# الناس والأماكن يجب معرفتها
People and Place Words You Should Know
PART V
If you’ve ever been—or longed to be—a Casanova . . if someone has accused you of being quixotic. . . if you’ve ever been embroiled in a catch-22 . . . then these are the words you should know. Each is derived from the name of a real—or fictional— person or from a real—or fictional—place.
Achilles’ heel (uh-KILL-eez HEEL), noun A vulnerable point. Achilles was a hero of the Trojan War who was vulnerable to harm only in his heel. Bob was a hard worker, but he often lost jobs because of his ACHILLES’ HEEL, his temper.
anglophile (AYNG-luh-file), noun
One who is not British but who loves British culture and customs.
I know Jess is an ANGLOPHILE, but I will have to slaughter her with a bread knife if she makes me sit through one more silly British comedy!
arcadia (are-KAY-dee-uh), noun (sometimes capitalized) This region of ancient Greece has come down through the centuries to refer to any region of rustic pleasure and quiet. As the noise of the city retreated, Ben felt he had entered an ARCADIA of natural wonders.
auteur (OH-ter), noun
This French word meaning “author” was adopted in the 1960s by film critics who used it to put forth their theory that directors are the authors of their films. As such, many directors put a recognizable stamp on their movies. Generally speaking, an auteur is any artist with a distinctive style.
“Miles is so caught up with being an AUTEUR that he’s ruining the production!” Marla complained.
babbitt (BAB-it), noun A person who clings to narrow-minded, materialistic ideals of the middle class.
Sinclair Lewis’ novel Babbitt has as its main character a man whose conventional ideals of success and business lead to self- satisfaction and indifference to higher human values.
Jerome may not be the most open-minded businessman, but he’s no BABBITT.
babel (BAB-uhl), noun
When capitalized, this Hebrew word names the city in which the building of a tower is believed to have been halted due to a sudden inability to communicate.
According to the Old Testament, workers suddenly found themselves speaking different languages. In lower-case, babel is a scene of noise and confusion.
I can’t study in the student lounge anymore. The BABEL just won’t allow me to concentrate.
bowdlerize (BOWD-lur-ize), verb
To cleanse or modify a work of literature (or art) by removing parts considered offensive or otherwise altering content and style.
Producers of Gone with the Wind refused to BOWDLERIZE Margaret Mitchell’s famous line, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”
Byzantine (BIZ-un-teen), noun Of or referring to the ornate, detailed architectural style developed in Byzantium during the fifth century a.d.; also, devious; also, exceptionally complex or minutely laid out.
The company’s BYZANTINE organizational scheme sometimes left newcomers feeling that they reported to everyone in general and no one in particular.
calvary (CAL-vuh-ree), noun A scene of intense anguish (named for the hill on which Jesus Christ was crucified, Calvary). Calvary is frequently confused with
cavalry but their meanings are entirely different.
Herbert faced his own private CALVARY after his wife told him she wanted a divorce.
Casanova (kaz-uh-NO-vuh), noun
Giacomo Casanova was an eighteenth-century Italian adventurer who wrote at great length about his sexual exploits. His name has come to be synonymous with a man noted for his amorous—and probably unscrupulous—activities.
Phil likes to think of himself as a CASANOVA, but most women just think he’s pathetic.
catch-22 (KATCH-twen-tee-too), noun
An impossible situation in which one is presented with logically contradictory options. A demand that one call the phone repair service from the very telephone that is out of order, for instance, could be regarded as a catch-22. (The phrase is drawn from Joseph Heller’s novel of the same name.)
Mr. Brown’s lighthearted memo issued a playful CATCH-22: he was only to be scheduled for meetings taking place during those days he planned to be out of town.
cynical (SIN-uh-kuhl), adjective The cynics were a group of ancient Greek philosophers who rejected all conventions and conventional behavior. In modern times, a cynical person is one who thinks the worst of human nature, often in a smug and self-superior way.
You don’t have to be so CYNICAL just because your favorite casino stopped offering bottled beer for a dollar!
daedal (DEE-duhl), adjective
Daedalus was a genius of ancient Greece who invented the dreaded, nearly-escape-proof Cretan labyrinth. As a result, daedal means either something extremely intricate (like Daedalus’s labyrinth) or something/someone very skillful and artistic (like Daedalus himself).
I thought I could repair my computer until I got a look at the machine’s DAEDAL circuitry.
decalogue (DEK-uh-log), noun
The Ten Commandments. Decalogue refers to the commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai as recounted in the Bible.
