15 Ancient Greek Heroes from Plutarch's Lives

From: Subject: 15 Ancient Greek Heroes from Plutarch's Lives Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2004 08:26:59 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/related; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0000_01C40679.74B4C530"; type="multipart/alternative" X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1106 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0000_01C40679.74B4C530 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_001_0001_01C40679.74B4C530" ------=_NextPart_001_0001_01C40679.74B4C530 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.e-classics.com/index.html 15 Ancient Greek Heroes from Plutarch's Lives <body> <blockquote> <p ALIGN=3D"center"><font face=3D"Times New Roman,Times New Roman" = size=3D"4" color=3D"#FF00FF"><small><small><strong>From Plutarch's <em>Lives</em>, still inspirational after 19 = centuries:</strong></small></small></font></p> <blockquote> <p ALIGN=3D"center"><font color=3D"#800080" FACE=3D"Times New = Roman,Times New Roman" size=3D"5"><strong>15 Ancient Greek Heroes<br> from Plutarch's <em>Lives</em></strong></font><br> <font color=3D"#FF00FF"><font FACE=3D"Symbol"><font = size=3D"4">P&nbsp L&nbsp O&nbsp U&nbsp T &nbspA&nbsp R&nbsp C&nbsp O&nbsp U</font></font><br> </font><strong><font color=3D"#FF00FF" face=3D"Times New = Roman,Times New Roman" size=3D"2"><em>A modern English edition, abridged and annotated by Wilmot H. = McCutchen</em></font><font color=3D"#FF00FF"><br> </font><font face=3D"Times New Roman,Times New Roman" size=3D"1" = color=3D"#FF00FF">This site and all contents copyrighted =A9 1998, 1999 by Wilmot H. = McCutchen.&nbsp All Rights Reserved.</font></strong></p> <p ALIGN=3D"left"><strong><font FACE=3D"Times New Roman,Times New = Roman"><a href=3D"preface.htm" target=3D"_self">PREFACE</a><small>&nbsp by the author.&nbsp It's = brief, so start here, then read the following biographies in = order:</small></font></strong></p> <font FACE=3D"Times New Roman,Times New Roman"><p = ALIGN=3D"JUSTIFY"><strong><a href=3D"theseus.htm" = target=3D"_self"><big>Theseus</big></a></strong> &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp = <i><strong>The Athenian Adventurer</strong></i> (<em>circa</em> 1300 B.C.) <br> <strong><small>Theseus suppressed crime and brought the natives of = Attica together into the first democracy.&nbsp He saved the Athenian children from the = Minotaur, but his kidnap of the queen of the Amazons brought trouble, and he ended = his days in disgrace. </small></strong></p> <p ALIGN=3D"JUSTIFY"><strong><a href=3D"lycurgus.htm" = target=3D"_self"><big>Lycurgus</big></a></strong> &nbsp&nbsp<strong><em>T</em><i>he Father of Sparta</i></strong> = (<em>circa</em> 800 B.C.) <br> <strong><small>Lycurgus established harmony, simplicity, and = strength in Sparta. &nbspThis warrior society tamed its youth through systematic = education aimed at developing leadership, courage, public spirit, and = wisdom.</small></strong></p> <p ALIGN=3D"JUSTIFY"><strong><big><a href=3D"solon.htm" = target=3D"_self">Solon</a></big></strong> &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp <i><strong>The Lawmaker of Athens</strong> = </i>(<em>circa</em> 600 B.C.) <br> <strong><font face=3D"Times New Roman,Times New Roman" = size=3D"2">Athens, unlike Sparta, was a money-mad commercial city.&nbsp The constitution framed by Solon = mitigated the class struggle between the rich and the poor, and allowed for the growth = of democratic institutions.</font> </strong></p> <p ALIGN=3D"JUSTIFY"><strong><a href=3D"ARISTIDES.htm" = target=3D"_self"><big>Aristides</big></a></strong> &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp <em><strong>&quotThe Just&quot</strong></em> = (530 - 468 B.C.) <br> <strong><small>Aristides was so respected throughout Greece that = Athens assumed the leadership of the alliance against the Persian invaders.&nbsp His = character is a model for all ages.</small></strong></p> <p ALIGN=3D"JUSTIFY"><strong><a href=3D"pericles.htm" = target=3D"_self"><big>Pericles</big></a></strong> &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp&nbsp <em><strong>&quotThe = Olympian&quot</strong></em> (495 - 429 B.C.) <br> <strong><small>By the power of his eloquence, and the money = embezzled from Athens' unwilling allies, Pericles built Athens into a beautiful city and = a powerful empire. &nbsp Athenian imperialism, however, led to war with Sparta, known = to history as the Peloponnesian War.</small></strong></p> <p ALIGN=3D"JUSTIFY"><strong><a href=3D"nicias.htm" = target=3D"_self"><big>Nicias</big></a></strong> &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp<strong><i>The Slave of Fear</i></strong> (died 413 = B.C.) <br> <font face=3D"Times New Roman,Times New Roman" = size=3D"2"><strong>The turning point of the war with Sparta was the disastrous Sicilian Expedition eagerly = undertaken by the greedy Athenians.&nbsp Nicias was the reluctant leader in this = debacle.</strong></font></p> <p ALIGN=3D"JUSTIFY"><strong><big><a href=3D"AGESILAUS.html" = target=3D"_self">Agesilaus</a></big></strong> &nbsp&nbsp<strong><i>The Lame King of Sparta</i></strong> (444 - = 360 B.C.) <br> <small><strong>Agesilaus inherited the Spartan throne after Sparta = had defeated Athens in the Peloponnesian War.&nbsp&nbsp At that time, Sparta was the = undisputed master of Greece and the Aegean.&nbsp Because of his stubborn lust for = conquest, Agesilaus violated the laws of Lycurgus against imperialistic ventures and fighting = too much with the same enemy. &nbsp By the time Agesilaus died, Sparta had lost most of = its prestige and power</strong>.</small> </p> <p ALIGN=3D"JUSTIFY"><strong><big><a href=3D"PELOPIDAS.htm" = target=3D"_self">Pelopidas</a></big></strong> &nbsp&nbsp<i><strong>The Freedom Fighter</strong> </i>(410 - 364 = B.C.) <br> <strong><small>Pelopidas led the Thebans to recover their liberty, = then he led them to victory over the invincible Spartans.&nbsp From beginning to end, = his was the life of a hero.</small></strong></p> <p ALIGN=3D"JUSTIFY"><strong><a href=3D"dion.htm" = target=3D"_self"><big>Dion</big></a></strong> &nbsp&nbsp<i><strong>The Savior of Syracuse</strong> </i>(409 - = 354 B.C.)<br> <strong><font face=3D"Times New Roman,Times New Roman" = size=3D"2">Sicily was an important part of the Greek world. Dion led the struggle against tyranny in its = largest city, Syracuse.&nbsp Betrayal and ingratitude were his = reward</font><font size=3D"2"> for indulging the democrats of Syracuse</font><font face=3D"Times New = Roman,Times New Roman" size=3D"2">.</font></strong></p> <p ALIGN=3D"JUSTIFY"><strong><a href=3D"timoleon.htm" = target=3D"_self"><big>Timoleon</big></a></strong><i> &nbsp&nbsp<strong>The Friend of Fortune</strong></i> (411 - 336 = B.C.) <br> <strong><small>Against heavy odds, but with the help of the gods, = Timoleon took up where Dion had left off, and liberated Sicily from barbarians and = tyrants.&nbsp His courage and wisdom established peace and prosperity where before there had = been desolation and war.</small></strong></p> <p ALIGN=3D"JUSTIFY"><strong><big><a href=3D"ALEXANDER.htm" = target=3D"_self">Alexander</a></big></strong> &nbsp&nbsp<strong><em>&quotThe Great&quot</em> </strong>(356 - 323 = B.C.) <br> <strong><small>In an amazing eleven-year journey of conquest, = young Alexander of Macedonia conquered all the way from Egypt to India.&nbsp Behind him came = Greek institutions and the Greek language, which became the standard of the ancient = world.&nbsp The intoxication of power caused Alexander to become strange to his friends, and he = died unhappy.</small></strong></p> <p ALIGN=3D"JUSTIFY"><strong><a href=3D"phocion.htm" = target=3D"_self"><big>Phocion</big></a></strong> &nbsp<strong><em>&quotThe Good&quot</em></strong> (402 - 318 B.C.) = <br> <font face=3D"Times New Roman,Times New Roman" = size=3D"2"><strong>After her defeat in the Peloponnesian War, and her surrender to the power of Macedonia, = Athens became a decadent democracy.&nbsp Phocion did his best to save his fellow citizens = from their own foolishness, and at last he earned the reward of = Socrates.</strong></font></p> <p ALIGN=3D"JUSTIFY"><strong><a href=3D"pyrrhus.htm" = target=3D"_self"><big>Pyrrhus</big></a></strong> &nbsp <i><strong>The Fool of Hope</strong> </i>(319 - 272 B.C.) = <br> <strong><small>In Pyrrhus' wild career of restless trouble-making, = we see a soul incapable of satisfaction.&nbsp He was a mighty man of war, and nearly = conquered Rome, but he could never finish what he started before getting distracted by a new = project.</small></strong></p> <p ALIGN=3D"JUSTIFY"><strong><big><a href=3D"agis.htm" = target=3D"_self">Agis</a></big></strong> &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp<i><strong>The Reformer of Sparta</strong></i> = (reigned 245 - 241 B.C.) <br> <strong><small>The love of money had virtually destroyed the laws = of Lycurgus in Sparta by the time Agis became king.&nbsp This idealistic young man tried to = restore the old way of life that had made Sparta great, but he was defeated by the power = of greed.</small><i> </i></strong></p> <p ALIGN=3D"JUSTIFY"><big><strong><a href=3D"PHILOPOEMEN.htm" = target=3D"_self">Philopoemen</a></strong> </big>&nbsp<strong><em>&quotThe Last of the = Greeks&quot</em></strong> (252 - 182 B.C.) <br> <strong><small>Philopoemen led the last remnants of resistance to = the creeping domination of Rome in Greece.&nbsp In this austere general, we see an = indomitable character, superior to his circumstances.</small></strong></p> <i><p ALIGN=3D"JUSTIFY"><strong>Postscript</i>:</strong>&nbsp&nbsp = <strong><big><a href=3D"plutarch.htm" target=3D"_self">Plutarch</a></big></strong> = (<em>circa</em> 40 - 120 A.D.) <br> <strong><small>Who was Plutarch, and why was his work such a hit = in the Renaissance? &nbsp More important, why has it nearly disappeared after being = long at the top of the Western classical canon?</small></strong></p> <i><p ALIGN=3D"LEFT"></i><strong><em><small><a = href=3D"chronology.htm">CHRONOLOGY&nbsp OF&nbsp ANCIENT &nbsp GREECE </a></small><br> </em><small>A timeline so you can see the flow of events during = the rise and fall of Ancient Greece.</small></strong></p> </font><p ALIGN=3D"center"><strong><em><font FACE=3D"Times New = Roman,Times New Roman">Shortcuts to Major Topics:</font></em></strong><br> <a href=3D"ALEXANDER.htm#Troy">Trojan War</a> | <a = href=3D"theseus.htm#Amazons">Amazons</a> | <a href=3D"solon.htm#Solon">Atlantis</a> | <a = href=3D"phocion.htm#Socrates">Socrates</a> | <a href=3D"nicias.htm#Plato">Plato</a> | <a = href=3D"agis.htm#Leaders">Fable of the Snake</a> | <br> <a href=3D"ARISTIDES.htm#Persians">Battle of Marathon</a> | <a href=3D"ARISTIDES.htm#Battle of Salamis">Battle of Salamis</a> | = <a href=3D"ARISTIDES.htm#When">Battle of Plataea</a> | <a = href=3D"PELOPIDAS.htm#5">Battle of Leuctra</a> | <br> <a href=3D"ARISTIDES.htm#When the gods">The Four Ages of = Humanity</a></p> <div align=3D"center"><center><table border=3D"0" = cellspacing=3D"1" width=3D"233" bgcolor=3D"#FF00FF" cellpadding=3D"3"> <tr> <td width=3D"227"><p align=3D"center"><strong><a = href=3D"links.htm"><big>Ancient Greece Links</big></a></strong></td> </tr> </table> </center></div> </blockquote> <blockquote> <p align=3D"center"><strong><small>This site first posted on = September 15, 1998.</small></strong>&nbsp </p> <p align=3D"center"><em><strong>Latest = revision:</strong></em>&nbsp January 12, 1999</p> </blockquote> <blockquote> <p>Comments?&nbsp Or would you like a floppy of this site, in = hypertext with the vocabulary frame, that you can read on your browser?&nbsp This has = the full look and feel of the net version, but without the download delays ($15, = including shipping in US).&nbsp It's a great tool for SAT verbal preparation, or for polishing the = business English of advanced foreign students.&nbsp Write to <br> <br> &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Wilmot McCutchen<br> &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp P.O. Box 689<br> &nbsp&nbsp&nbsp Orinda, CA 94563<br> <br> Donations to this cause will be gratefully accepted.&nbsp You can = e-mail me at <a = href=3D"mailto:yowilmot@pacbell.net">yowilmot@pacbell.net</a>.&nbsp </p> </blockquote> <p>&nbsp</p> </blockquote> </body> ------=_NextPart_001_0001_01C40679.74B4C530 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.e-classics.com/ALEXANDER.htm Alexander the Great

