[Talk] Words derived from mythology.
http://rhadamanthus.vox.com/library/post/words-derived-from-mythology.html
Jan 15, 2007 at 11:15 PM 7 comments
Several words in the English language (and probably other
languages, as well) are borrowed from mythology. I decided to
compile a list of these words, because I thought it would be
interesting. I'm aware this isn't a linguistics group [this is
posted to the mythology group, as well as my personal Vox], but
since this is mythology related, I figured some people may be
interested in it, and may even be able to contribute, hopefully.
If you see something in parentheses, like (this), that's just the
name of the mythological figure the word is based on. Not every
word has this, but rather, only words that were modified when
coming into English to the point where you may not recognize it's
from mythology.
A
Aegis - Protection, sponsorship. The shield or buckler belonging
to Zeus, supposedly made by Hephaestus, decorated with golden
tassels and containing the head of Medusa in the center. From
Greek mythology.
Ambrosia - Something extremely pleasing to taste or smell. A food
or drink of the gods from Greek mythology.
Aphrodisiac (Aphrodite) - An agent (as a food or drug) that
arouses or is held to arouse sexual desire. From Aphrodite, the
Greek goddess of love, lust, beauty, and sexuality.
Atlas - A bound collection of maps often including illustrations,
informative tables, or textual matter. From Atlas, one of the
primordial Titans in Greek mythology, whose punishment was to hold
the sky upon his shoulders.
Aurora - Dawn. From Aurora, the Roman goddess of dawn.
B
Berserk - Frenzied, crazed. From the Norse Berserkers, who were
warriors that fought while in an "uncontrollable rage or trance of
fury".
C
Cereal (Ceres) - Relating to grain or to the plants that produce
it. Derived from Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture.
D
E
Echo - The repetition of a sound caused by reflection of sound
waves. A repetition or imitation of another. Perhaps from Greek
mythology, a mountain nymph who was punished by Hera to repeat
only the last words of other people's sentences. She also fell in
love with Narcissus.
F
Fauna - The animals characteristic of a region, period, or special
environment. From the Roman fertility goddess, Fauna, who was also
either the wife, sister, or daughter of Faunus.
Flora - Plant or bacterial life. From Roman mythology, the name of
the goddess of flowers and spring.
Friday (Frige) - The fifth or sixth day of the week. Derived from
Frige, the love goddess of Norse mythology, and also the wife of
Odin.
G
H
Hades - Used as a synonym for "hell" by some (not sure if this one
should count). The Greek god and personification of the underworld.
Helium (Helios) - A light colorless inert gaseous element found
especially in natural gases and used chiefly for inflating
airships and balloons, in lamps, in cryogenic research, and as a
component of inert atmospheres (as in welding). From Helios, the
Greek personification of the sun.
Hell - A nether world in which the dead continue to exist.
Possibly named after Hel, the queen of the Norse underworld. This
is, of course, not certain.
Hermaphrodite (Hermaphroditus) - An animal or plant having both
male and female reproductive organs. Something that is a
combination of diverse elements. From Greek mythology, a child of
Hermes and Aphrodite, who was turned into a hermaphrodite when the
nymph Salmacis attempted to rape him [Hermaphroditus] and then
called out to the gods requesting that they never part.
Hermetic (Hermes Trismegistus) - Obscure, secret, isolated,
airtight. From Greek mythology, Hermes Trismegistus, who was a
combination of the Greek Hermes, and the Egyptian Thoth. They were
both gods of magic and writing. He was not widely considered to be
Hermes, but rather, a separate entity.
I
J
January (Janus) - The first month of the Gregorian calendar. Named
after Janus, the Roman god of gates, doorways, beginnings, and
endings.
Jovial (Jupiter) - Markedly good-humored especially as evidenced
by jollity and conviviality. From the chief god of the Roman
pantheon, Jupiter.
June (Juno) - The sixth month of the Gregorian calendar. Possibly
named after Juno, the queen of the gods in Roman mythology.
K
L
Labyrinth - A place constructed of or full of intricate
passageways and blind alleys. A maze. Something extremely complex
or tortuous in structure, arrangement, or character. "An elaborate
structure constructed for King Minos of Crete and designed by the
legendary artificer Daedalus to hold the Minotaur, a creature that
was half man and half bull and which was eventually killed by the
Athenian hero Theseus."
M
March (Mars) - The third month of the Gregorian calendar. Named
after Mars, the Roman god of war.
Martial (Mars) - Of, relating to, or suited for war or a warrior.
Relating to an army or to military life. From Mars, the Roman god
of war.
May (Maia) - The fifth month of the Gregorian calendar. Possibly
from the Roman goddess Maia, wife of Vulcan.