Mr. Collins, we are dealing here with a series of administrative guidelines we may administer as we see fit—not with a DECALOGUE.
delphic (DELL-fick), adjective Delphi is the site of an ancient Greek oracle, or shrine to a prophetic god. Oracles’s prophecies often were obscure and had to be
interpreted by experts. As a result, Delphic describes something that is obscurely prophetic.
For years, other economists, reporters, and just plain folks scrambled to interpret Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan’s DELPHIC comments about the strength or weakness of the economy.
Dionysian (die-uh-NIH-shun), adjective
Relating to Dionysius, a Greek god of revelry; reminiscent of or pertaining to frenzied, uninhibited, or hedonistic behavior.
The fraternity’s DIONYSIAN exploits were fun for a while, but when they resulted in his failing two classes, Emmett decided to go back to the quiet life.
epicure (EP-ih-kyoor), noun A connoisseur; one who cultivates refined tastes, especially in reference to food and drink. Epicure is derived from the name of the
Roman philosopher Epicurus, who lived between 341 and 279 b.c.
Matt, who never seemed at all interested in gourmet dining, has suddenly become something of an EPICURE.
Faustian (FOUS-tee-un), adjective
Faust is the anti-hero of a German legend who sold his soul to the devil in order to gain great knowledge. Thus, Faustian describes the sacrificing of moral or spiritual values in order to gain knowledge, fame, money, etc.
When she stopped being a public defender and became a corporate lawyer, Tia couldn’t help thinking she’d made a FAUSTIAN bargain.
gargantuan (gar-GAN-choo-un), adjective Enormous. Gargantuan derives from the name of a fictional king (Gargantua) famous for his massive appetite. The GARGANTUAN scale of the budget deficit caught both Congress and the financial markets by surprise.
gentry (JEN-tree), noun
Those claiming high birth. In England, gentry refers to the class immediately below the nobility.
The fact that the GENTRY would benefit most from victory was taken by many of the soldiers to mean that they were fighting a rich man’s war.
Herculean (hur-kyuh-LEE-un), adjective Strong and powerful; reminiscent of the god Hercules in vitality. In addition, Herculean can mean daunting or formidable—so
difficult as to require the strength of Hercules.
Robert made a HERCULEAN effort to complete the project before midnight.
hotspur (HOT-spur), noun A quick-tempered, impulsive person. Hotspur is the name of a fiery character in Shakespeare’s play Henry IV, Part One.
Ed was a real HOTSPUR around the office; be was likely to dominate a meeting with rash decrees and sudden denudations of plans he did not like.
Lilliputian (lill-ih-PYOO-shun), adjective Of extremely small stature. From a land of small people found in Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels. The massive mural on the walls of the museum made me feel positively LILLIPUTIAN.
lothario (lo-THAR-ee-oe), noun A seducer. The word Lothario originated from the name of a character in The Fair Penitent, a play (1703) by Nicholas Rowe. Ryan is friendly, I’ ll admit, but be is certainly no LOTHARIO.
machiavellian (mok-ee-uh-VELL-ee-un), adjective Relating to the qualities espoused by Machiavelli in The Prince; cunning and deceitful in the pursuit of power, particularly with regard to political matters.
Although Lyndon Johnson was certainly a ruthless politician, he was far from the MACHIAVELLIAN figure suggested by some of his biographers.
maharajah (mah-huh-RAH-zhuh), noun Formerly, an Indian ruling prince, especially one of a major state. The MAHARAJAH and his entourage rode into the village on a procession of elephants.
malapropism (MAL-a-prop-ism), noun The ridiculous misuse of similar-sounding words. Bert’s reference to the accounting department’s “physical prudence” was only one of the morning’s many MALAPROPISMS.
mesmerize (MEZ-mur-ize), verb To hypnotize. Mesmerize is derived from the name of a nineteenth-century physician, Franz Mesmer, whose early work in the field
we now call hypnotism won him acclaim in Austria and throughout Europe.
It is said that Huey Long MESMERIZED his audiences more with his style of speaking than with the substance of his speeches.
milquetoast (MILK-toast), adjective
Describes an unassertive person who is easily intimidated. The word was adopted from Caspar Milquetoast, a character in a comic strip, who exemplifies such a timid person.