A L E X A N D E = R
"The Great"
(356 -323 B.C.)
A L E X A N D R O = S
by=20 Plutarch
In an amazing eleven-year journey of conquest, = young=20 Alexander of Macedonia conquered all the way from Egypt to = India.  =20 Behind him came Greek institutions and the Greek language, which = became the=20 standard of the ancient world.   The intoxication of power = caused=20 Alexander to become strange to his friends, and he died=20 unhappy.

Go = to Home Page=20 for 15 Greek Heroes from Plutarch's=20 = Lives
<= /CENTER>

    My intention= is not=20 to write histories, but lives. Sometimes small incidents,= rather=20 than glorious exploits, = give us=20 the best evidence of character. So, as portrait painters are = more exact=20 in doing the face (where the character is revealed) than the rest of = the body,=20 I must be allowed to give my more particular attention to the marks of = the=20 souls of men. By these, rather than the historical events they=20 participated in, I try to portray their lives. I leave the task = of a=20 more complete historical chronicle= to=20 others.

    On the day that Alexander was born, = the=20 temple of Diana at Ephesus ¹=20 burned down, an omen which the fortune-tellers of the East interpreted = as a=20 sign that on that day, the force that would destroy Asia had entered = the=20 world.

    Alexander had light skin, blond = hair, and=20 melting blue eyes. A sweet natural fragrance= came=20 from his body, so strong that it perfumed his clothes.

    Action and glory, rather than = pleasure and=20 wealth, were what Alexander wanted from life. Fame was his=20 passion. When he heard of the conquests of his father, King = Philip of=20 Macedonia, Alexander was not happy about the additional wealth and = power that=20 he would inherit, but instead was sad that there would be less left = for him to=20 conquer. Alexander often lamented to his friends that the way = things=20 were going, nothing would be left for him to do once he became king. =

    Alexander wanted a kingdom involved = in=20 trouble and war, where he would have an ample field to exercise his = courage=20 and make his mark on history. He disdained= a life=20 of comfortable sloth. = This=20 young warrior was always a great patron of = the arts=20 and of learning. He enjoyed and encouraged hunting and the = martial arts,=20 except for boxing.

* * *

    Bucephalus was Alexander's horse = throughout=20 most of his career. Some horse traders had brought this = magnificent=20 animal to King Philip and offered him for sale, but no man could ride=20 him. The traders were taking Bucephalus away when Alexander = remarked=20 that it was a shame to lose such a fine horse just because no one knew = the=20 right way to manage him. Philip at first ignored the boy, but = Alexander=20 persisted.=20 Finally Philip said: "Do you presume = to=20 criticize those who are older than you, as if you knew more, and could = do=20 better?" Alexander boldly declared that he would ride the horse, = and=20 everyone laughed. He bet the price of the horse, and got the = chance to=20 try.

    Alexander had noticed that = Bucephalus was=20 afraid of his own shadow, so he turned the horse to face the sun and = settled=20 him down, then walked him in that direction for a while, stroking him = whenever=20 he became eager and fiery. Suddenly, Alexander jumped on his = back and=20 drew in the bridle gently, but firmly, until all rebelliousness was=20 gone. Then he let Bucephalus go at full speed, urging him on = with a=20 commanding voice.

    Alexander's father and the others = looked on=20 nervously until they saw Alexander turn at the end of his run and come = back in=20 triumph. "Oh my son," said King Philip with tears in his eyes, = "find=20 yourself a kingdom equal to and worthy of yourself, for Macedonia is = too=20 little for you."

    After this, Philip sent for = Aristotle ^2=
=20to be Alexander's tutor. Ordinary teachers would not be = enough for=20 Alexander, who could easily be led by reason but refused to submit to = compulsion. =20 All kinds of learning and reading interested him, but Homer=92s=20 Iliad ³=20 was by far his favorite book. He always took a copy, = annotated by=20 Aristotle, along on his campaigns. Aristotle had a profound = influence on=20 Alexander, who said that he loved Aristotle as much as Philip -- his = father=20 had given him life, and his teacher had taught him to use it.

* * *

    When Alexander was sixteen, Philip = left him=20 in charge of Macedonia while he went away on a campaign against the = people of=20 Byzantium. The Maedi rebelled while Philip was gone, and = Alexander led=20 an army against their largest city. He moved out the Maedi and = renamed=20 the city "Alexandropolis," after himself.

    Philip put Alexander in command of = the=20 cavalry at the Battle of Chaeronea, ⁴=20 and Alexander led the charge that broke the Theban Sacred Band. = ^5=
=20This early bravery made his father so fond of him = that=20 Philip liked nothing better than to hear his soldiers say that Philip = was=20 their general, but Alexander was their king.

