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http://rhadamanthus.vox.com/library/post/words-derived-from-mythology.html



   Jan 15, 2007 at 11:15 PM 7 comments

   Several words in the English language (and probably other
   languages, as well) are borrowed from mythology. I decided to
   compile a list of these words, because I thought it would be
   interesting. I'm aware this isn't a linguistics group [this is
   posted to the mythology group, as well as my personal Vox], but
   since this is mythology related, I figured some people may be
   interested in it, and may even be able to contribute, hopefully.

   If you see something in parentheses, like (this), that's just the
   name of the mythological figure the word is based on. Not every
   word has this, but rather, only words that were modified when
   coming into English to the point where you may not recognize it's
   from mythology.

   A
   Aegis - Protection, sponsorship. The shield or buckler belonging
   to Zeus, supposedly made by Hephaestus, decorated with golden
   tassels and containing the head of Medusa in the center. From
   Greek mythology.

   Ambrosia - Something extremely pleasing to taste or smell. A food
   or drink of the gods from Greek mythology.

   Aphrodisiac (Aphrodite) - An agent (as a food or drug) that
   arouses or is held to arouse sexual desire. From Aphrodite, the
   Greek goddess of love, lust, beauty, and sexuality.

   Atlas - A bound collection of maps often including illustrations,
   informative tables, or textual matter. From Atlas, one of the
   primordial Titans in Greek mythology, whose punishment was to
   hold the sky upon his shoulders.

   Aurora - Dawn. From Aurora, the Roman goddess of dawn.

   B

   Berserk - Frenzied, crazed. From the Norse Berserkers, who were
   warriors that fought while in an "uncontrollable rage or trance of
   fury".

   C
   Cereal (Ceres) - Relating to grain or to the plants that produce
   it. Derived from Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture.

   D


   E

   Echo - The repetition of a sound caused by reflection of sound
   waves. A repetition or imitation of another. Perhaps from Greek
   mythology, a mountain nymph who was punished by Hera to repeat
   only the last words of other people's sentences. She also fell in
   love with Narcissus.
   F

   Fauna - The animals characteristic of a region, period, or special
   environment. From the Roman fertility goddess, Fauna, who was also
   either the wife, sister, or daughter of Faunus.

   Flora - Plant or bacterial life. From Roman mythology, the name of
   the goddess of flowers and spring.

   Friday (Frige) - The fifth or sixth day of the week. Derived from
   Frige, the love goddess of Norse mythology, and also the wife of
   Odin.

   G


   H

   Hades - Used as a synonym for "hell" by some (not sure if this one
   should count). The Greek god and personification of the underworld.

   Helium (Helios) - A light colorless inert gaseous element found
   especially in natural gases and used chiefly for inflating
   airships and balloons, in lamps, in cryogenic research, and as a
   component of inert atmospheres (as in welding). From Helios, the
   Greek personification of the sun.

   Hell - A nether world in which the dead continue to exist.
   Possibly named after Hel, the queen of the Norse underworld. This
   is, of course, not certain.

   Hermaphrodite (Hermaphroditus) - An animal or plant having both
   male and female reproductive organs. Something that is a
   combination of diverse elements. From Greek mythology, a child of
   Hermes and Aphrodite, who was turned into a hermaphrodite when the
   nymph Salmacis attempted to rape him [Hermaphroditus] and then
   called out to the gods requesting that they never part.

   Hermetic (Hermes Trismegistus) - Obscure, secret, isolated,
   airtight. From Greek mythology, Hermes Trismegistus, who was a
   combination of the Greek Hermes, and the Egyptian Thoth. They were
   both gods of magic and writing. He was not widely considered to be
   Hermes, but rather, a separate entity.

   I


   J

   January (Janus) - The first month of the Gregorian calendar. Named
   after Janus, the Roman god of gates, doorways, beginnings, and
   endings.

   Jovial (Jupiter) - Markedly good-humored especially as evidenced
   by jollity and conviviality. From the chief god of the Roman
   pantheon, Jupiter.

   June (Juno) - The sixth month of the Gregorian calendar. Possibly
   named after Juno, the queen of the gods in Roman mythology.

   K


   L

   Labyrinth -  A place constructed of or full of intricate
   passageways and blind alleys. A maze. Something extremely complex
   or tortuous in structure, arrangement, or character. "An elaborate
   structure constructed for King Minos of Crete and designed by the
   legendary artificer Daedalus to hold the Minotaur, a creature that
   was half man and half bull and which was eventually killed by the
   Athenian hero Theseus."

   M

   March (Mars) - The third month of the Gregorian calendar. Named
   after Mars, the Roman god of war.

   Martial (Mars) - Of, relating to, or suited for war or a warrior.
   Relating to an army or to military life. From Mars, the Roman god
   of war.

   May (Maia) - The fifth month of the Gregorian calendar. Possibly
   from the Roman goddess Maia, wife of Vulcan.

   Mentor - A trusted counselor or guide. Tutor. From Greek
   mythology, an old man who was the friend of Odysseus.