Unless you just want to be a pencil-pusher all your life, you’ve got to stop being so MILQUETOAST, Arthur!
minotaur (MIN-uh-tore), noun In mythology, a creature that is part human, part bull. Half-human, half-animal creatures such as the MINOTAUR, the centaur, and Medusa were pervasive in ancient Greek mythology.
narcissistic (nar-sis-SIS-tik), adjective Possessed by self-love. Someone whose egotism replaces (or seems to replace) attention to others can be said to be narcissistic. Self- promotion is one thing; the NARCISSISTIC zeal with which Gerald asserts himself is quite another.
neanderthal (knee-AND-er-thall), adjective or noun
Capitalized, Neanderthal denotes an early human species, whose remains were first discovered in Germany’s Neanderthal valley. As an adjective and with a lower-case “n,” neanderthal is used negatively to describe someone with backward, outdated, old-fashioned attitudes and beliefs. The lower-case version also can serve as a noun.
Of course she was scared away by your NEANDERTHAL impulses, Stephen!
Orwellian (or-WELL-ee-un), adjective Resembling the qualities or subject matter of the writing of George Orwell, particularly the totalitarian future world of his book 1984. My father saw the surveillance cameras in suburban supermarkets as the first sign of an ORWELLIAN clampdown on civil liberties.
pander (PAN-der), verb and noun
To appeal to the worst in someone. Literally, a pander is a pimp.
Despite accusations that he was PANDERING to the voters, the candidate insisted on repeatedly raising the issue of his opponent’s extramarital affairs.
Pavlovian (pav-LOW-vee-uhn), adjective
Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov pioneered research in conditioned responses. For example, he would give dogs food immediately after ringing a bell, and before long, the dogs would salivate just by hearing the bell . . . even if no food was given to them. Today, Pavlovian describes any kind of conditioned response.
Roger always has this sort-of PAVLOVIAN response whenever he hears Julie’s voice. He immediately starts to sweat and look flushed. At this rate, he’s never going to ask her out!
philistine (FILL-uh-steen), adjective and noun In the Bible, the Philistines were opponents of the Israelites. They were quintessential bad guys. Today, a philistine is someone who is smug, commonplace, and conventional, and he or she often is antagonistic toward intellectual pursuits.
Laura always found it difficult to be an intellectual while surrounded by her childhood friends, PHILISTINES whose main concern was shopping.
platonic (pluh-TON-ik), adjective Free from sexual desire. Platonic also refers to the ideal form of something. Emily knew that her relationship with Paul had to remain a PLATONIC one.
plebeian (plih-BE-uhn), adjective or noun In ancient Rome, the plebeians were the common people. Today, the word still pertains to common tastes. Sometimes, the word can be used in a negative way, to suggest that someone is being common, as in vulgar.
“I don’t get wine,” Bart said. “I guess my tastes are just too PLEBEIAN.”
pompadour (POMP-uh-dore), noun
A male hairstyle in which the hair is set high in a wave in the front.
Don wore a POMPADOUR, a black leather jacket, and blue jeans to the costume party in imitation of his hero Fonzie from “Happy Days.”
proletarian (pro-luh-TARE-ee-un), adjective In ancient Rome, proletarians were the poorest class of people. Today, proletarian describes members of the working class. The noun form, which you may see, is proletariat.
The politician’s PROLETARIAN appeals earned her many votes during the election.
Promethean (pruh-ME-thee-un), adjective
In ancient Greek myth, Prometheus was the son of a titan, and he created humankind and then taught it how to use fire. Today, Promethean describes someone who is visionary, someone who produces bold new ideas.
Who could have foretold in the 1950s that people tinkering around with computers would be such PROMETHEAN pioneers?
puritanical (pyoor-ih-TAN-ih-kull), adjective
Reminiscent of the Puritans (whose strict lifestyle took an extremely narrow view of what was morally acceptable). To issue or follow overly restrictive, moralistic standards about work or socializing is to be puritanical.
Faith took a rather PURITANICAL outlook on the importance of working a full day; a simple cold was not going to stop her from showing up at work.
pyrrhic (PEER-ik), adjective Gained at an injustifiably high cost. A pyrrhic victory refers to the ancient King Pyrrhus of Epirus, who observed after a particularly
bloody battle that another similar victory would destroy his kingdom.
You must admit that selling a great many products on which we will lose money would be something of a PYRRHIC victory.
quisling (KWIZ-ling), noun One who betrays his or her own country and aids an invading one; particularly, an official who serves in a puppet government. That the Vichy government in France was composed primarily of cowards, profiteers, and QUISLINGS is hardly open to dispute.
quixotic (kwik-SOT-ik), adjective Hopelessly and impractically idealistic. Quixotic is derived from the literary character Don Quixote, whose romantic view of the world is at odds with the harsh realities of existence.