    Philip had a stormy home life with=20 Alexander's mother, Olympias. Philip had spied on her once and = seen a=20 snake in her bed, and ever since then they had been estranged= . =20 Philip's new marriages enraged = Olympias,=20 who was a violent, jealous, and unforgiving woman. The trouble = in the=20 women's chambers spread to the whole kingdom. Olympias even = managed to=20 turn Alexander against his father.

    The breaking point came when Philip = married=20 Cleopatra, the very young niece of Attalus. At the wedding = feast,=20 Attalus (who was drunk), in his toast, = asked the=20 Macedonians to pray to the gods for a lawful successor to=20 the kingdom through his niece. This so irritated = Alexander that he threw a cup at Attalus and shouted: "What am I then = -- a=20 bastard?" Philip (who was also drunk) took Attalus' side and = came at=20 Alexander with a sword, but he slipped and fell down on the = floor. =20 Alexander derided = his drunk=20 and clumsy father and then left Macedonia, along with Olympias.

    An old friend of the family came to = visit=20 Philip, and Philip asked him if the Greeks were at peace with each=20 other. The visitor replied: "It is strange that you are so = worried about=20 Greece when your own house is torn apart by so many wars." = Philip got = the=20 point, and called Alexander home. But soon another matter = came=20 between Alexander and his father.

    By yet another wife, Philip had a = son named=20 Arrhidaeus, who had been a healthy boy until Olympias gave him some = drugs that=20 damaged his brains. The satrap of = Caria=20 asked for a marriage between his daughter and Arrhidaeus, hoping to = ally=20 himself with Philip's family. Olympias, aided by a few of = Alexander's=20 companions, filled Alexander's head with suspicions that Philip was = preparing=20 to hand over the kingdom to Arrhidaeus. So Alexander sent = Thessalus, an=20 actor, to the satrap with instructions to disparage= =20 Arrhidaeus and to offer a marriage with Alexander instead.

    Of course the satrap was much = happier with=20 the prospect of Alexander rather than Arrhidaeus as his = son-in-law. But=20 when Philip heard about Alexander's proposal, = he emphatically told=20 his son that it was unworthy of the power he was due to inherit to beg = for an=20 alliance with a man who was no more than the slave of a barbarian = king. =20 Philip had Thessalus sent to him in chains, and he banished = some of=20 Alexander's companions who had talked Alexander into this.

    Shortly afterwards, Philip was was = murdered.=20 The assassin was Pausanias, who was angry because Philip had = refused to=20 give him justice for some injury done to him by Attalus. But it = was=20 Philip's wife who was the instigator. =20 Olympias took this enraged young man and made him the instrument of = her=20 revenge against her husband. Once Philip was out of the way, = Olympias=20 tortured her hated young rival, = Cleopatra, to=20 death.

    So, at the age of only twenty, = Alexander=20 became king of Macedonia.

    The neighboring states and the = cities of=20 Greece rebelled = against=20 Macedonian rule now that they saw a boy on the throne. = Alexander's=20 council advised him to give up trying to subjugate= the=20 Greeks and to concentrate his resources on keeping the barbarian = nations of=20 the north under control. Treat the Greeks kindly, they said, and = that=20 will dissipate= the=20 first impulses of rebellion.= =20

    But Alexander rejected this = advice. If=20 any sign of weakness were perceived at the beginning of his = government,=20 everyone would be encouraged to attack, so only in bravery was there=20 safety. First Alexander marched to the Danube and beat down all=20 opposition from the tribes in that area. When everything there = was=20 peaceful again, he turned south and marched to Greece.

    There had been a revolution in = Thebes. =20 The demagogues there=20 were urging all of the other Greeks to join Thebes and free themselves = from=20 Macedonian domination. Athens also was being agitated = by talk=20 of war and rebellion, particularly from the demagogue Demosthenes. ⁶=20

    After a march of two weeks, = Alexander=20 appeared at the walls of Thebes and demanded that the city send him = the two=20 leaders of the rebellion. To show how willing he was to forgive = what=20 was in the past, Alexander offered a full pardon for all those that = would take=20 it. The Thebans gave him an insulting reply, so Alexander killed = six=20 thousand of them, demolished= their=20 city, and sold all of the surviving inhabitants<= /A> as=20 slaves.

    This severe example would make the = other=20 Greeks think twice about the consequences of disobedience. And = soon the=20 Athenians repented = and reaffirmed= their=20 allegiance=20 to Macedonia. Whether Alexander's new gentleness toward the = Athenians=20 was the result of remorse = over the=20 horrible cruelty done to Thebes, or merely that his passion for blood = was=20 satisfied, is not certain. However, from then on Alexander = always showed=20 kindness to any Theban survivor he could find.

    Soon afterwards, representatives of = the=20 Greeks assembled at Corinth and named Alexander to lead them in a war = against=20 Persia. ⁷ =20 While Alexander was at Corinth, politicians and philosophers came to=20 congratulate him, but he noticed that the famous philosopher Diogenes, = who=20 lived there in Corinth, did not come.

    So Alexander went to visit Diogenes = at his=20 home and found him lying down, sun-bathing. Diogenes raised = himself up a=20 little when he heard the crowd approaching, and Alexander asked the=20 philosopher very courteously if there was any favor a king could do = for=20 him. Diogenes only said: "Yes, please take your shadow off = me." =20 Alexander's companions, on the way back, were making fun of the = simple-minded=20 old man, but Alexander told them: "Laugh if you must, but if I were = not=20 Alexander I would choose to be Diogenes."

* * *

    Between 30,000 and 43,000 infantry = and=20 between 3,000 and 4,000 horsemen followed Alexander into Asia Minor = [334=20 B.C.]. He had only 70 talents = for their=20 pay, and no more than thirty days' provisions. Alexander was 200 = talents=20 in debt, having spent everything he had in making sure that his best = men were=20 able to provide for their families. When one of his generals = asked what=20 he had kept for himself, Alexander answered: "My hope." This = general=20 then refused the pension that Alexander offered him, saying: "Your = soldiers=20 will be your partners in that."

    With such desire and determination, = Alexander=20 and his army crossed the Hellespont into Asia and came to Troy. = ^8=
=20 At the tomb of Achilles, who was his ancestor on his = mother=92s=20 side, Alexander anointed the gravestone with oil and then ran around = it naked=20 with his companions, according to the ancient custom. Achilles, = he said,=20 was a lucky man to have had a good friend while he was alive and a = good poet=20 to preserve his memory after he was dead.⁹⁼

    Meanwhile, the Persians had camped = on the=20 other side of the Granicus River to prevent Alexander from = crossing. The=20 Persian force numbered 20,000 infantry and 20,000 cavalry, and their = position=20 was strong. The river was deep, and its banks were high. = The task of assault = seemed to=20 be impossible, but Alexander immediately led thirteen squadrons of = horsemen=20 across under a shower of arrows. With frenzied = persistence= =20 they managed to get up the muddy banks and close with the enemy.

    Alexander's white plume and = brilliant armor=20 made him easy to pick out, so the bravest Persians clustered = where he=20 was, and that is where the fight was most furious. One Persian = chieftain=20 knocked Alexander dizzy with a battle-ax, but Clitus saved Alexander's = life by=20 spearing the assailant= before=20 he could finish the kill.

    The Macedonian phalanx, = meanwhile, had managed to get across the river and form up on the = other=20 side. The Persians could not stand up against their push, and = soon the=20 whole Persian army was running for their lives. The losses on = the=20 Persian side were 20,000 infantry and 2,500 cavalry, but Alexander = lost only=20 34 men.

    This first victory changed = everything. =20 All of the cities on the coast surrendered to Alexander, except for=20 Halicarnassus and Miletus, which he had to take by force.

    Now Alexander faced a difficult = decision:=20 whether to consolidate= =20 his conquests, in order that their resources could provide a secure = base for=20 later operations, or to move immediately against the Persian king = Darius in=20 the heart of his empire. Consolidation was Alexander's choice, = so he=20 moved down the coast to take control of Lycia, then turned north to=20 Phrygia.

    There, in the city of Gordium, he = accepted=20 the challenge of the Gordian Knot. A very intricate= knot=20 tied together the yoke of an ancient chariot, and there was a legend = that=20 whoever could undo the knot would become the master of the world. = Alexander=20 pulled out his sword and chopped through the Gordian Knot, instead of=20 involving himself in its mysterious entanglements.

    King Darius of Persia was on the = way from=20 Susa with an army of 600,000 men. For some time, Alexander = stayed in=20 Cilicia, which Darius and his advisors attributed to=20 Alexander=92s fear of encountering the overwhelmingl= y=20 large Persian force. The real reason for Alexander's delay was = that he=20 was getting=20 over a serious illness.

    All of Alexander's attendants were=20 afraid to try any remedies, because if their remedy failed, and = Alexander=20 died, the Macedonians might blame the physician. But there was = one,=20 Philip the Acarnanian, who dared to try, and he risked his own life to = save=20 Alexander's. Alexander received a letter from Parmenio, warning = of treachery= by=20 this physician, who, said the letter, had been bribed by Darius to = give poison=20 instead of medicine. Alexander read the letter, then put it = under his=20 pillow, showing it to no one. When Philip came in with the potion, = Alexander=20 took out the letter and handed it to him, and while Philip read the = letter,=20 Alexander drank the potion with a smile. In a short time, = Alexander was=20 well.

