Excerpt from "The Odyssey"

This list is based on Tony Kline's translation of Book IX of Homer's epic poem, in which Odysseus tells the tale of his encounter with the Cyclops named Polyphemus.

Here are all the word lists to support the reading of Grade 8 Unit 1's texts from SpringBoard's Common Core ELA series: A Wrinkle in Time, The Drummer Boy of Shiloh, The Odyssey, A Man, Soldier home, Sonnet 116, Where I Find My Heroes, White House Funeral Sermon, O Captain! My Captain!, Frederick Douglass, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, A Definition of a Gentleman
20 words 2254 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. Cyclops
    (Greek mythology) one of a race of giants having a single eye in the middle of their forehead
    Looking across to the land of the neighboring Cyclops, we could see smoke and hear their voices, and the sound of their sheep and goats.
  2. solitude
    a state of social isolation
    There a giant spent the night, one that grazed his herds far off, alone, and keeping clear of others, lived in lawless solitude.
  3. savage
    without civilizing influences
    I filled a large goatskin with the wine, and took it along, with some food in a bag, since my instincts told me the giant would come at us quickly, a savage being with huge strength, knowing nothing of right or law.
  4. hospitality
    kindness in welcoming guests or strangers
    But I would not listen, though it would have been best, wishing to see the giant himself, and test his hospitality.
  5. kindle
    cause to start burning
    When he had busied himself at his tasks, and kindled a fire, he suddenly saw us, and said: "Strangers, who are you?
  6. monstrous
    abnormally large
    Our spirits fell at his words, in terror at his loud voice and monstrous size.
  7. Zeus
    the supreme god of ancient Greek mythology
    Heading for home we were forced to take another route, a different course, as Zeus, I suppose, intended.
  8. suppliant
    one praying humbly for something
    We are suppliants and Zeus protects visitors and suppliants, Zeus the god of guests, who follows the steps of sacred travelers.
  9. aegis
    armor plate that protects the chest
    Stranger, you are a foreigner or a fool, telling me to fear and revere the gods, since the Cyclopes care nothing for aegis-bearing Zeus
  10. Poseidon
    the god of the sea and earthquakes in ancient mythology
    Poseidon, Earth-Shaker, smashed my ship to pieces, wrecking her on the rocks that edge your island
  11. devoid
    completely wanting or lacking
    Devoid of pity, he was silent in response, but leaping up laid hands on my crew.
  12. whelp
    young of any of various canines such as a dog or wolf
    Two he seized and dashed to the ground like whelps, and their brains ran out and stained the earth.
  13. Athene
    goddess of wisdom and useful arts and prudent warfare
    Then whistling loudly he turned his flocks out on to the mountain slopes, leaving me with murder in my heart searching for a way to take vengeance on him, if Athene would grant me inspiration.
  14. premonition
    an early warning about a future event
    He herded them swiftly, every one, into the deep cave, leaving none in the broad yard, commanded to do so by a god, or because of some premonition.
  15. draught
    a serving of drink (usually alcoholic) drawn from a keg
    At this, he took the cup and drained it, and found the sweet drink so delightful he asked for another draught
  16. subtle
    difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze
    When the wine had fuddled his wits I tried him with subtle words
  17. scorch
    destroy completely by or as if by fire
    His lids and brows were scorched by flame from the burning eyeball, and its roots crackled with fire.
  18. treachery
    an act of deliberate betrayal
    "Nobody, my friends, is trying to kill me by violence or treachery."
  19. scheme
    an elaborate and systematic plan of action
    I dreamed up all sorts of tricks and schemes, as a man will in a life or death matter
  20. agony
    intense feelings of suffering; acute mental or physical pain
    Their master, tormented by agonies of pain, felt the backs of the sheep as they passed him, but foolishly failed to see my men tied under the rams' bellies.
Created on Sun Dec 14 16:04:49 EST 2014 (updated Sun Dec 14 22:43:40 EST 2014)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.