Arthur’s QUIXOTIC search for financial backing for his get-rich-quick schemes only amused Betty.
rabbinical (rub-BIN-ih-kul), adjective Of or pertaining to rabbis. Another acceptable form of rabbinical is rabbinic. I intend to take up RABBINICAL studies in September.
sadistic (suh-DISS-tick), adjective The French count, Donatien A.F. de Sade (1740–1815), wrote novels that depicted cruel sexual practices. Over time, his name became synonymous with cruelty and with describing those who delight in being cruel to others.
Only a SADISTIC creep would give out as much homework as Mr. Thomas.
saturnalia (sat-uhr-NAIL-yuh), noun
Risque merrymaking, possibly including an orgy. The festival for the Roman god, Saturn, was marked by unrestrained merrymaking.
Anyone looking at the party’s aftermath the next day would have thought it was a SATURNALIA, not a fairly quiet reunion of five old friends.
satyr (SAY-ter), noun A lecherous man. In Greek mythology, satyrs were part-man, part-horse (or part-goat) creatures noted for their high spirits and lasciviousness. The word “satirical” also is derived from the mythological satyrs.
Everyone knows Professor Roth is a SATYR. He puts all the girls with the most cleavage in the front row.
serf (serf), noun
a member of the lower feudal class bound to the land in medieval Europe; a slave. At times, Rufus felt he was moored to his little computer like a SERF to his plot of land.
Sisyphean (sis-uh-FEE-uhn), adjective
Describes something, such as a task, that is tortuous and seems endless. In classical mythology, Sisyphus was a king noted for his trickery. He was punished by having to roll a stone uphill. Just before the stone got to the top of the hill, it would roll back down, and Sisyphus would have to start the arduous task all over again.
Some days, keeping paperwork under control seems a SISYPHEAN task.
spartan (SPAHR-tin), adjective Self-disciplined, frugal, and stoic. People who lived in the ancient Greek city of Sparta were known for their discipline and austerity. Paul lives such a SPARTAN life that his apartment has more exercise equipment than furniture.
Spoonerism (SPOO-ner-iz-uhm), noun
The transposition of initial consonants of two or more words. For example, one might intend to say, “The bloom is off the rose” but say instead, “The room is off the blose.” English clergyman W.A. Spooner (1844–1930) was well known for committing this linguistic “sin.”
My mother’s frequent, unintended SPOONERISMS make her an endless source of mirth at our family reunions.
sylvan (SIL-vuhn), adjective Of, about, or characteristic of the woods. Sylvanus was the god of the woods for ancient Romans. The bed and breakfast deep in the forest was a SYLVAN paradise.
tantalize (TAN-tuhl-ize), verb
To tease or taunt by keeping something desired just out of reach. Tantalus was a mythical king whose bad deeds caused him anguish in the afterlife. He was made to stand in a lake with boughs of fruit just out of his reach. When he tried to get a drink, the water disappeared, and he could never quite reach the fruit in order to satisfy his hunger.
Lotteries TANTALIZE people with their implied promise of instant wealth. Of course, most people don’t win.
terpsichorean (turp-sih-KORE-ee-uhn), adjective Having to do with dancing. Terpsichore is the ancient muse of dancing. Our awkward post-wedding dance could hardly be called an example of TERPSICHOREAN splendor.
Walter Mitty (WAHL-ter-MIH-tee), noun
A timid person who compensates for his or her timidity by having a rich fantasy life; someone who is self-aggrandizing. Walter Mitty is the titular character of a short story by humorist James Thurber. Thurber’s character is, not surprisingly, the quintessential
Walter Mitty.
You’ve always got all these grandiose plans, but it’s time for you to stop being a WALTER MITTY and actually do something!
Xanadu (ZAN-uh-doo), noun A place of great beauty and luxury. Xanadu is the setting of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem, “Kubla Khan.” The Caribbean resort, with its palm trees and ocean breezes, was a XANADU of earthly delights.
Xanthippe (zan-TIP-ee), noun A scolding, shrewish, ill-tempered woman or wife. Xanthippe was the wife of the philosopher, Socrates. Listen, Esther, I know you say you want what’s best for our son, but your tone has more than a hint of the XANTHIPPE in it.
yeoman (YOH-mun), adjective Characterized by performing a difficult task with a great deal of effort, loyalty, and valiance. Yeoman was a social class during the
Middle Ages.
The boss praised me for doing such a YEOMAN job on the McKenzie Account.