    The Persians had camped in flat and = open=20 country, where they could take advantage of their superiority in=20 cavalry. But as weeks passed with no sign of Alexander (who was=20 recovering from his sickness), Darius' flatterers convinced him that = the=20 Greeks were afraid to fight, and therefore Darius should move his army = to=20 Issus to cut off their escape. Darius marched to Issus at the = same time=20 that Alexander marched into Syria to meet him, and the two armies = passed each=20 other. When Alexander heard that the Persians were behind him at = Issus,=20 he immediately turned back and hurried to fight there.

    Darius was in an equal hurry to get = out of=20 Issus, because when he saw the rough terrain, = which=20 made his cavalry useless, and split up his army, he realized that the = Greeks=20 could have the advantage. Before Darius could escape from his = own trap,=20 Alexander had arrived. Alexander personally commanded the right = wing,=20 which crushed the Persian left. Darius panicked and rode away, = leaving=20 behind his chariot, his bow, his shield, his mantle, his army, and = 110,000=20 Persian casualties. ¹⁰= =20

* * *

    Among the captives taken in the = Persian camp=20 were the mother, wife, and daughters of Darius. Alexander = assured these=20 women that they had nothing to fear from him or his men, since he = fought with=20 Darius only for his empire, and not for personal spite. = He=20 guaranteed that they would continue to be treated according to their = rank and=20 would have everything they used to have from Darius. Alexander = was=20 always very chaste = and courteous= in his=20 relations with the opposite sex, and he had a great respect for the=20 institution of marriage. He used to say that two things reminded = him=20 that he was human, and not a god: sleeping and the act of generation, = as if to=20 say that both weariness and lust are produced by the same weakness and = imbecility= of=20 human nature.

    In eating, also, Alexander was = totally in=20 command of his appetite, and neither a glutton = nor a gourmet.&nb= sp;=20 When offered the services of some cooks who were said to have great = skill, he=20 declined, saying that the best stimulus to a good appetite was a long = march=20 before breakfast and a moderate breakfast to create an appetite for=20 dinner. It was generally believed that Alexander was addicted to = wine,=20 but that impression arose from the fact that he liked to stay up late = over=20 wine talking.

    When he had free time, Alexander = would read,=20 write, or hunt. He would not have dinner until after dark, and = this=20 would be a very long meal because he loved good conversation. = Usually,=20 his own talk was amusing and intelligent, but Alexander sometimes = would lapse into = braggadocio= . =20 This gave his flatterers a chance to ride him, and put his friends in = the=20 unpleasant position of choosing between shame and danger -- they disdained= to=20 compete in flattery but were afraid not to join in.

* * *

    After the Battle of Issus [333 = B.C.],=20 Alexander sent some men to Damascus to take possession of the money = and=20 baggage that the Persian army had left there. Every soldier in = the Greek=20 army became a rich man, with beautiful women for slaves. = Alexander=20 allowed this because he wanted them to get a taste of barbaric luxury = that=20 would make them more eager to conquer more territory. He = considered it=20 to be like giving bloodhounds the scent.

    Then Alexander proceeded down the = coast to=20 the city of Tyre, which refused to surrender to him. While his = army sat=20 down for a siege at Tyre [332 B.C.], Alexander went into Arabia.

    One day, he fell behind the rest of = his army=20 because his old teacher, Lysimachus (whom he used to compare to = Phoenix, the=20 guardian of Achilles) could not keep up. Night found Alexander = in a very=20 dangerous position: far behind his army and without any fire to combat = the=20 cold. He noticed some enemy campfires, so he ran over to one, = killed two=20 soldiers with his knife, then carried back a burning stick to his = men. =20 This was typical of Alexander -- he was always encouraging his men by = a=20 personal example of readiness to work and face danger.

    During the seven months that it = took before=20 Tyre finally was sacked, Darius wrote to Alexander and offered to pay = ransom=20 for the prisoners held by Alexander. Darius also offered to give = Alexander one of his daughters in marriage if Alexander would be = satisfied=20 with dominion=20 over all of the countries west of the Euphrates. Alexander told = his=20 friends about the offer, and asked their advice. Parmenio said, "If I = were=20 you, I would take it gladly."

    Alexander responded, "So would I, = if I were=20 Parmenio, but I am Alexander, so I will send Darius a different = answer." =20 This was Alexander's answer to Darius: "All of Asia is mine, including = all of=20 its treasure. This money you offer is already mine. As for = your=20 daughter, if I want to marry her, I will do so, whether or not you=20 approve. If there is something you want from me, you may come in = person=20 and ask for it. Otherwise, I will have to go to where you = are."

* * *

    After Tyre and Gaza had been taken, = Alexander=20 went into Egypt. He founded the city of Alexandria [331 B.C.] at = the=20 mouth of the Nile, pursuant to a dream he had. His = fortune-tellers=20 predicted that Alexandria would become a great city that would feed = many=20 strangers, and so it came to = pass.=20

    Then Alexander decided to take a = long journey=20 to an oasis in=20 the middle of a vast desert, to visit the temple of the god Ammon. ¹¹= =20    Not only would water be scarce along the way, but = sandstorms had=20 buried whole armies there before. All of these dangers and = difficulties=20 did not matter to Alexander, who could not be diverted = from his=20 plan once he had decided to do something. Alexander's good luck = made him=20 firm in his opinions, and his natural courage made him delight in = overcoming=20 difficulties, as if conquering armies was not enough, and only Nature = herself=20 was a fit opponent for him.

    Alexander's good luck = continued. Heavy=20 rain solved the water problem, and also prevented sand from = blowing. =20 When the Macedonians lost their way, some ravens came to guide = them. =20 These birds flew ahead to indicate the right direction, and at night = the=20 ravens' calls kept them on the right path.

    At the temple of Ammon, Alexander = asked the=20 oracle = whether=20 he would be allowed to conquer the world, and the oracle said = yes. =20 Returning out of Egypt, Alexander accepted the surrender of all = countries west=20 of the Euphrates. Then he went after Darius, who by this time = had=20 gathered another army, this time of a million men.

    The two armies came in sight of = each other=20 one night at Gaugamela [also known as Arbela, on October 1, 331 = B.C.]. =20 The noise and campfires of the vast barbarian camp were so frightening = that=20 some of Alexander's generals advised a night attack because it would = be too=20 dangerous to take on such a huge force in daylight. But = Alexander=20 replied: "I will not steal victory." To some, this sounded = immature and=20 conceited= ,=20 but it was a wise strategy: if Darius lost this battle, in broad = daylight on a=20 field he had chosen, he would have no excuse for defeat, as he had = before at=20 Issus. With his heart broken, Darius would not try again. = The war=20 would be over, even though in his empire Darius had plenty of men and=20 resources to keep up the fight for a long time. So Alexander and = his men=20 rested until late the next morning. ¹²= =20 He awoke alert and cheerful after a long sleep.

    As long as Alexander was riding = around before=20 battle, he used another horse besides Bucephalus, who by now was = growing=20 old. But when the time came for fighting, he mounted Bucephalus, = and=20 commenced the attack. On this day Alexander gave a long speech = to the=20 Thessalians and other Greeks, who answered him with loud shouts, = whereupon he=20 put his javelin into his left hand and lifted up his right to the gods = in a=20 prayer for victory. Just at that moment, an eagle soared over = him and=20 then flew toward the enemy, and this omen put = fire in each=20 man's heart. The horsemen charged at full speed, followed by the = Macedonian phalanx.&nb= sp; The=20 Persians did not wait for them, but fell back, and Alexander kept = herding them=20 into the center, where Darius stood, along with his best men. = These fugitives= =20 crowded in and impaired = the ones=20 who stood their=20 ground, so that none of them could do any fighting. Dead = Persian=20 bodies piled so high around Darius that they almost covered the horses = of his=20 chariot. Darius mounted a mare, and once again he left his army = behind=20 him. ¹³=   =20

    Parmenio, who had command of the = left wing,=20 sent an urgent=20 message to Alexander, saying that if reinforc= ements=20 were not sent from the front to the rear, the Greek camp and all of = the=20 baggage would be lost to the Persians. Alexander replied to = Parmenio=20 that he should remember that if they won, they would not only recover = their=20 own baggage but also take the enemy's; and if they lost, then they = would not=20 have to worry about possessions because their only business would be = to die=20 like brave men.

* * *

    Without opposition, Alexander = marched to=20 Babylon, which immediately surrendered. Then he went to Susa, = where he=20 took possession of an immense = amount of=20 gold and other treasures. He continued on into Persia itself and = took=20 Persepolis, the capital, where he spent the winter with his army = [January -=20 May, 330 B.C.]. Darius, meanwhile, escaped to the north with a = small remnant = of his=20 once-splendid=20 force.

