Word Origins: Greek and Roman Mythology
Learning Objectives
In this lesson, you will focus on the following objective: Examining words from Greek and Roman myth.
Greek and Roman Mythology
Word Origins
Word origins are the histories of words. Word origins generally include the other languages or earlier forms of English that words came from.
Tip
Learning to recognize Greek and Latin word roots, such as those in the chart, can help you determine the meanings of unfamiliar words on a test.
Literature Connection
In the passage below, Hamilton mentions the Labyrinth built by Daedalus, the famed mythological architect and sculptor.
“Daedalus built the Labyrinth, famous throughout the world. Once inside, one would go endlessly along its twisting paths without ever finding the exit.”
—Edith Hamilton, from Theseus
The term labyrinth initially referred only to Daedalus’s creation, which was used to house the Minotaur, a fearsome creature that was part man and part bull. However, over time the term’s meaning has come to refer to any kind of maze, or a complex structure or idea. The etymology, or history, of this word is not an anomaly; in fact, Greek and Roman mythology is the source of many words that are currently used in English.
Becoming familiar with word origins, or the sources of words from other languages or older forms of English, can increase your vocabulary.
This chart shows the Greek and Roman origins of some English words.
| English Word | Greek or Roman Word |
|---|---|
| herculean (hur´kyə lēən) adj. of tremendous power or difficulty | Hercules (hurkyə lēz´) n. Greek hero renowned for his strength |
| Olympian (o limpē ən) adj. godlike, lofty, or extraordinary | Olympus (ō limpəs) n. mountain and home of the Greek gods |
| mercurial (mər kyoorē əl) adj. eloquent or ingenious; unpredictable or inconstant | Mercury (murkyər ē ) n. fleet-footed Roman messenger god |
Word Origins: Greek and Roman Mythology Quiz
For each item below, select the English word from the chart above that best completes the sentence.