People and Place Words You Should Know
PART V
If you’ve ever been—or longed to be—a Casanova . . if someone has accused you of being quixotic. . . if you’ve ever been embroiled in a catch-22 . . . then these are the words you should know. Each is derived from the name of a real—or fictional— person or from a real—or fictional—place.
Achilles’ heel (uh-KILL-eez HEEL), noun A vulnerable point. Achilles was a hero of the Trojan War who was vulnerable to harm only in his heel. Bob was a hard worker, but he often lost jobs because of his ACHILLES’ HEEL, his temper.
anglophile (AYNG-luh-file), noun
One who is not British but who loves British culture and customs.
I know Jess is an ANGLOPHILE, but I will have to slaughter her with a bread knife if she makes me sit through one more silly British comedy!
arcadia (are-KAY-dee-uh), noun (sometimes capitalized) This region of ancient Greece has come down through the centuries to refer to any region of rustic pleasure and quiet. As the noise of the city retreated, Ben felt he had entered an ARCADIA of natural wonders.
auteur (OH-ter), noun
This French word meaning “author” was adopted in the 1960s by film critics who used it to put forth their theory that directors are the authors of their films. As such, many directors put a recognizable stamp on their movies. Generally speaking, an auteur is any artist with a distinctive style.
“Miles is so caught up with being an AUTEUR that he’s ruining the production!” Marla complained.
babbitt (BAB-it), noun A person who clings to narrow-minded, materialistic ideals of the middle class.
Sinclair Lewis’ novel Babbitt has as its main character a man whose conventional ideals of success and business lead to self- satisfaction and indifference to higher human values.
Jerome may not be the most open-minded businessman, but he’s no BABBITT.
babel (BAB-uhl), noun
When capitalized, this Hebrew word names the city in which the building of a tower is believed to have been halted due to a sudden inability to communicate.
According to the Old Testament, workers suddenly found themselves speaking different languages. In lower-case, babel is a scene of noise and confusion.
I can’t study in the student lounge anymore. The BABEL just won’t allow me to concentrate.
bowdlerize (BOWD-lur-ize), verb
To cleanse or modify a work of literature (or art) by removing parts considered offensive or otherwise altering content and style.
Producers of Gone with the Wind refused to BOWDLERIZE Margaret Mitchell’s famous line, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”
Byzantine (BIZ-un-teen), noun Of or referring to the ornate, detailed architectural style developed in Byzantium during the fifth century a.d.; also, devious; also, exceptionally complex or minutely laid out.
The company’s BYZANTINE organizational scheme sometimes left newcomers feeling that they reported to everyone in general and no one in particular.
calvary (CAL-vuh-ree), noun A scene of intense anguish (named for the hill on which Jesus Christ was crucified, Calvary). Calvary is frequently confused with
cavalry but their meanings are entirely different.
Herbert faced his own private CALVARY after his wife told him she wanted a divorce.
Casanova (kaz-uh-NO-vuh), noun
Giacomo Casanova was an eighteenth-century Italian adventurer who wrote at great length about his sexual exploits. His name has come to be synonymous with a man noted for his amorous—and probably unscrupulous—activities.
Phil likes to think of himself as a CASANOVA, but most women just think he’s pathetic.
catch-22 (KATCH-twen-tee-too), noun
An impossible situation in which one is presented with logically contradictory options. A demand that one call the phone repair service from the very telephone that is out of order, for instance, could be regarded as a catch-22. (The phrase is drawn from Joseph Heller’s novel of the same name.)
Mr. Brown’s lighthearted memo issued a playful CATCH-22: he was only to be scheduled for meetings taking place during those days he planned to be out of town.
cynical (SIN-uh-kuhl), adjective The cynics were a group of ancient Greek philosophers who rejected all conventions and conventional behavior. In modern times, a cynical person is one who thinks the worst of human nature, often in a smug and self-superior way.
You don’t have to be so CYNICAL just because your favorite casino stopped offering bottled beer for a dollar!
daedal (DEE-duhl), adjective
Daedalus was a genius of ancient Greece who invented the dreaded, nearly-escape-proof Cretan labyrinth. As a result, daedal means either something extremely intricate (like Daedalus’s labyrinth) or something/someone very skillful and artistic (like Daedalus himself).
I thought I could repair my computer until I got a look at the machine’s DAEDAL circuitry.
decalogue (DEK-uh-log), noun
The Ten Commandments. Decalogue refers to the commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai as recounted in the Bible.