    Before going to find Darius, = Alexander held a=20 party for his officers. He even let them bring women with them, = one of=20 whom was a certain courtesan= named=20 Thais from Athens. After the drinking had gone on for some time, = Thais=20 announced that she would like to burn down the palace built by King = Xerxes,=20 who had burned down Athens. Thus, she said, it might be said = that even=20 the women who followed Alexander took greater revenge on the Persians = than all=20 of the Greek generals who had tried before. This flattering and = amusing=20 proposal naturally got a good reaction from the drunken crowd, and = Alexander=20 went along. He led the way with a lighted torch in his hand, and = the=20 others followed, yelling and dancing. When the rest of the = Macedonians=20 heard the noise and found out what was going on, they joined in. = They=20 hoped that by burning the palace of the monarch of Persia, Alexander = would=20 clearly indicate = his=20 intention to return to Macedonia instead of settling among the=20 barbarians. However, after the fire had burned for a while, = Alexander=20 gave orders to put it out.

    Of all the things that Alexander = won from=20 Darius, the most precious was an exquisite= =20 box. He asked his friends what treasure he should keep in = it. =20 There were various suggestions, and good arguments why each was the = most=20 precious thing that he owned, but Alexander finally declared that the = honor=20 would not go to any of these but to his annotated= copy=20 of the Iliad.

    Among the presents that he sent = back to=20 Greece, a huge quantity of frankincen= se=20 and myrrh went = to=20 his tutor, Leonidas. The reason for this gift was that one day, = when=20 Alexander was still a boy, Leonidas had told him not to use so much of = these=20 spices in the sacrifice he was performing, saying: "When you have = conquered=20 the countries where these things grow, then you may be more liberal, = but for=20 now do not waste the little that we have." Alexander sent the = following=20 note with the gift: "We send you plenty of frankincense and myrrh so = that in=20 the future you will not be a niggard = to the=20 gods."

    Alexander's natural generosity = increased=20 along with his wealth, and he gave with the grace that makes a gift = really=20 appreciated. For example, Ariston had killed an enemy, and as he = showed=20 Alexander the head to prove it, he mentioned that the customary= reward=20 for such a service in his country was a gold cup. Alexander = smiled and=20 said: "Yes, an empty one. But here is one full of good wine, and = a toast to = your good=20 service and friendship."

    Another time, one of the common = soldiers was=20 driving a mule that carried some of Alexander's treasure. The = mule was=20 too exhausted to go on, so the soldier put the load on his own=20 shoulders. Alexander saw the man staggering=20 along, and he asked what was the matter. The soldier told him = that the=20 mule was too tired to carry the load, and that he was about at the end = of his=20 endurance too. "Don't give up now," said Alexander, "but carry = what you=20 have there to the end of the journey, then take it to your own tent, = to keep=20 for yourself."

    Alexander was always more = displeased with=20 those who refused his generosity than with those who abused it. =

    His mother, Olympias, wrote to = Alexander=20 often, and she repeatedly advised him not to make his friends so rich = that=20 they would become kings themselves, with the power to buy their own = retinue,=20 while Alexander became poor and weak through his = generosity.  =20 Alexander sent his mother many presents, and stayed in close touch = with her,=20 but he declined to follow her advice. This made Olympias angry, = and=20 Alexander patiently endured = her=20 wrath. Olympias also tried to meddle in the government of = Macedonia, and=20 he bore = with=20 this as well. Antipater, his governor in Macedonia, wrote = Alexander a=20 long letter full of grievances=20 against Olympias, and Alexander said to his friends: "Antipater does = not=20 realize that one tear of a mother erases ten thousand letters like = this."

* * *

    Now that they were rich, and = addicted to=20 pleasure, Alexander's soldiers began to be lax about = their=20 military training. He gently scolded = them,=20 saying that he wondered how they could not have learned, after all of = their=20 battles and hardships, that those who labor sleep better than those = who are=20 labored for, and that luxury leads to slavery, while royalty goes with = pain=20 and work. "Haven't you learned yet," he said, "that the honor = and=20 perfection of our victory consists in avoiding the vices that = have made=20 our enemies so easy to beat?"

    Alexander was particularly = concerned about=20 their lack of exercise. He made his point by saying that no one = could=20 claim to be a soldier if he did not take care of the equipment that = was=20 nearest to himself, i.e. his body -- even though he might have splendid = armor=20 and a fine horse. Alexander led by his own example in this: = instead of=20 enjoying lazy days of pleasure, he hunted lions. But his = followers had=20 become arrogant = now that=20 they were rich. They were tired of marching and fighting. = Finally,=20 their bad attitude led them to say bad things about their leader.

    At first Alexander was patient with = them,=20 saying that a king should do good to others, even if he is paid back = with evil=20 words. He continued to show kind attention to his friends. = But=20 there was one thing Alexander would never tolerate: = any=20 disrespect to his reputation as a soldier, which was more precious to = him than=20 his life and possessions.

* * *

    Finally, the time came to track = down=20 Darius. After covering four hundred miles in eleven days, = Alexander and=20 his soldiers were nearly dead from thirst. Some Macedonian = scouts had=20 brought back a few bags of water from a distant river, and they = offered=20 Alexander a helmet-full. Although his mouth was so dry that he = nearly=20 was choking, he gave back the helmet with his thanks and explained: = "There is=20 not enough for everyone, and if I drink, the others will faint." = When=20 his men saw this, they spurred their horses forward and shouted for = him to=20 lead them. With such a king, they said, they would defy any=20 hardships.

    News came that one Bessus had = betrayed Darius=20 and made him a prisoner in his own camp. Alexander moved on at a = furious=20 pace, and no more than 160 of his horsemen could keep up with = him. When=20 they got to the camp, they found that Bessus had left Darius to = die. =20 Darius was barely alive, and as he died he told one of Alexander's men = that it=20 was the culmination of all of his bad luck not to be able to live long = enough=20 to pay back Alexander for the courtesy he had shown to his mother, = wife, and=20 children. Darius died before Alexander could get to see him = [July 330=20 B.C.]. Alexander put his own cloak over Darius and sincerely lamented = his=20 death. The body was sent to Darius' mother for an honorable = funeral,=20 suitable to his rank. The reward of the traitor Bessus was to = be torn=20 apart by bent trees.

* * *

    In Parthia, Alexander rested his = army. =20 It was there that he first put on barbarian= =20 clothes, which at first he wore only when he talked to the barbarians, = as if=20 to win them over by conforming = to=20 their customs. But afterwards he dressed that way in front of = his=20 soldiers. This filled them with grief, but they were willing to = indulge = a few eccentricitie= s=20 in such a brave commander.

    Alexander continued into Bactria = and=20 conquered it [328 B.C.]. There, among the captives, he saw = Roxane, the=20 daughter of the king. It was true love at first sight, and = Alexander=20 married her. Instead of taking Roxane by force, Alexander went = through=20 all of the Bactrian ceremonies for an official marriage. This=20 demonstration of his self-control and respect for their culture endeared = him to the=20 barbarians.

    Hephaestion was the friend who most = approved=20 of Alexander's adoption of foreign customs, and he imitated Alexander = in these=20 changes. But Craterus continued to adhere to = Macedonian ways. Alexander used Hephaestion in dealing with the=20 barbarians, and Craterus in dealing with the Greeks. He showed = more=20 affection for Hephaestion, whom he called Alexander's friend, and more = respect=20 for Craterus, whom he called the king's friend. These two = friends always=20 had a secret grudge = against each=20 other, sometimes even quarrelling openly in front of the soldiers. =

    In the army there was widespread resentment= over=20 Alexander's change to foreign clothes and customs. To the = barbarians, he=20 would demand the groveling= due to=20 an oriental despot, = and would=20 claim the title of Son of God. ^{14<=
/A>   =20}But to the Greeks, Alexander was more modest. He used to = say that=20 God was the common father of all of us, but especially of the = best. =20 Among his friends he made no effort to keep up the persona = he=20 projected to the barbarians.

* * *

    Philotas, the son of Parmenio, had = a=20 reputation among the Macedonians second only to Alexander = himself. =20 Philotas was brave and able to endure = any fatigue = of war,=20 and he was almost as generous to friends as Alexander.

    But Philotas carried his arrogance = and his=20 pride of wealth too far. In him there was none of the grace and=20 gentleness of true greatness, so his spurious = majesty=20 drew a lot of envy=20 and hatred. For a long time Alexander had heard complaints about = Philotas. Philotas' father, Parmenio, knowing this, advised = Philotas to=20 behave more modestly. =

    One of the slaves that Philotas had = won was=20 Antigone of Pydna. One day, Philotas was drunk, and he boasted to = Antigone=20 that he and his father had won all of the victories, even though the = boy=20 Alexander had taken the credit. Antigone passed this = on to=20 another woman. Eventually,=20 Craterus heard about this remark, and he brought Antigone secretly to=20 Alexander. Alexander listened to her account = and then=20 told her to continue to pump Philotas and bring him reports of what he = said. But Alexander did not take any action because he was = afraid to=20 disturb his army still further.

    The breaking point came with the = matter of=20 Limnus. This Limnus, a Macedonian, conspired = to assassinate= =20 Alexander, and he tried to bring in Nicomachus, who refused to go = along. =20 Nicomachus confided = the=20 secret to his brother, and the two brothers went to Philotas and asked = to see=20 Alexander on a matter of the greatest importance. Both of them = tried=20 again and again, but Philotas kept putting them = off=20 by telling them that Alexander was too busy.

