English words from Ancient Greek
- loosestrifeAny of certain flowering plants of the genera Lythrum and Lysimachia, which are in different taxonomic families.
- earthshakingCausing the earth to vibrate; very loud.
- wolfsbaneAny of several poisonous perennial herbs of the genus Aconitum.
- assfishbony-eared assfish, Acanthonus armatus
- Atropatene MediaSynonym of Atropatian Media
- Atropatian MediaSynonym of Atropatene
- born to the purpleBorn and raised in a royal family.
- call a spade a spadeTo put it bluntly, to be outspoken; to speak the truth, to describe things as they really are.
- childlovePaedophilic, hebephilic, or ephebophilic attraction to children of either sex; paedophilia or hebephilia.
- childloverA pedophile, hebephile, or ephebophile.
- cloud-cuckoo-landAn imaginary place where silly or unrealistic people metaphorically reside.
- Eleusinian MysteriesInitiations held every year for the cult of Demeter and Persephone, based at Eleusis in ancient Greece, now named Elefsina.
- Epic CycleA collection of Ancient Greek epic poems, now mostly lost, telling the story of the Trojan War and its participants.
- far-feelingTelepathy.
- flesh glueSynonym of sarcocolla as a resin.
- Fortunate IslesCape Verde.
- from the deadfrom being dead, from death
- golden eagleA large bird of prey, Aquila chrysaetos, that hunts while soaring.
- Golden HornA major urban waterway and the primary inlet of the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey.
- great martyrA saint who was martyred after suffering great torture.
- Great MediaThe larger, southern portion of ancient Media following the latter’s partition by the Macedonians, the smaller northern portion being Atropatian Media, also known as Atropatia or Atropatene.
- Greek footThe ancient Greek, Byzantine, or early modern Greek unit of distance derived from the shod foot and roughly equivalent to the English foot unit.
- Hellenistic GreekSynonym of Koine (the Greek language from the time of Alexander the Great)
- Hot GatesSynonym of Thermopylae.
- Jesus weptExpressing annoyed or shocked incredulity.
- know thyselfBe aware of your own strengths and limitations.
- lotus-eaterA member of the legendary people living on an island dominated by the lotus tree, who have forgotten their homes due to the fruits' narcotic and stupefying effect.
- mark of the beastA mark on the person of worshippers of the Antichrist; without the mark one cannot buy or sell.
- motor causeSynonym of efficient cause
- one swallow does not a summer makeOne instance of an event (such as the arrival of a single bird) does not necessarily indicate a trend.
- physician, heal thyselfOne should attend to one's own flaws or defects before presuming to advise others about theirs.
- political animalA person driven by political motives.
- Pythian ApolloName of Apollo at Delphi
- rise from the deadTo become alive (or undead) after having died.
- river horseA hippopotamus.
- Sacred WarAny of three wars fought (in 595-585 BCE, 449 BC-448 BCE and 357-346 BCE) by the Amphictyonic Council.
- Saint NicholasA 4th-century Greek bishop from Myra, Anatolia, patron saint of children, mariners and the unwed among others, functioning in multiple countries as a gift-giving figure around his feast day of December 6.
- salt of the earthA person or group of people considered to represent the most decent and admirable parts of humanity.
- selfnameA proper name; a name for one's own self, as opposed to one's family; one's real name.
- self-sufficientAble to provide for oneself independently of others; not needing external support.
- speak in tonguesTo speak in a language unknown to the speaker, especially when in a state of religious ecstasy; glossolalia.
- the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they mustThe weak cannot resist the decisions of the strong; power, not morality, decides the outcome of any dispute.
- thigh-showerIn ancient Greece, a woman wearing a peplos with a split up the side, thus revealing the upper leg.
- unto the ages of agesFor all time, forever.
- wandering starA star which seems to move in the sky; a planet.
- water-thiefA thief or robber on the water, hence, a pirate.
- wheel-eyedPossessing very large eyes.
- White WallMemphis, Egypt or its central fortress
- wine-darkResembling the dark color (or perhaps other properties) of red wine.
- winged wordA word or statement which is very apt for an occasion, or memorable.