Mr. Collins, we are dealing here with a series of administrative guidelines we may administer as we see fit—not with a DECALOGUE.
delphic (DELL-fick), adjective Delphi is the site of an ancient Greek oracle, or shrine to a prophetic god. Oracles’s prophecies often were obscure and had to be
interpreted by experts. As a result, Delphic describes something that is obscurely prophetic.
For years, other economists, reporters, and just plain folks scrambled to interpret Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan’s DELPHIC comments about the strength or weakness of the economy.
Dionysian (die-uh-NIH-shun), adjective
Relating to Dionysius, a Greek god of revelry; reminiscent of or pertaining to frenzied, uninhibited, or hedonistic behavior.
The fraternity’s DIONYSIAN exploits were fun for a while, but when they resulted in his failing two classes, Emmett decided to go back to the quiet life.
epicure (EP-ih-kyoor), noun A connoisseur; one who cultivates refined tastes, especially in reference to food and drink. Epicure is derived from the name of the
Roman philosopher Epicurus, who lived between 341 and 279 b.c.
Matt, who never seemed at all interested in gourmet dining, has suddenly become something of an EPICURE.
Faustian (FOUS-tee-un), adjective
Faust is the anti-hero of a German legend who sold his soul to the devil in order to gain great knowledge. Thus, Faustian describes the sacrificing of moral or spiritual values in order to gain knowledge, fame, money, etc.
When she stopped being a public defender and became a corporate lawyer, Tia couldn’t help thinking she’d made a FAUSTIAN bargain.
gargantuan (gar-GAN-choo-un), adjective Enormous. Gargantuan derives from the name of a fictional king (Gargantua) famous for his massive appetite. The GARGANTUAN scale of the budget deficit caught both Congress and the financial markets by surprise.
gentry (JEN-tree), noun
Those claiming high birth. In England, gentry refers to the class immediately below the nobility.
The fact that the GENTRY would benefit most from victory was taken by many of the soldiers to mean that they were fighting a rich man’s war.
Herculean (hur-kyuh-LEE-un), adjective Strong and powerful; reminiscent of the god Hercules in vitality. In addition, Herculean can mean daunting or formidable—so
difficult as to require the strength of Hercules.
Robert made a HERCULEAN effort to complete the project before midnight.
hotspur (HOT-spur), noun A quick-tempered, impulsive person. Hotspur is the name of a fiery character in Shakespeare’s play Henry IV, Part One.
Ed was a real HOTSPUR around the office; be was likely to dominate a meeting with rash decrees and sudden denudations of plans he did not like.
Lilliputian (lill-ih-PYOO-shun), adjective Of extremely small stature. From a land of small people found in Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels. The massive mural on the walls of the museum made me feel positively LILLIPUTIAN.
lothario (lo-THAR-ee-oe), noun A seducer. The word Lothario originated from the name of a character in The Fair Penitent, a play (1703) by Nicholas Rowe. Ryan is friendly, I’ ll admit, but be is certainly no LOTHARIO.
machiavellian (mok-ee-uh-VELL-ee-un), adjective Relating to the qualities espoused by Machiavelli in The Prince; cunning and deceitful in the pursuit of power, particularly with regard to political matters.
Although Lyndon Johnson was certainly a ruthless politician, he was far from the MACHIAVELLIAN figure suggested by some of his biographers.
maharajah (mah-huh-RAH-zhuh), noun Formerly, an Indian ruling prince, especially one of a major state. The MAHARAJAH and his entourage rode into the village on a procession of elephants.
malapropism (MAL-a-prop-ism), noun The ridiculous misuse of similar-sounding words. Bert’s reference to the accounting department’s “physical prudence” was only one of the morning’s many MALAPROPISMS.
mesmerize (MEZ-mur-ize), verb To hypnotize. Mesmerize is derived from the name of a nineteenth-century physician, Franz Mesmer, whose early work in the field
we now call hypnotism won him acclaim in Austria and throughout Europe.
It is said that Huey Long MESMERIZED his audiences more with his style of speaking than with the substance of his speeches.
milquetoast (MILK-toast), adjective
Describes an unassertive person who is easily intimidated. The word was adopted from Caspar Milquetoast, a character in a comic strip, who exemplifies such a timid person.