    So the two brothers went to someone = else, who=20 arranged = an=20 interview with Alexander. The brothers told Alexander about = Limnus' conspiracy= , then=20 went on and told how Philotas had prevented them from warning him=20 earlier. This enraged=20 Alexander. He sent a soldier to bring Limnus in for = questioning. =20 When this soldier reported back that Limnus had died avoiding = arrest, = Alexander=20 became even more angry because he had lost all means of finding out = who else=20 was involved.<= /P>
    But Philotas' enemies told = Alexander that=20 certainly such an insignifi= cant=20 person as Limnus could not be the ringleader of=20 the conspiracy. They suggested that interroga= tion=20 should start with those who apparently had such an interest in = preventing detection= . =20 Once they had Alexander's attention for this sort of insinuation<= /A>,=20 they went on to show a thousand reasons why Philotas should be suspected= . =20 They succeeded so well that Alexander ordered Philotas arrested = and=20 questioned under torture. Although Philotas denied that he had = any part=20 in the conspiracy= ,=20 Alexander had him executed. Alexander also sent assassins to=20 kill Philotas' father, Parmenio, who was second in command of the army = and had=20 been a loyal=20 friend of Alexander=92s father, King Philip.

    These proceedings made Alexander a = terror to = his=20 friends. And soon afterwards, Alexander personally killed his = close=20 friend Clitus. ¹⁵=   =20 Alexander had received a present of fresh fruit from Greece, and, as = was his=20 custom, he invited some of his friends to come and share the fruit = with=20 him. Among these was Clitus.

    After everyone had had plenty to = drink,=20 including Clitus and Alexander, some of them started to sing a song = making fun=20 of some Macedonians who recently had been defeated in a battle with = the barbarians.=20 The older men were displeased, but Alexander and the younger = men=20 enjoyed it, and called on the singers to continue.&= nbsp;=20 Clitus remarked that it was not good to entertain the barbarians with = jokes=20 about Macedonians, especially when the subjects of the satire were = better men=20 than those who made fun of them, even if their luck had been = worse.

    Alexander joked that Clitus was pleading = for=20 himself, giving cowardice= the=20 name of bad luck. Clitus then got to his feet and said: "This = cowardice,=20 as you are pleased to call it, saved the life of the Son of God at the = battle=20 of Granicus. Those poor Macedonians you laugh at have, by their = wounds=20 fighting for you, made you so great now that you disown = your father=20 Philip and call yourself the son of Ammon."

    Stung by these words, Alexander = threatened=20 Clitus: "Do you think you are not going to be punished for those = words, which=20 you say to make the Macedonians rebel = against=20 me?" Still Clitus would not shut up. = "We=20 are punished enough already," he said, "if this is our reward for our = work,=20 and those men are lucky who did not live to see Macedonians have to = beg=20 Persians for access to = their=20 king, and to see Greeks beaten by barbarian rods."¹⁶  =20 Alexander grabbed a spear and threw it, killing Clitus.

    All that night and the next day, = Alexander=20 cried bitterly,=20 until finally he ran out of tears and could only lie on the floor of = his=20 chamber and sigh. His friends thought that this silence meant he = was in=20 danger, so they broke in. ¹⁷=   =20 But Alexander paid = no=20 attention until they brought Callisthenes, a close friend of = Aristotle, to=20 see him, along with another philosopher named Anaxarchus.

    Callisthenes tried soothing moral = arguments,=20 but Alexander was not comforted. Anaxarchus awoke Alexander from = his depression by=20 saying: "So there is Alexander the Great, who is feared by the whole = world.=20 Look at him lying on the ground, sobbing because he fears what = men=20 might say about him -- as if he himself should not give them law, and=20 establish the boundaries of justice and injustice. He who = conquers is=20 the lord and master, not the slave, of the idle opinions of little=20 men."   With speeches like this, Anaxarchus comforted = Alexander but=20 corrupted = his=20 character, making him bolder to do wrong than he had been before. ¹⁸⁼²⁰

    These two philosophers, Anaxarchus = and=20 Callisthenes, warred over the soul of Alexander. The flatterers = and=20 parasites around Alexander already hated Callistenes because of his = popularity=20 with both the young soldiers and the old. The old men admired=20 Callisthenes for his simple life and contentment= ,=20 and the young men for his eloquence= . =20 His detractors said=20 that Callisthenes seemed to have an attitude of superiority= . =20 When he was invited to a party, most of the time he would not = come. If=20 he did, he would usually sit silently as if he disapproved of what was = going=20 on.

    One night Callisthenes was present = where a=20 large crowd had been invited to dine with Alexander. When the = cup was=20 passed to Callisthenes, he was called upon to make an extempor= aneous=20 oration in = praise of the Macedonians. Callisthenes spoke with such eloquence= that=20 everyone present gave him a standing = ovation=20 and threw flowers. Alexander remarked that it was easy to be = eloquent on=20 such a good subject, and he gave Callisthenes a greater challenge: to = speak=20 about the faults of the Macedonians, so they might all learn to be = better in=20 the future.

    It was truly said by Aristotle that = Callisthenes was a powerful speaker, but he had bad judgment. =20 Callisthenes did so well at describing the faults of the Macedonians = that they=20 all hated him from then on. Some say that Callisthenes died in = prison=20 after seven months in chains; others say that he was hanged.

* * *

    Alexander wanted to invade India, = but his=20 soldiers were so burdened = with booty that = they=20 moved very slowly on the march. One day, at dawn, after all of = the=20 wagons were loaded, Alexander set fire to his own and to those of his=20 friends. Then he commanded the rest of the army to burn their = wagons=20 too. By now, Alexander had become very severe and pitiless in = punishing=20 any disobedience. Although a few were unhappy, most of the army = was glad=20 to see this barbaric baggage burn away so that they could be warriors=20 again.

    King Taxiles ruled a large area in=20 India. When he heard that Alexander was coming, Taxiles did not = wait,=20 but went in person to meet him in peace. "Why should we make war = on each=20 other," Taxiles said, "if the reason for your coming is not to rob us = of our=20 water and our food? Those are the only things that a wise man = has no=20 choice but to fight for. As for any other riches or possessions, = if I=20 have more than you I am ready to share. But if fortune has been = better=20 to you than to me, then I have no objection to being in your debt." =

    These courteous= words=20 pleased Alexander, and he replied: "Do you think your kind words and = courteous=20 conduct will avoid a contest between us? No, I will not let you = off so=20 easily. I will do battle with you on these terms: no matter how = much you=20 give me, I will give more in return." Thereupon Taxiles made = many fine=20 presents to Alexander, but Alexander responded with presents of even = greater=20 value and topped them off with a thousand talents = in gold=20 coins. This generosity displeased Alexander's old friends but = won the=20 hearts of many of the Indians.

    King Porus, however, refused to = submit, and=20 he took up a position to prevent Alexander from crossing the Hydaspes=20 River. Porus was a huge man, and when mounted on his war = elephant he=20 looked in the same proportion as an ordinary man on a horse. = After a=20 long fight, Alexander won the victory, and Porus came to him as a=20 prisoner. Alexander asked him how he expected to be treated, and = Porus=20 replied: "As a king." When Alexander asked a second time, Porus=20 explained that in those words was included everything that a man could = possibly want. Alexander not only allowed Porus to keep his = kingdom as=20 a satrap, but = he=20 also gave him more territory.

    This was a costly victory, = however. =20 Many Macedonians died, and so did Alexander's old war horse, = Bucephalus. =20 This grieved Alexander so much that it seemed as though he had lost an = old=20 friend. On that spot he ordered a city to be built, named = Bucephalia.=20

    Such a difficult victory over only = 22,000=20 Indians [May 326 B.C.] took the edge off the courage of the = Macedonians. =20 They had no enthusiasm for=20 Alexander's proposed = crossing=20 of the Ganges, a river said to be four miles wide and six hundred feet = deep,=20 to encounter= =20 an army on the other side consisting=20 of 200,000 infantry, 80,000 cavalry, 8,000 chariots, and 6,000 war = elephants. Alexander was so angry at their reluctance that=20 he shut himself up in his tent, saying that if they would not cross = the=20 Ganges, he owed them no thanks for anything they had done so far. = But=20 finally the persuasions of his friends, and the pleas of = his=20 soldiers, got Alexander to agree to turn back.

    To exaggerate his=20 reputation, Alexander left bridles and armor that were much bigger = than=20 normal, and huge altars to = the=20 gods. On a flotilla = of rafts=20 and barges, Alexander's army floated down the Indus River.

    Along the way, they stopped to take = some=20 fortified cities, and at one of them Alexander came very close to = losing his=20 life. Alexander was the first one up the ladders onto the wall = of the=20 city of the Mallians, and then he jumped down into the town with only = two of=20 his guards behind him. Before the rest of the Macedonians could catch = up and save=20 him, Alexander had taken an arrow in the ribs and had been knocked = dizzy by a=20 club. He was unconscious when they carried him away, and he = fainted when=20 the doctors cut out the arrow. Rumors spread that Alexander was = dead.=20

* * *

    While in India, Alexander took ten = of the=20 Brahmins ¹⁹= =20 prisoner. These men had a great reputation for=20 intelligence, so Alexander decided to give them a test. He = announced=20 that the one who gave the worst answer would be the first to die, and = he made=20 the oldest Brahmin the judge of the competition.

