making use of slight distinctions
She used subtle reasoning to expose the absurdity of his argument.more
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I'm hardly adept at subtle conversation.
Someone my age might feel shy, what's more,
...p.108.37 more
capable of understanding things that require sensitivity and relevant knowledge (perhaps understanding fine distinctions)
Show general definition for subtle (as in: a subtle difference or thinker) not obvious, but noticeable with enough insight and knowledge

or:

able to notice or understand things that require insight and sensitivity
21 top 2000
probeinvestigation
There was a congressional probe into the scandal.more
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Why probe my mind?†p.140.120 more
to investigate; or an investigation; or an instrument used for investigation
Show general definition to investigate closely; or a tool or device used to explore, examine, or gather information
36
bardsomeone who composes poems about important events and people
Shakespeare is sometimes called the Bard of Avon.more
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  Once he'd supped and the stirring bard had closed,
  the suitors broke into uproar down along the hall.†p.365.935 more
someone who composes and recites or sings poems about important events and peopl…
Show general definition for bard (as in: written by the bard) someone who composes and recites or sings poems about important events and people; or (as a proper noun) Shakespeare
Show editor's word notes Shakespeare is sometimes called the Bard of Avon or just the Bard.
1
yokeoppressive burden
They threw off the yoke of slavery.more
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Fifty women you have inside your house, women we've trained to do their duties well, to card the wool and bear the yoke of service.p.452.615 more
burden
Show general definition for yoke (as in: the yoke of bondage) an oppressive burden or something that limits freedom
15
yoke#2a wooden frame to join beasts of burden so they pull together
The farmer used a yoke to harness his oxen together to plow the field.more
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Zeus, the Old Thunderer, robs a man of half his virtue the day the yoke clamps down around his neck.p.364.815 more
(metaphorically) heavy wooden framework used to control beasts of burden
Show general definition for yoke (as in: oxen yoke) a wooden frame used to join beasts of burden so they pull together, or a connected pair, or the connecting of a pair
2 top 2000
vengeancerevenge
Most Americans wanted vengeance after the 9-11 attacks.more
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  Vengeance done, he held a feast for the Argives,
  to bury his hated mother, craven Aegisthus too,
  the very day Menelaus arrived, lord of the warcry,
  freighted with all the wealth his ships could carry.†p.117.48 more
the act of taking revenge
Show general definition for vengeance (as in: vengeance is mine) the act of taking revenge

(Revenge means to harm someone to get them back for something harmful that they have done.)
7
with a vengeancewith intensity
I thought I was getting over my cold and went to work, but it came back with a vengeance.more
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  So I vaunted and he groaned back in answer,
  'Oh no, no—that prophecy years ago ...
  it all comes home to me with a vengeance now!†p.227.58 more
Show general definition for with a vengeance (as in: with a vengeance) with intensity
6 top 2000
frayedshowing wear with threads beginning to separate or hang loose
The cuffs were frayed from so many washings.more
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my suitors, now that King Odysseus is no more,
go slowly, keen as you are to marry me, until
I can finish off this web ….
so my weaving won't all fray and come to nothing.
This is a shroud for old lord Laertes, for that day
when the deadly fate that lays us out at last will take him down.p.96.56 more
frayedfray:wear away so threads begin to separate or hang loose
1
frayed#2emotionally strained
The constant pressure has frayed her nerves.more
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Your patience would fray, you'd soon head for home ….p.111.26 more
frayedfray:to strain emotionally, or to become emotionally strained
Show general definition for frayed (as in: frayed nerves) emotionally strained (worn thin)
3 top 1000
divinewonderful
Her pies are divine.more
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...Athena,
luminous goddess, lavished immortal gifts on her
to make her suitors lose themselves in wonder . . .
The divine unguent first. She cleansed her cheeks,
her brow and fine eyes with ambrosia smooth as the oils
the goddess Love applies, ...p.382.23 more
wonderful; or god-like or coming from a god
Show general definition for divine (as in: to forgive is divine) wonderful; or god-like or coming from God
1 top 2000
divine#2predict supernaturally
She claims she can divine the future with a crystal ball.more
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[Proteus (the Old Man of the Sea) prophesying to Menelaus]
But about your own destiny, Menelaus,
dear to Zeus, it's not for you to die
...
So he divined and down the breaking surf he dovep.142.73 more
divinedivined:to predict the future supernaturally (as if by magic)
Show general definition for divine (as in: divined from tea leaves) to discover or predict something supernaturally (as if by magic)