Unless you just want to be a pencil-pusher all your life, you’ve got to stop being so MILQUETOAST, Arthur!
minotaur (MIN-uh-tore), noun In mythology, a creature that is part human, part bull. Half-human, half-animal creatures such as the MINOTAUR, the centaur, and Medusa were pervasive in ancient Greek mythology.
narcissistic (nar-sis-SIS-tik), adjective Possessed by self-love. Someone whose egotism replaces (or seems to replace) attention to others can be said to be narcissistic. Self- promotion is one thing; the NARCISSISTIC zeal with which Gerald asserts himself is quite another.
neanderthal (knee-AND-er-thall), adjective or noun
Capitalized, Neanderthal denotes an early human species, whose remains were first discovered in Germany’s Neanderthal valley. As an adjective and with a lower-case “n,” neanderthal is used negatively to describe someone with backward, outdated, old-fashioned attitudes and beliefs. The lower-case version also can serve as a noun.
Of course she was scared away by your NEANDERTHAL impulses, Stephen!
Orwellian (or-WELL-ee-un), adjective Resembling the qualities or subject matter of the writing of George Orwell, particularly the totalitarian future world of his book 1984. My father saw the surveillance cameras in suburban supermarkets as the first sign of an ORWELLIAN clampdown on civil liberties.
pander (PAN-der), verb and noun
To appeal to the worst in someone. Literally, a pander is a pimp.
Despite accusations that he was PANDERING to the voters, the candidate insisted on repeatedly raising the issue of his opponent’s extramarital affairs.
Pavlovian (pav-LOW-vee-uhn), adjective
Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov pioneered research in conditioned responses. For example, he would give dogs food immediately after ringing a bell, and before long, the dogs would salivate just by hearing the bell . . . even if no food was given to them. Today, Pavlovian describes any kind of conditioned response.
Roger always has this sort-of PAVLOVIAN response whenever he hears Julie’s voice. He immediately starts to sweat and look flushed. At this rate, he’s never going to ask her out!
philistine (FILL-uh-steen), adjective and noun In the Bible, the Philistines were opponents of the Israelites. They were quintessential bad guys. Today, a philistine is someone who is smug, commonplace, and conventional, and he or she often is antagonistic toward intellectual pursuits.
Laura always found it difficult to be an intellectual while surrounded by her childhood friends, PHILISTINES whose main concern was shopping.
platonic (pluh-TON-ik), adjective Free from sexual desire. Platonic also refers to the ideal form of something. Emily knew that her relationship with Paul had to remain a PLATONIC one.
plebeian (plih-BE-uhn), adjective or noun In ancient Rome, the plebeians were the common people. Today, the word still pertains to common tastes. Sometimes, the word can be used in a negative way, to suggest that someone is being common, as in vulgar.
“I don’t get wine,” Bart said. “I guess my tastes are just too PLEBEIAN.”
pompadour (POMP-uh-dore), noun
A male hairstyle in which the hair is set high in a wave in the front.
Don wore a POMPADOUR, a black leather jacket, and blue jeans to the costume party in imitation of his hero Fonzie from “Happy Days.”
proletarian (pro-luh-TARE-ee-un), adjective In ancient Rome, proletarians were the poorest class of people. Today, proletarian describes members of the working class. The noun form, which you may see, is proletariat.
The politician’s PROLETARIAN appeals earned her many votes during the election.
Promethean (pruh-ME-thee-un), adjective
In ancient Greek myth, Prometheus was the son of a titan, and he created humankind and then taught it how to use fire. Today, Promethean describes someone who is visionary, someone who produces bold new ideas.
Who could have foretold in the 1950s that people tinkering around with computers would be such PROMETHEAN pioneers?
puritanical (pyoor-ih-TAN-ih-kull), adjective
Reminiscent of the Puritans (whose strict lifestyle took an extremely narrow view of what was morally acceptable). To issue or follow overly restrictive, moralistic standards about work or socializing is to be puritanical.
Faith took a rather PURITANICAL outlook on the importance of working a full day; a simple cold was not going to stop her from showing up at work.
pyrrhic (PEER-ik), adjective Gained at an injustifiably high cost. A pyrrhic victory refers to the ancient King Pyrrhus of Epirus, who observed after a particularly
bloody battle that another similar victory would destroy his kingdom.
You must admit that selling a great many products on which we will lose money would be something of a PYRRHIC victory.
quisling (KWIZ-ling), noun One who betrays his or her own country and aids an invading one; particularly, an official who serves in a puppet government. That the Vichy government in France was composed primarily of cowards, profiteers, and QUISLINGS is hardly open to dispute.
quixotic (kwik-SOT-ik), adjective Hopelessly and impractically idealistic. Quixotic is derived from the literary character Don Quixote, whose romantic view of the world is at odds with the harsh realities of existence.