    Which are more numerous, Alexander = asked the=20 first one, the living or the dead? "The living," said the = Brahmin,=20 "because the dead no longer count."

    Which produces more creatures, the = sea or the=20 land? Alexander asked the second. "The land," was his answer, = "because=20 the sea is only a part of it."

    The third was asked which animal = was the=20 smartest of all, and the Brahmin replied: "The one we have not found = yet."=20

    Alexander asked the fourth what = argument he=20 had used to stir up the Indians to fight, and he answered: "Only = that=20 one should either live nobly or die nobly."

    Which is older: day or night? was = Alexander's=20 question to the fifth, and the answer he got was: "Day is older, = by one=20 day at least." When he saw that Alexander was not satisfied with = this=20 answer, the Brahmin added: "Strange questions get strange answers." =

    What should a man do to make = himself loved?=20 asked Alexander, and the sixth Brahmin replied: "Be powerful without = being=20 frightening."

    What does a man have to do to = become a god?=20 he asked the seventh, who responded: "Do what is impossible for a = man."

    The question to the eighth was = whether death=20 or life was stronger, and his answer: "Life is stronger than death, = because it=20 bears so many miseries."

    The ninth Brahmin was asked how = long it was=20 proper for a man to live, and he said: "Until it seems better to die." =

    Then Alexander turned to the judge, = who=20 decided that each one had answered worse than another. "You will = die=20 first, then, for giving such a decision," said Alexander. "Not = so,=20 mighty king," said the Brahmin, "if you want to remain a man = of your=20 word. You said that you would kill first the one who made = the worst=20 answer." Alexander gave all of the Brahmins presents and set = them free,=20 even though they had persuaded = the=20 Indians to fight him.

* * *

    Alexander's voyage down the Indus = took seven=20 months. When he finally arrived at the Indian Ocean, he decided = not to=20 take the army home by ship but to march them through the Gedrosian = Desert. ²⁰= =20    After sixty miserable days, they arrived at Gedrosia, = where they=20 finally found enough to eat and drink. Many died in that desert: = out of=20 the 120,000 infantry and 15,000 cavalry that Alexander took with him = into=20 India, only one in four came back.

    The news about the difficulties he = had in=20 India, his brush with death, and the huge attrition= of his=20 army in the desert, all made the conquered nations think of = revolution. =20 The satraps and commanders he had left in the provinces thought that = now they=20 could do anything they wanted. Even in Macedonia, Alexander's = mother had=20 deposed = the man=20 Alexander had left in charge. But still Alexander wanted to go = on to new=20 adventures. This time, he proposed to sail around Africa to the = Pillars=20 of Hercules [Gibraltar].

    The tomb of Cyrus had been looted = by one of=20 the Macedonians, and for this Alexander ordered the grave-robber=20 executed. The inscription= on=20 the tomb was: "Whoever you are, and wherever you come from (for I know = that=20 you will come), I am Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire. = Please=20 let me keep this dirt that covers my corpse." It greatly = disturbed=20 Alexander to see by this example how fragile = human fame=20 could be.

    At the same time, Calanus (one of = the=20 Brahmins who had accompanied Alexander back from India) asked that a = funeral=20 pyre be = built for=20 him. Once everything was ready, Calanus did the customary = ceremonies=20 for a funeral, then said goodbye to his Macedonian friends. He = told them=20 to tell Alexander that Calanus would be seeing him in Babylon = soon. Then=20 he climbed on the pyre, lit it, and stayed perfectly still until he = was ashes.=20

    That night, Alexander held a = banquet for a=20 large number of his friends and officers, and he offered a prize for = the man=20 who could drink the most wine. Promachus drank twelve quarts and = got the=20 prize, but three days later he died. Forty-one others also died = from=20 this debauch.
* * *

    At Susa [324 B.C.], Alexander took = Statira,=20 the daughter of King Darius, as another wife. ²¹= =20 At the same time, he married the best-bred ladies of Persia to = his=20 friends. These marriages were jointly celebrated by a = magnificent=20 festival for nine thousand guests, each of whom got a gold = wine-cup. =20 Alexander also paid off all of the debts of his soldiers, which took = 10,000 talents. =

    When he had left for India, = Alexander had put=20 30,000 Persian boys into Greek military training, and by now they had=20 developed into strong and expert fighters. They put on a = demonstration=20 of their military exercises, which pleased him, but depressed the = Macedonians,=20 who now believed that Alexander had no more use for them.

    When Alexander allowed some of the = sick and=20 wounded to return to Macedonia, the other Greeks asked to leave = too. =20 They added that Alexander no longer needed their services, now that he = had=20 such a fine bunch of Persian dancing boys, with which he could go on = to=20 conquer the world. This infuriated=20 Alexander, and after a long and abusive tirade he = fired all=20 of his guards and replaced them with Persians. Not long = afterwards, the=20 Greeks repented.&nb= sp;=20 They stood outside Alexander's tent for two days and nights until he = finally=20 relented = and=20 sent them back with rewards for their services.

    Alexander continued on to Ecbatana, = where he=20 took care of some business of his empire and then relaxed and enjoyed = himself=20 with public spectacles. Three thousand actors and artists had = just=20 arrived from Greece to amuse him. But Alexander's happiness did = not last=20 long, because his best friend, Hephaestion, died of a fever.

    Alexander's grief over Hephaestion = went=20 beyond all reasonable bounds. He crucified the doctor who had = treated=20 Hephaestion. ²²=   =20 He ordered all of the manes and tails of the animals in his army to be = cut off=20 as a sign of mourning, and he tore down the walls of the cities = nearby. =20 He banned all music. Then he went into the country of the = Cossaeans and=20 for no reason massacred = the=20 entire nation.

    The tomb of Hephaestion was to be a = memorial=20 of unprecedented= =20 magnificence, and Alexander spent most of his time going over the = plans with=20 his architects. On his way to Babylon, the local fortune-tellers = prophesied that he would die if he entered the city. But = Alexander paid=20 no attention. As he came to the walls, he saw some crows = fighting with=20 each other, and some fell near him. Even this omen could = not deter=20 Alexander from entering Babylon.

    Other strange omens, however, did = get=20 Alexander's attention. A donkey kicked his biggest lion to = death. =20 And one day there was a man sitting on Alexander's throne in a = trance. =20 After this, Alexander lost his confidence in the gods and in his=20 friends. Once he allowed fears of supernatural influence to take = root in=20 his mind, he became so easily frightened that the smallest event took = on=20 enormous significance. Crowds of fortune-tellers and priests = infested=20 his court.

    Contempt of divine power makes a = man=20 miserable, but, on the other hand, so does superstition. Like = water, it=20 seeps in to fill the depressed mind with fear and foolish = notions. =20 Alexander drank heavily, and he caught a fever. After suffering for = twelve=20 days, he died in Babylon [June 10, 323 B.C.]. ²³

Go = to Home Page=20 for 15 Greek Heroes from Plutarch's=20 = Lives
<= /CENTER>

Go to Life of=20 Phocion

NOTES:

1. =     =20 The temple of Diana at Ephesus was one of the seven wonders of the = ancient=20 world.

2.     Aristotle = was the pupil=20 of Plato and the most famous philosopher of his time. He left = behind a=20 huge body of work on logic, political theory, and natural science.

3.     The = Iliad=20 has always been a favorite of warriors. The subject is a few = weeks in=20 the ninth year of the siege of Troy, when Achilles, a warrior as = strong and=20 grand as Alexander, lost his best friend in battle and took ferocious = revenge=20 on the enemy. Recent archeological discoveries have revealed = that Troy=20 really did exist and that it was as large as Homer described it.

4.     At the = Battle of=20 Chaeronea (338 B.C.), King Philip of Macedonia defeated Athens and its = allies=20 and became the boss of Greece. Two years later, however, Philip = was=20 assassinated.

5.     The Sacred = Band in the=20 army of Thebes was an elite unit of 300 picked warriors. See the = life of=20 Pelopidas.

6.     Plutarch's = life of=20 Demosthenes has not been included in this collection.

7.     A = panhellenic war=20 against the Persians had been a dream for some time. Xenophon = and the=20 Ten Thousand (mercenaries) showed how easy it would be, and what = incredible=20 wealth was there. Agesilaus (see the life of Agesilaus) had easy = success=20 until he was called home to fight wars in Greece. However, it = took a=20 Macedonian to pull the Greeks together and get them to stop fighting=20 themselves.

8.     Troy=20 was the site of the Trojan War (circa 1250 B.C.), where Alexander's = ancestor,=20 the great Achilles, grandson of Aeacus, did the deeds immortalized = in=20 the Iliad by Homer.

