Oedipus at Colonus: List 1

by Sophocles
Though written last, this play in Sophocles' Theban Cycle takes place between the events of Oedipus the King and Antigone and focuses on the blind king's philosophical understanding of his fate. Learn these words from the translation by Francis Storr. Read the full text here.

Here are links to our lists for the play: List 1, List 2, List 3
35 words 481 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. sire
    the founder of a family
    Child of an old blind sire, Antigone,
    What region, say, whose city have we reached?
  2. denizen
    a person who inhabits a particular place
    Let us discover
    Where we have come, for strangers must inquire
    Of denizens, and do as they are bid.
  3. wayfarer
    a traveler going on a trip
    That much we heard from every wayfarer.
  4. rife
    excessively abundant
    The Gracious Ones, All-seeing, so our folk
    Call them, but elsewhere other names are rife.
  5. suppliant
    one praying humbly for something
    Then may they show their suppliant grace, for I
    From this your sanctuary will ne'er depart.
  6. consecrate
    dedicate to a deity by a vow
    Whate'er I know thou too shalt know; the place
    Is all to great Poseidon consecrate.
  7. bastion
    a stronghold for shelter during a battle
    Hard by, the Titan, he who bears the torch,
    Prometheus, has his worship; but the spot
    Thou treadest, the Brass-footed Threshold named,
    Is Athens' bastion, and the neighboring lands
    Claim as their chief and patron yonder knight
    Colonus, and in common bear his name.
  8. avail
    be of use to, be useful to
    Say a slight service may avail him much.
  9. fain
    in a willing manner
    Heed then; I fain would see thee out of harm;
    For by the looks, marred though they be by fate,
    I judge thee noble; tarry where thou art,
    While I go seek the burghers—those at hand,
    Not in the city.
  10. tarry
    stay longer than you should
    Heed then; I fain would see thee out of harm;
    For by the looks, marred though they be by fate,
    I judge thee noble; tarry where thou art,
    While I go seek the burghers—those at hand,
    Not in the city.
  11. consummation
    the act of bringing to completion or fruition
    O goddesses, fulfill Apollo's word,
    Grant me some consummation of my life,
    If haply I appear not all too vile,
    A thrall to sorrow worse than any slave.
  12. thrall
    someone held in bondage
    O goddesses, fulfill Apollo's word,
    Grant me some consummation of my life,
    If haply I appear not all too vile,
    A thrall to sorrow worse than any slave.
  13. profane
    grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacred
    But now some godless man,
    'Tis rumored, here abides;
    The precincts through I scan,
    Yet wot not where he hides,
    The wretch profane!
  14. hallowed
    worthy of religious veneration
    I warn thee, trespass not
    Within this hallowed spot,
    Lest thou shouldst find the silent grassy glade
    Where offerings are laid,
    Bowls of spring water mingled with sweet mead.
  15. beseech
    ask for or request earnestly
    If aught thou wouldst beseech,
    Speak where 'tis right; till then refrain from speech.
  16. forbear
    resist doing something
    Strangers, I have no country. O forbear—
  17. anon
    (old-fashioned or informal) in a little while
    O daughter, what will hap anon?
  18. troth
    a solemn pledge of fidelity
    How keep you then your troth?
  19. requite
    make repayment for or return something
    Heaven's justice never smites
    Him who ill with ill requites.
  20. reave
    steal goods; take as spoils
    Yet heed a maiden's moan
    Who pleads for him alone;
    My eyes, not reft of sight,
    Plead with you as a daughter's might
    You are our providence,
    O make us not go hence!
  21. providence
    a manifestation of God's foresightful care for his creatures
    Yet heed a maiden's moan
    Who pleads for him alone;
    My eyes, not reft of sight,
    Plead with you as a daughter's might
    You are our providence,
    O make us not go hence!
  22. boon
    something that is desirable, favorable, or beneficial
    O with a gracious nod
    Grant us the nigh despaired-of boon we crave?
  23. perdition
    the place or state in which one suffers eternal punishment
    Who 'scapes perdition if a god impel!
  24. repute
    the state of being held in high esteem and honor
    O what avails renown or fair repute?
  25. abet
    assist or encourage, usually in some wrongdoing
    Stand then on Heaven's side and never blot
    Athens' fair scutcheon by abetting wrong.
  26. visage
    the human face
    I came to you a suppliant, and you pledged
    Your honor; O preserve me to the end,
    O let not this marred visage do me wrong!
  27. purport
    propose or intend
    A holy and god-fearing man is here
    Whose coming purports comfort for your folk.
  28. behoove
    be appropriate or necessary
    So you, my children—those whom I behooved
    To bear the burden, stay at home like girls,
    While in their stead my daughters moil and drudge,
    Lightening their father's misery.
  29. drudge
    work hard
    So you, my children—those whom I behooved
    To bear the burden, stay at home like girls,
    While in their stead my daughters moil and drudge,
    Lightening their father's misery.
  30. oracle
    a prophecy revealed by a priest or priestess
    And thou, my child, whilom thou wentest forth,
    Eluding the Cadmeians' vigilance,
    To bring thy father all the oracles
    Concerning Oedipus, and didst make thyself
    My faithful lieger, when they banished me.
  31. inveterate
    habitual
    At the first they willed
    To leave the throne to Creon, minded well
    Thus to remove the inveterate curse of old,
    A canker that infected all thy race.
  32. vale
    a valley
    The banished brother (so all Thebes reports)
    Fled to the vale of Argos, and by help
    Of new alliance there and friends in arms,
    Swears he will stablish Argos straight as lord
    Of the Cadmeian land, or, if he fail,
    Exalt the victor to the stars of heaven.
  33. abase
    cause to feel shame
    The gods, who once abased, uplift thee now.
  34. rue
    feel sorry for; be contrite about
    Thebes, thou shalt rue this bitterly some day!
  35. wraith
    a ghostly figure, especially one seen shortly before death
    Thy angry wraith, when at thy tomb they stand.
Created on Wed Apr 08 11:18:46 EDT 2020 (updated Wed Apr 08 12:41:31 EDT 2020)

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.