Divine Comedy: Paradiso

Divine Comedy: Paradiso Glossary

allotment

the amount of something belonging to a particular person

ample

more than enough

Apollo

a god, son of Zeus and Leto; associated with music, poetic inspiration, archery, prophecy, medicine, pastoral life, and in later poetry with the sun; the sanctuary at Delphi was dedicated to him

awhile

for a short time

clarion

a shrill, narrow-tubed war trumpet

delirious

in an acutely disturbed state of mind resulting from illness or intoxication and characterized by restlessness, illusions, and incoherence of thought and speech

deride

express contempt for

diffuse

spread or cause to spread over a wide area

effulgence

brightness

endow

give or bequeath an income or property to a person or institution

enkindle

inspire, inflame

eternal

lasting or existing forever, without end or beginning

fain

willing or happy to [do something]

frolicsome

lively and playful

guise

appearance

hindrance

a thing that provides resistance

inundate

flood

laurels

the foliage of the bay tree woven into a wreath or crown and worn on the head as an emblem of victory or mark of honor in classical times

malevolence

anger

Marsyas

a satyr who challenged Apollo to a contest in flute-playing and was flayed alive when he lost

permutation

a way, esp. one of several possible variations, in which a set or number of things can be ordered or arranged

perturb

make someone anxious or unsettled

Plato

Greek philosopher. A disciple of Socrates and the teacher of Aristotle, he founded the Academy in Athens. His theory of "ideas" or "forms" contrasts abstract entities or universals with their objects or particulars in the material world. His philosophical writings are presented in the form of dialogues, and his political theories appear in the Republic

puerile

childishly silly and trivial

puissance

great power

repose

temporary rest from activity

resplendent

reflecting light; full of light; attractive and impressive through being richly colorful

rivulet

a very small stream

sacrosanct

regarded as too important or valuable to be interfered with

sate

satisfy a desire or an appetite to the fullest

semblance

resemblance, similarity

suffice

be enough

vanquish

defeat thoroughly

vengeance

revenge

viand

an item of food