I, Claudius Glossary

Glossary of Terms

affable

friendly or pleasant

alacrity

cheerful promptness

amnesty

a pardon, often for political offenses

anecdote

a brief account of an interesting, entertaining, or biographical event

annalist

an individual who chronicles events; historian

aphasia

an inability to speak or understand words, usually due to an injury of the brain

aphrodisiac

a food or drug that arouses sexual desire

Apollo

in mythology, the Roman god of music and light

archaic

ancient; pertaining to an earlier historical time

arduous

difficult or strenuous

Artemis

in mythology, the Roman goddess of the moon

auxiliary

an individual that provides support or aid

avaricious

greedy

bedizen

to dress in an extravagant manner

besmirch

discredit

boudoir

a woman's dressing room

breach

a break or violation, often of a law

chafe

to irritate by rubbing

chaplet

a wreath for the head

chastity

a state of purity or chasteness; virginity

chattel

a slave

cipher

a key used for creating or revealing a coded message

clemency

an inclination for showing mercy or forgiveness

colitis

inflammation of the colon

connoisseur

a critical expert

conscientious

meticulous or careful

consummate

complete or fulfill a contract; in marriage, sexual intercourse must be performed in order for the marriage contract to be "consummated"

contention

a point in an argument or a debate

contumely

insulting or rude treatment

cosset

to treat as a pet

crab apple

a small and sour fruit

Daedalus

in mythology, the architect of the Cretean labyrinth who constructs wings for himself and his son to escape

debauchery

indulgence in sensual pleasures and vice

declaim

to recite

deify

to glorify as a god

deprecation

to belittle

depredation

to plunder or ravage

deputation

the act of appointing a deputy or individual to act for others

despatch

British spelling of the term "dispatch," meaning to send away with promptness

diffidence

a lack of self-confidence

disillusion

freedom from illusion and idealism

dissolute

lacking any moral restraints

distillation

a pure concentration of a substance, making its essence more potent

diviner

an individual who can prophesize the future

docile

obedient

dropsy

disease characterized by a surplus of fluid in the connective tissue of the body

effeminacy

possessing feminine characteristics

eke out

to support through difficulty; supplement

elegiac

written in poetic couplets

elocution

a style of public speaking

enmity

hostility or ill will

epigram

a witty, often satirical, poem with a single thought

epileptic

having the characteristics of epilepsy, a disease characterized by convulsions

erysipelas

an infectious disease characterized by inflammation of the skin

exculpate

to free from blame

execrate

to despise completely

exemplar

an individual that serves as a model or ideal

faction

a subversive group, often in politics

feint

a mock blow meant to distract one's opponent from the actual angle of attack

flog

to beat with a rod

folly

lack of sense; a foolish act

frieze

in architecture, a decorative band on a wall

Fury

in mythology,a female deity who would punish and torment individuals

futile

useless or ineffective

gallant

a suitor

gangrene

a decay of tissue

gestation

conception and development of an embryo

goad

to urge into action

golden predicament

the phrase that Claudius uses to describe his position as Emperor

grovel

to humble or abase oneself

guffaw

to laugh uproariously

halberd

an ax-like weapon

harp (on)

to discuss a subject persistently and tediously

hellebore

a poisonous herb

hindrance

an impediment or obstacle

homage

an expression of respect or tribute

ibis

a bird with a long, slender bill; related to the heron

impiety

lacking proper respect; irreverence

incendiary

a person who incites political factions or turmoil; a person who commits arson

incongruous

inharmonious

indefatigable

untiring

indiscriminate

random, not selected carefully

ingenious

clever

insolent

to be contemptuous or disrespectful

intrigue

a secret plot or affair

inviolable

incorruptible

irreverence

a lack of respect

javelin

a small thrown spear

jobbery

corruption in public office

laurel

a small evergreen tree used in the form of a wreath as a mark distinction or honor

lewd

obscene

libation

an alcoholic beverage, often drunk during a ceremony

libel

a statement of defamation against an individual, often published in written form

lyre

a stringed instrument similar to a harp

magnaminous

generous

malignity

the state of pure evil

mangonel

a military contraption used to throw missiles

manifesto

a public declaration of the beliefs or motives or a certain individual or group

marmoset

a type of soft-furred monkey

mausoleum

a large tomb

meagreness

the British spelling of the term "meagerness," meaning "lacking in quantity"

mercenary

a professional soldier hired to fight in a foreign army

metamorphosis

a physical transformation

mimicry

close imitation

minx

a flirtatious or vulgar woman

muleteer

an individual who drives mules

nepotism

favoritism based on a family connection

obeissance

a bow or movement of homage

obsequious

displaying overt deference or attention

officious

meddlesome

oracle

a priest or priestess who speaks for a deity

orator

a public speaker

pacify

to calm or soothe

pander

to cater to the desires of others

paragon

a model of excellence

parley

a discussion with an enemy during an unofficial truce

parry

to avert the thrust of a weapon during a battle

parsimonious

stingy

pastoral

anything relating to sheep, shepherds, and the countryside

pedantic

to emphasize unimportant details, often in learning

penance

a punishment undergone to make up for a sin

periphrasis

using a longer phrase than necessary

petulance

characterized by varying moods and ill temper

phial

a small vial

poignant

touching or sentimental

pontiff

a high priest

portent

an omen of the future

portico

in architecture, a structure built on columns

posterity

future generations

precipice

a steep cliff; dangerous situation

propitiatory

serving to appease or regain the good will of an individual

proscription

a restriction

querulous

complaining or whining

rabble

the lowest social class of people

raucous

rowdy and disorderly

raze

demolish

rectitude

moral righteousness

redoubtable

formidable; commanding of respect

republican

an individual in favor of a republican government

saffron

an orange-yellow color; also an herb used in food

scapegoat

an individual who is blamed for the actions of another

scruple

a moral principle that inhibits a certain action

scurrilous

offensive and vulgar

sedan-chair

an enclosed chair supported on poles and carried by two individuals

sententiously

marked by self-righteousness

skinflint

an individual who is extremely stingy

skirmish

a minor fight or struggle

solicitude

an attitude of protectiveness

speculative

thoughtful; often matched with curiosity

sprucely

in a smart or neat manner

stagnation

inactivity

stipulation

condition

subjugate

to conquer or subdue

subservience

acting in a servile manner

succubi

a female demon that has sexual intercourse with men while they are asleep

superlative

supreme

supplant

to overthrow an individual through scheming or force

throttle

strangle

tribune

a Roman official

truncheon

a bludgeon or club

tumult

a disorderly commotion

tutelary

an individual with the position of guardian over another

tyranny

a government in which complete power lies with a sole individual

unfilial

a violation of the relationship between a child and its parents

unremitting

constant

vapid

tedious or dull

veneration

respect or reverence for an individual

veracious

truthful

vexatious

troubling

yeoman

an attendant