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