Mentor - A trusted counselor or guide. Tutor. From Greek
mythology, an old man who was the friend of Odysseus.
Mint (Minthe) - Any of a genus (Mentha) of mints that have white,
purple, or pink verticillate flowers with a nearly regular corolla
and four equal stamens and that include some used in flavoring and
cookery. From Greek mythology, a naiad associated with the river
Cocytus. She was dazzled by Hades' golden chariot and was about to
be seduced by him had not Queen Persephone metamorphosed Minthe
into the pungently sweet-smelling mint
Monday (Mani) - The first or second day of the week. Its name is
from the Moon, which is derived from the Norse god of the moon,
Mani, who would pull the moon through the sky every night while
being chased by Hati.
Morphine (Morpheus) - An analgesic and sedative. From Morpheus,
the Greek god of dreams.
Museum (Muse) - An institution devoted to the procurement, care,
study, and display of objects of lasting interest or value. A
place where objects are exhibited. From Greek "mouseion", a place
or temple dedicated to the Muses.
N
Narcissism/Narcissist (Narcissus) - Love of or sexual desire for
one's own body. Egoism, egocentrism. From Greek mythology, a
beautiful youth who fell in love with his own reflection (how this
happened depends on the story, as there a few different versions).
Nemesis - One that inflicts retribution or vengeance. A formidable
and usually victorious rival or opponent. From Greek mythology,
the goddess of divine retribution.
O
Ocean (Oceanus) - The whole body of salt water that covers nearly
three fourths of the surface of the earth. From Greek mythology,
Oceanus was believed to be a large river that encircled the earth.
Oceanus was also the personification of this "river".
Odyssey - A long wandering or voyage usually marked by many
changes of fortune. An ancient Greek epic by Homer, mostly
starring Odysseus during his journey after the fall of Troy.
P
Panic (Pan) - A sudden overpowering fright. From Pan, a Greek god
who could cause contagious, groundless fear in herds and crowds,
or in people in lonely spots.
Priapism (Priapus) - An abnormal often painful persistent erection
of the penis. Priapus was a minor fertility deity in Greek
mythology who wasn't taken all that seriously.
Q
R
Rhadamanthine (Rhadamanthus) - Rigorously strict or just. From
Rhadamanthus, who was one of the judges of the underworld in Greek
mythology, and said to be wise as well as just.
S
Saturday (Saturn) - The sixth or seventh day of the week. From
Saturn, a Roman agriculture and harvest deity.
Siren - A woman who sings with enchanting sweetness. A device
often electrically operated for producing a penetrating warning
sound. From the Greek sea nymph Siren, whose singing would lure
sailors to their destruction.
T
Thursday (Thor) - The fourth or fifth day of the week. Derived
from Thor, the Norse god of thunder, as well as the son of Odin
and Jord.
Titanic (Titan) - Having great magnitude, force, or power. From
the Titans of Greek mythology.
Tuesday (Tyr) - The second or third day of the week. Derived from
Tyr, the Norse god of war.
U
V
Vestal (Vesta) - Chaste. From the Roman virgin goddess Vesta, who
was the goddess of home, hearth, and family.
Volcano (Vulcan) - A vent in the crust of the earth or another
planet or a moon from which usually molten or hot rock and steam
issue. From the Roman god of fire, Vulcan.
W
Wednesday (Odin) - The third or fourth day of the week. Derived
from the head God of the Norse pantheon, Odin.
X
Y
Z
Zephyr (Zephyrus) - A breeze from the west, or a gentle breeze.
The Greek god of the west wind, who was the most gentle of the
winds.
Most of the definitions are from Merriam-Webster, and mythology
research was mostly from Wikipedia. Hopefully, there's no factual
errors (or any other kind of errors, for that matter).
7 comments
Tags:
mythology, words, linguistics, etymology
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Comments
Zack wrote: Jan 15, 2007 Reply
[this is good] Thursday (thor's day) day named after thor, demi
god of thunder from norse mythology.
Wedensday (Odin's day - Odins name was originaly spelled Wodin)
Day named after Odin, father of the gods in norse mythology.
Good stuff.
Rhadamanthus replied to Zack’s comment: Jan 15, 2007 Reply
Oh yeah! I, foolishly, forgot to mention those. I'll add them.
i am kazarius wrote: Jan 25, 2007 Reply
great job rodimusprime... did you do this on your lunch break?
Strioii-Morti wrote: Feb 20, 2007 Reply
Very interestng
echo wrote: Apr 25, 2008 Reply
[this is good]
u forgot a very obvious one, or 2:
the achille's tendin and psycology.
echo wrote: Apr 25, 2008 Reply
i used this for my literature project and got an a+!!!
Thanks!
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