The Aeneid Glossary

Glossary of Terms

adroit

skillful

ambiguous

neither here nor there; uncertain

annuls

nullifies; makes void

assiduous

diligent; persistent

atonement

an action or actions performed in the hope of forgiveness

audacious

fearless; insolent

augur

prophet; one who foretells events

augury

divination; omen

auspices

omens; individuals who make predictions about future events

auspicious

likely to succeed; lucky

austere

unornamented; strict and severe

azure

a light shade of blue

bacchic

relating to the god Bacchus, the god of wine and celebration; drunken

begrudge

envy

beguiled

deceived; confused

belligerence

angry defiance; hostility

beseeching

begging; earnestly asking for aid

betrothed

engaged to be wed

bier

a platform on which a coffin or corpse is placed prior to burial

blazon

to adorn or embellish (e.g. with a coat of arms)

brazen

insolent; audacious

bucklers

small shields worn on the arm

bulwarks

defensive fortifications

cadence

rhythmic flow

calamity

tragic event

calumny

false statements

catastrophe

disastrous event

chide

reprimand

cisterns

receptacles used to hold liquid, usually water

citadel

a fortress, usually in a city

clamorous

excessively loud

clangorous

a loud racket

cleave

to split apart, usually by force

combers

long waves that have reached their peak

conflagration

a large, destructive fire

consecrate

perform ceremonies to make something sacred

corselet

undergarment; body armor surrounding the torso

counterfeits

fakes; impostors

covenant

contract; binding agreement

cuirass

breastplate

defiled

dirtied; polluted

deign

condescend to do something unappealing

dexterous

skillful (usually with one's hands)

diadem

crown

ebbing

declining; diminishing

eddies

water currents

edict

a formal pronouncement or decree

edicts

declarations; decrees

emissary

messenger

entrails

internal organs, such as the intestines

entreaties

requests

envoys

messengers

excavate

to dig out; expose by uncovering

execrable

disgusting; reprehensible

exile

(n) someone who has had to leave their hometown or home country; (v) to force someone to do so

eyrie

residence located at great height

fervent

impassioned; sincerely felt

fracas

conflict; fight

fugitive

someone who is fleeing; a refugee

galleys

large ships

gilded

decorated gaudily

girding

preparing for battle; donning clothing (usually for battle)

goaded

encouraged, usually through taunting or force

greaves

leg armor; the residue from animal fat

guile

cunning; deviousness

hewn

made or shaped (usually with an axe or blunt instrument)

homage

ceremonial honors

idle

lazy; unmoving

ilex

a type of tree or shrub

impieties

actions that reveal disrespect for the gods

implacable

impossible to please

implore

beg

indignation

irritation following an unjust event

indolent

lazy; slow and inactive

insidious

treacherous; subtly attempting to spread harm

intractable

difficult to manage

invoke

to call upon a god or other higher power for support or assistance

laggards

stragglers

lamentable

arousing sadness

lamentation

a (usually verbal) expression of grief

libation

a liquid poured in a religious offering

limpid

clear; serene

lithe

supple; graceful

magistrate

a minor official with judicial power

mantle

a long cloak

matrons

women of mature age

melee

a disorderly brawl

mime

fake or pretend; imitate

mongrel

a mixed-breed animal

motley

incongruous; made up of dissimilar parts

myrtle

an aromatic shrub

obscene

disgusting; offensive

obstinate

insolent; unwilling to obey direction

orichalcum

an ancient mixed metal resembling brass

outstripped

left behind; surpassed

paeans

expressions of joy or praise

pallid

pale; lacking vitality

perjury

false testimony under oath

pestilence

fatal disease or plague

pinions

small cogwheels

pious

respectful towards the gods

pomp

ostentatious display

portcullis

a grating that can be lowered to guard the entrance to a fortress

presentiments

premonitions; feelings that something is going to occur

pretexts

expressed purposes; excuses

profaned

dirtied; sullied

putrefaction

decay; decomposition

pyre

objects that have been piled up with the intention of setting them on fire

quench

satisfy (as in thirst); put out (as in a fire)

raucous

loud and rowdy

rebukes

chastises

renowned

famous; publicly respected for positive deeds

reverential

showing awe or veneration

rites

formal religious ceremonies

rudiments

basic elements

rustic

coarse; unsophisticated

sack

loot and pillage a town or city

saffron

a rich yellow color; a spice

sanctifies

makes holy; purifies

sanctity

purity (usually religious)

scabbard

the sheath for a dagger or sword

sentry

lookout; guardian

shade

the physical form of a deceased person; a ghost

shoals

shallow areas in a body of water

shun

reject

sinuous

supple; winding

skirt

pass close by the edge of something (e.g. an island)

sovereignty

royal power; authority

squalid

dirty from lack of care

staunch

to stop the flow (of blood, tears, etc.)

stratagems

military maneuvers

stupefying

amazing, astonishing; dulling

sullen

downcast; depressed

superfluous

unnecessary

tallow

animal fat

tawny

pale goldish-brown

teats

an animal's nipples

tedious

time-consuming and boring

tempests

storms

tenacious

determined

terebinth

a small tree, common to the Mediterranean

timbrel

ancient percussion instrument, similar to a tambourine

tranquil

peaceful

treachery

deception; betrayal of trust

tumult

disorderly event

unbridled

free from restraint

unfettered

unrestrained; free

valor

bravery

vanguard

the foremost position in an army entering into battle

vortex

center

votaries

individuals wholly devoted to religious service

wanton

immoral or lewd; excessively playful