Arthur’s QUIXOTIC search for financial backing for his get-rich-quick schemes only amused Betty.
rabbinical (rub-BIN-ih-kul), adjective Of or pertaining to rabbis. Another acceptable form of rabbinical is rabbinic. I intend to take up RABBINICAL studies in September.
sadistic (suh-DISS-tick), adjective The French count, Donatien A.F. de Sade (1740–1815), wrote novels that depicted cruel sexual practices. Over time, his name became synonymous with cruelty and with describing those who delight in being cruel to others.
Only a SADISTIC creep would give out as much homework as Mr. Thomas.
saturnalia (sat-uhr-NAIL-yuh), noun
Risque merrymaking, possibly including an orgy. The festival for the Roman god, Saturn, was marked by unrestrained merrymaking.
Anyone looking at the party’s aftermath the next day would have thought it was a SATURNALIA, not a fairly quiet reunion of five old friends.
satyr (SAY-ter), noun A lecherous man. In Greek mythology, satyrs were part-man, part-horse (or part-goat) creatures noted for their high spirits and lasciviousness. The word “satirical” also is derived from the mythological satyrs.
Everyone knows Professor Roth is a SATYR. He puts all the girls with the most cleavage in the front row.
serf (serf), noun
a member of the lower feudal class bound to the land in medieval Europe; a slave. At times, Rufus felt he was moored to his little computer like a SERF to his plot of land.
Sisyphean (sis-uh-FEE-uhn), adjective
Describes something, such as a task, that is tortuous and seems endless. In classical mythology, Sisyphus was a king noted for his trickery. He was punished by having to roll a stone uphill. Just before the stone got to the top of the hill, it would roll back down, and Sisyphus would have to start the arduous task all over again.
Some days, keeping paperwork under control seems a SISYPHEAN task.
spartan (SPAHR-tin), adjective Self-disciplined, frugal, and stoic. People who lived in the ancient Greek city of Sparta were known for their discipline and austerity. Paul lives such a SPARTAN life that his apartment has more exercise equipment than furniture.
Spoonerism (SPOO-ner-iz-uhm), noun
The transposition of initial consonants of two or more words. For example, one might intend to say, “The bloom is off the rose” but say instead, “The room is off the blose.” English clergyman W.A. Spooner (1844–1930) was well known for committing this linguistic “sin.”
My mother’s frequent, unintended SPOONERISMS make her an endless source of mirth at our family reunions.
sylvan (SIL-vuhn), adjective Of, about, or characteristic of the woods. Sylvanus was the god of the woods for ancient Romans. The bed and breakfast deep in the forest was a SYLVAN paradise.
tantalize (TAN-tuhl-ize), verb
To tease or taunt by keeping something desired just out of reach. Tantalus was a mythical king whose bad deeds caused him anguish in the afterlife. He was made to stand in a lake with boughs of fruit just out of his reach. When he tried to get a drink, the water disappeared, and he could never quite reach the fruit in order to satisfy his hunger.
Lotteries TANTALIZE people with their implied promise of instant wealth. Of course, most people don’t win.
terpsichorean (turp-sih-KORE-ee-uhn), adjective Having to do with dancing. Terpsichore is the ancient muse of dancing. Our awkward post-wedding dance could hardly be called an example of TERPSICHOREAN splendor.
Walter Mitty (WAHL-ter-MIH-tee), noun
A timid person who compensates for his or her timidity by having a rich fantasy life; someone who is self-aggrandizing. Walter Mitty is the titular character of a short story by humorist James Thurber. Thurber’s character is, not surprisingly, the quintessential
Walter Mitty.
You’ve always got all these grandiose plans, but it’s time for you to stop being a WALTER MITTY and actually do something!
Xanadu (ZAN-uh-doo), noun A place of great beauty and luxury. Xanadu is the setting of Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem, “Kubla Khan.” The Caribbean resort, with its palm trees and ocean breezes, was a XANADU of earthly delights.
Xanthippe (zan-TIP-ee), noun A scolding, shrewish, ill-tempered woman or wife. Xanthippe was the wife of the philosopher, Socrates. Listen, Esther, I know you say you want what’s best for our son, but your tone has more than a hint of the XANTHIPPE in it.
yeoman (YOH-mun), adjective Characterized by performing a difficult task with a great deal of effort, loyalty, and valiance. Yeoman was a social class during the
Middle Ages.
The boss praised me for doing such a YEOMAN job on the McKenzie Account.
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