   Mint (Minthe) - Any of a genus (Mentha) of mints that have white,
   purple, or pink verticillate flowers with a nearly regular corolla
   and four equal stamens and that include some used in flavoring and
   cookery. From Greek mythology, a naiad associated with the river
   Cocytus. She was dazzled by Hades' golden chariot and was about to
   be seduced by him had not Queen Persephone metamorphosed Minthe
   into the pungently sweet-smelling mint

   Monday (Mani) - The first or second day of the week. Its name is
   from the Moon, which is derived from the Norse god of the moon,
   Mani, who would pull the moon through the sky every night while
   being chased by Hati.

   Morphine (Morpheus) - An analgesic and sedative. From Morpheus,
   the Greek god of dreams.

   Museum (Muse) - An institution devoted to the procurement, care,
   study, and display of objects of lasting interest or value. A
   place where objects are exhibited. From Greek "mouseion", a place
   or temple dedicated to the Muses.

   N

   Narcissism/Narcissist (Narcissus) - Love of or sexual desire for
   one's own body. Egoism, egocentrism. From Greek mythology, a
   beautiful youth who fell in love with his own reflection (how this
   happened depends on the story, as there a few different versions).

   Nemesis - One that inflicts retribution or vengeance. A formidable
   and usually victorious rival or opponent. From Greek mythology,
   the goddess of divine retribution.

   O

   Ocean (Oceanus) - The whole body of salt water that covers nearly
   three fourths of the surface of the earth. From Greek mythology,
   Oceanus was believed to be a large river that encircled the earth.
   Oceanus was also the personification of this "river".

   Odyssey -  A long wandering or voyage usually marked by many
   changes of fortune. An ancient Greek epic by Homer, mostly
   starring Odysseus during his journey after the fall of Troy.

   P

   Panic (Pan) - A sudden overpowering fright. From Pan, a Greek god
   who could cause contagious, groundless fear in herds and crowds,
   or in people in lonely spots.

   Priapism (Priapus) - An abnormal often painful persistent erection
   of the penis. Priapus was a minor fertility deity in Greek
   mythology who wasn't taken all that seriously.

   Q

   R

   Rhadamanthine (Rhadamanthus) - Rigorously strict or just. From
   Rhadamanthus, who was one of the judges of the underworld in Greek
   mythology, and said to be wise as well as just.

   S

   Saturday (Saturn) - The sixth or seventh day of the week. From
   Saturn, a Roman agriculture and harvest deity.

   Siren - A woman who sings with enchanting sweetness. A device
   often electrically operated for producing a penetrating warning
   sound. From the Greek sea nymph Siren, whose singing would lure
   sailors to their destruction.

   T

   Thursday (Thor) - The fourth or fifth day of the week. Derived
   from Thor, the Norse god of thunder, as well as the son of Odin
   and Jord.

   Titanic (Titan) - Having great magnitude, force, or power. From
   the Titans of Greek mythology.

   Tuesday (Tyr) - The second or third day of the week. Derived from
   Tyr, the Norse god of war.

   U


   V

   Vestal (Vesta) - Chaste. From the Roman virgin goddess Vesta, who
   was the goddess of home, hearth, and family.
   Volcano (Vulcan) - A vent in the crust of the earth or another
   planet or a moon from which usually molten or hot rock and steam
   issue. From the Roman god of fire, Vulcan.

   W

   Wednesday (Odin) - The third or fourth day of the week. Derived
   from the head God of the Norse pantheon, Odin.

   X


   Y

   Z

   Zephyr (Zephyrus) - A breeze from the west, or a gentle breeze.
   The Greek god of the west wind, who was the most gentle of the
   winds.

   Most of the definitions are from Merriam-Webster, and mythology
   research was mostly from Wikipedia. Hopefully, there's no factual
   errors (or any other kind of errors, for that matter).

   7 comments
   Tags:
   mythology, words, linguistics, etymology
   This also appears in:
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   Comments


   Zack wrote: Jan 15, 2007 Reply
   [this is good] Thursday (thor's day) day named after thor, demi
   god of thunder from norse mythology.

   Wedensday (Odin's day - Odins name was originaly spelled Wodin)
   Day named after Odin, father of the gods in norse mythology.

   Good stuff.

   Rhadamanthus replied to Zack’s comment: Jan 15, 2007 Reply
   Oh yeah! I, foolishly, forgot to mention those. I'll add them.



   i am kazarius wrote: Jan 25, 2007 Reply
   great job rodimusprime... did you do this on your lunch break?

   Strioii-Morti wrote: Feb 20, 2007 Reply
   Very interestng

   echo wrote: Apr 25, 2008 Reply
   [this is good]
   u forgot a very obvious one, or 2:

   the achille's tendin and psycology.


   echo wrote: Apr 25, 2008 Reply
   i used this for my literature project and got an a+!!!

   Thanks!

 
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※ 編輯: ott 時間: 2011-05-13 11:20:09