Circe — Vocabulary
Madeline Miller
(Edited)

Book sample Uses ACT/SAT
128 top 2000
mortalhuman
There is no must to the life of a mortal, except death.p.280.2127 more
Show context notes This is the response of Trygon, the ancient stingray and lord of the deep, when Circe told him that she needed the power of his tail because her son "must live."
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
Don't expect perfection of a mere mortal.more
Show general definition for mortal (as in: mortal body) human (especially merely human); or subject to death
36 top 1000
divinecoming from a god
A demigod, his kind were called, mortal themselves but blessed by their divine parentage.p.33.335 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
Her pies are divine.more
wonderful
Show general definition for divine (as in: to forgive is divine) wonderful; or god-like or coming from God
24 top 2000
exilepunishment of being sent away to live
Then you know my exile is ended and I sail tomorrow.p.364.223 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
She fled Tibet and is living in exile in India.more
eviction from one's home country
Show general definition to force someone to live outside of their homeland; or living in such a condition

or more rarely:  voluntary absence from a place someone would rather be
18 top 2000
prophecysupernatural prediction of the future
It was their favorite bitter joke: those who fight against prophecy only draw it more tightly around their throats.p.291.617 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
The prophecy came true.more
prediction of the future
Show general definition a prediction of the future (usually said to be obtained in a supernatural way)
18 top 2000
vengeancerevenge
Vengeance, I thought. It must be. What other purpose would bring them?p.296.617 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
Most Americans wanted vengeance after the 9-11 attacks.more
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 top 2000
venompoison
I speak of the spear you sent, whose venom killed my husband.p.325.18 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
The rattlesnake's venom is deadly.more
Show general definition for venom (as in: snake venom) poison created by some insects and animals such as snakes
2
venom#2intense feelings of anger
My father had begun to prefer his draughts to her, and her venom over it fell to me.p.41.28 more
Show context notes Draught is the British spelling for draft--a glass of beer. They are both pronounced draft.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
It was a terrible fight. Both were spewing venom and said things they wish they had not said.more
intense feelings of hatred or anger
Show general definition for venom (as in: jealousy-fueled venom) intense feelings of hatred or anger
15 top 2000
immortalimmortal → immortality:existing forever
The fame she had described was what all mortals yearn for. It is their only hope of immortality.p.352.714 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
Zeus and the other gods were supposed to be immortal.more
to live forever
Show general definition living or existing forever

or:

someone famous throughout history

or:

someone who will never die -- such as a mythological god
13 top 1000
wrathangry punishment
When I told him my father's name, it sent him glancing at the sun and trembling worse than ever, but at day's end no wrath had descended and he knelt to me and said that I must have blessed his nets, for they were the fullest they had ever been.p.38.312 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
She could hardly contain her wrath when she learned he had betrayed her.more
extreme anger
Show general definition extreme anger or angry punishment
12 top 1000
relentlesscontinual
Those frail bodies of theirs took relentless attention, food and drink, sleep and rest, the cleaning of limbs and fluxes.p.214.711 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
My headache is relentless.more
continues in an extreme manner without stopping
Show general definition to continue without stopping in an extreme manner -- often of something that is harsh or oppressive
7 top 100
yieldgive in
So little of the world did not yield to his sounding. In the end, I think the fact that I did not was his favorite thing about me.p.197.16 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
The country vowed not to yield to pressure from its larger neighbors.more
Show general definition for yield (as in: yield to pressure) to give in, give way, or give up
7 top 200
malicedesire to see others suffer
I do not forget either my father and his kind hanging over us, bright and sharp as swords, aimed at our tearing flesh. If they do not fall on us in spite and malice, then they will fall by accident or whim.p.384.76 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
I am not interested in hearing malicious gossip.more
malice → malicious:evil; or made with the intent to make others suffer
Show general definition the intention or desire to see others suffer
1 top 200
traceslight indication
I did not think I imagined the trace of satisfaction in her voice.p.314.28 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
There was not a trace of the defendant's DNA at the crime scene.more
a tiny quantity or indication
Show general definition for trace (as in: found a trace of) a small quantity; or any indication or evidence of
The exact meaning of this sense of trace depends upon its context. For example:
  • a small indication that something was present -- as in "The plane disappeared somewhere over the Pacific Ocean without leaving a trace."
  • a very small amount of something -- as in "The blood test showed a trace of steroids."
  • any evidence of something -- as in "We did not find a trace of the gene."
1 top 100
trace#2follow (by research)
Later, of course, there would be a thousand who claimed they were there, or who invented genealogies to trace their blood back.p.161.98 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
Early cat domestication is traced back to China over 5,000 years ago.more
trace → traced:found through investigation
Show general definition for trace (as in: trace the origin or development) to find, search, research, or keep track of
This sense of trace usually has to do with information. It's specific meaning depends on its context. For example:
to find or search for something through investigation -- often the origin of something:
  • "The police traced the call." -- found out where it originated
  • "We are tracing the lost luggage" -- searching for
  • "Can you trace the problem to its source?" -- find through investigation
  • "She traced her family history to discover that her great-grandmother came to the United States from Lithuania when the Nazis occupied it." -- discovered something through investigation
to research or report on the development of something
  • "She traced the history of the automobile in her paper." -- researched the development of something
  • "Her presentation traced recent progress in alternative energy solutions." -- reported on
to monitor or keep track of the progress or development of something
  • "She traces the progress of at-risk students." -- monitors information
  • "I used binoculars to trace her progress up the mountain." -- monitor, follow, or track
1 top 1000
trace#3trace → tracing:drawing
While he ate the last of the pears, I marked out his route with stones, tracing the stops and dangers.p.275.48 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
She didn't have a camera or a copier, so she used a pencil to trace an outline of the picture on thin paper.more
draw (by following the image)
Show general definition for trace (as in: trace a picture or outline) copy the lines of an image; or draw an outline; or carefully draw a specific pattern
This sense of trace has to do with drawing, but it's specific meaning depends on its context. For example:
copying the outline of an image
  • "She used tracing paper to make a copy." -- paper you can see through, so that when it is placed on a picture, you can use a pencil to follow the lines of the image being copied
  • "She projected the image onto the wall, hung a sheet of paper there, and traced the projected image onto the paper." -- followed the lines with her pencil
draw an outline or a specific pattern
  • "She used her toe to trace half the fish symbol in the sand." -- draw a simple outline
  • "The child used a stick to trace circles and swirls in the mud." -- draw
  • "She used her finger to trace his name in the sand." -- draw
6 top 1000
trace#4trace → traced:followed
I was remembering the sea-routes Hermes had drawn for me so long ago. I traced them in my mind.p.236.48 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
They followed a path that traces along the edges of a dark forest.more
trace → traces:follows or runs
Show general definition for trace (as in: traced a path) to follow
The exact meaning of this sense of trace depends upon its context. For example:
  • "The hunters traced the deer into the woods." -- followed or tracked
  • "With soft kisses, she gently traced the scar running down his cheek." -- followed
  • "The path traces along the edge of the forest." -- follows
  • "A single tear traced its way down her cheek." -- followed a specific path
94
ZeusGreek mythology:  the most supreme of the gods
Long ago, when mankind was still shivering and shrinking in their caves, he had defied the will of Zeus and brought them the gift of fire.p.14.293 more
Show context notes This is about Prometheus
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
The ancient Olympic Games were held at Olympia in honor of Zeus.more
2 top 200
ambivalentambivalent → ambivalence:mixed feelings
One moment I would be laughing, and the next his jests turned sour in my throat. ... My ambivalence, of course, only encouraged him. Any challenge was a game, and any game a pleasure.p.157.71 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
Polling indicates the public is ambivalent on the subject. Their opinions change depending upon the latest headlines.more
with mixed feelings
Show general definition having mixed feelings about something -- such as when part of you wants to do something and part of you does not
29
TitansGreek mythology:  the giant-sized gods who ruled the Earth until overthrown by Zeus
The truce between the gods held only because Titans and Olympians each kept to their sphere.p.80.128 more
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
In Greek mythology, the Olympians defeated the Titans in a ten-year war.more
Show general definition for Titans (as in: the mythological Titan, Atlas) Greek mythology: the giant-sized gods who ruled the Earth until overthrown by Zeus
Show editor's word notes Atlas (often seen holding the earth) is perhaps the best known Titan. The Titans were offspring of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaea (Earth).
1 top 10
implyimply → implied:said indirectly
He will have implied that his father was lost in the war. That he came home changed, too soaked in death and grief to live as an ordinary man.p.326.3
Show exemplary sample (not from book)
She wouldn't make a direct statement, but she implied that she supported our position.more
imply → implied:hinted or suggested
Show general definition to suggest or say indirectly -- possibly as a logical consequence