The story of the Trojan War may be found in = the=20 Iliad of Homer, the=20 Metamorphoses of Ovid, and the=20 Aeneid of Virgil. Briefly:

Eris, the goddess of discord, was angry because she = alone=20 among all of the gods had not been invited to the wedding of Peleus = (the=20 father of Achilles) and Thetis (a sea goddess). She showed up = anyway=20 and threw in a golden apple, inscribed with the words: "To the most=20 attractive." Three goddesses squabbled over the golden apple: = Hera=20 (Juno), the queen of the gods, Aphrodite (Venus), the goddess of = love, and=20 Athena (Minerva), the goddess of wisdom. To settle the = argument, the=20 three goddesses agreed to allow some mortal man to make the judgment = and=20 award the apple. The arbitrator selected was Paris, a young = prince of=20 Troy, a city that was a major power because it dominated the channel = linking=20 trade between the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea. =

The three goddesses appeared to Paris and applied = their=20 persuasions. Hera offered wealth and power beyond any man in = the=20 world. Athena offered wisdom. But Aphrodite offered what = this=20 young man could not resist: the most beautiful woman in the = world. =20 This is essentially the same choice any young man must make: love, = money, or=20 wisdom. The judgment of Paris was for Aphrodite, and Helen was = his=20 prize. She happened to be married at the time,=20 however.

Paris sailed off to Sparta and was received as a = guest of=20 Menelaus, its king, who was Helen's husband. Paris repaid the = kindness=20 of his host by stealing his wife and much loot, which he took back = to=20 Troy. Menelaus' brother was Agamemnon, the King of Mycenae, = who=20 collected a large army to punish Paris and Troy. =

After a ten-year siege, Troy was taken by the = stratagem of the=20 Trojan Horse. The Greeks built a huge horse of wood, too big = to fit=20 through the gates of Troy, then left this strange monument behind = and=20 pretended to sail home. Inside the horse were some of the = best Greek=20 warriors. Despite the warnings of Cassandra, the Trojans were=20 completely fooled, and they made a passage through their walls, = dragged the=20 horse inside, and then everyone had a victory party. Late that = night,=20 as the Trojans were sleeping off their debauch, the Greeks inside = the horse=20 came out and opened the gates. The rest of the Greeks, who had = turned=20 back and landed again, entered and sacked the city. =

That was the end of the Trojans, but Aeneas, one of = the=20 princes of their allies, escaped from the slaughter with some = companions and=20 founded Rome. Aeneas was the son of Aphrodite (Venus) and a=20 descendant of the original king of Troy. =

9.     Achilles' = best friend=20 was Patroclus, who borrowed Achilles' armor to turn back the Trojans = and was=20 killed by Hector when he carried his victory too far. Achilles'=20 extravagant grief over the loss of his friend was imitated later by = Alexander=20 when he lost Hephaestion. Homer, of course, was the poet = referred to by=20 Alexander.

10.     Arrian = tells us that=20 the Persians were putting up a good fight until Darius ran. Then = they=20 all panicked, and trampled each other trying to escape in the narrow = mountain=20 passes. Alexander's losses were very light, only 450 killed and = 4,500=20 wounded, including Alexander, who got a sword cut on his thigh. = Arrian=20 is the leading ancient biographer of Alexander, and he wrote shortly = after=20 Plutarch. His account is a real history, and therefore is much = more=20 complete than Plutarch's.

11.     Ammon was = a ram with=20 curved horns, supposed to be an Egyptian form of Jupiter. After = spying=20 on Olympias and noticing a snake in her bed, King Philip had consulted = the=20 oracle of Apollo at Delphi for the meaning of this strange = sight. The=20 oracle replied that the snake was a form of Ammon -- Greek gods were = capable=20 of assuming different shapes. Olympias told Alexander the secret = that=20 Ammon was his real father, not Philip.

12.     Arrian = tells us that=20 Darius, who was expecting an attack that night, kept his men standing = in=20 formation all night, so that by the next day his army was exhausted. =

13.     Darius = lost even=20 though he outnumbered Alexander by 20 to 1.

14.     Arrian = tells us that=20 Alexander introduced the Persian custom of prostration in his court, = and even=20 Macedonians were expected to grovel on the floor when they saw = him. =20 Although it was optional for Macedonians, Alexander clearly was more = pleased=20 with those that did than those that did not. It was hard for him = to have=20 a consistent policy since he had to be a god to the barbarians and a = friend to=20 the Macedonians.

15.     Clitus = was the=20 brother of Alexander's nursemaid, a senior commander under Philip, and = the=20 commander of the Royal Squadron of Alexander's cavalry. He had = saved=20 Alexander's life at the Battle of the Granicus River. Clitus was = one of=20 the Macedonian commanders that most disliked the change in Alexander = from=20 warrior king to barbarian megalomaniac. This incident took place = in=20 Marakanda, 328 B.C.

16.     Alexander = had police=20 recruited from the local population.

17.     Alexander = tried to=20 kill himself with the same spear he used on Clitus, once he saw what = he had=20 done. He called himself the murderer of his friends, which was a = fact.

18.     Alexander = cried when=20 he heard Anaxarchus talk about the infinite number of worlds in the=20 universe. One of Alexander's friends asked him what was the = matter, and=20 he replied: "There are so many worlds, and I have not yet conquered = even=20 one." This anecdote comes from Plutarch's essay in the=20 Moralia entitled " On Contentment of the Mind."

19.     Brahmins = were the=20 priests and scholars of India, the highest of the four castes in the = Vedic=20 social order. The other castes were the soldiers, the merchants, = and the=20 laborers. By the time Alexander came to India, there was already = a very=20 ancient and well-developed civilization. Buddha lived = approximately two=20 hundred years before Alexander, and before Buddha there was a long = tradition=20 of Vedic culture and institutions in India.

20.     Arrian = tells us that=20 the reason Alexander wanted to try this desert crossing was that no = one had=20 ever brought an army through there before. He knew of the = difficulties=20 they would encounter. The loot from their expedition had to be = left=20 behind for lack of animals to carry it, since most of the animals died = of=20 thirst. Anyone who could not keep up was left behind to = die. Then=20 when they finally found a stream of water and camped beside it, = monsoon rains=20 caused a sudden flood that drowned all of the women and children and = all of=20 the surviving animals, and only a few of the soldiers managed to = escape=20 drowning in the desert. This took place in 325 B.C.

21.     Great men = in the=20 ancient world usually were polygamous. Once Alexander was dead, = however,=20 Roxane had her rival killed. She and Alexander's baby were = murdered=20 later by Cassander in Macedonia.

22.     This = doctor was not=20 at fault, except that he had left his patient and gone to see a = play. =20 Hephaestion took that opportunity to break the diet that the doctor = had=20 prescribed, and he ate a whole chicken and drank a lot of wine. = This=20 aggravated his fever, and soon he died.

23.    "If the rule of = due measure=20 is neglected, and great power is put into things too small -- such as = sails on=20 ships, food in bodies, or authority to souls -- then there is = disaster. =20 No mortal, when young and irresponsible, will ever be able to stand in = the=20 highest ruling position on Earth without his mind being filled with=20 foolishness, earning him the detestation of even his closest = friends. =20 When this happens, it quickly ruins the soul itself and obliterates = all of its=20 power." Plato, Laws, III,=20 691.

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Here are 1065 useful words and phrases in = modern American=20 business English. Clicking on the highlighted words in the text = will=20 display their definition in this window. These words have been = chosen=20 with two classes of students in mind: (1) those wishing to improve = their SAT=20 verbal score, and (2) adult students of English as a second language, = who=20 would prefer a serious and classic text and convenient = definitions. =20 Studying the words in context, and examining the brief definitions and = examples provided in this list, will add significantly to the = student's real=20 understanding of proper usage.

If you are still reading, you need to click on = the down=20 arrow above this frame (i.e. the one that = controls=20 the main frame above) to scroll through the table of = contents.

abate (a bate')
Make = less; die=20 down.
Example: The city passed a law to=20 abate the noise coming from factories.

abducted
Kidnapped; = carried away=20 a person by force.

abet (a=20 bet')
Assist; help out, especially in doing = something=20 bad.
Example: Nixon had a staff to=20 abet his crimes.

abide (a byd')
Tolerate;=20 stand. In archaic usage, abide means to = live=20 there, and the home where one abides is called an=20 abode.

abolish
Wipe out by decree; = annul.

abroad (a brod')
Outside = of your=20 own country.

abrogate (ab' ro = gate)
Cancel by=20 an official act.

abscond (ab skond')
Run = off with=20 the money.

absent
Not there; = missing. =20

absolute
Pure; = total.

absurd (ab serd')
Makes = no sense;=20 stupid; goofy.

abundant
Plentiful; = there's=20 lots of it.

abuse (ab yous') = Noun.
Bad=20 treatment. As a verb, abuse is pronounced = (ab=20 youz').

access
Permission to = visit;=20 admittance.

account
Story.

accounting
What = happened to=20 the money. People who can understand such statements are = called=20 accountants.

accuse (ak yuze')
Blame; = say=20 someone did something bad.

acknowledge =
Recognize; admit=20 to be true.

acquaintance
Someone you=20 know slightly, less than a friend.

acquire (a = qwire')
Get.

acquitted
Found to be = not=20 guilty of the crime charged.

adept (a dept')
Good at = something;=20 skilled.

adhere (ad here')
Stick = to.

adjacent (a jay' = sent)
Next to=20 each other; contiguous.

adjust (a = just')
Improve; change;=20 fix.

admit
Allow; confess to = be=20 true.

adorn (a dorn')
Decorate; = dress=20 up.

adversary (ad' ver = sary)
Enemy;=20 opponent.

adversity
When the = going gets=20 tough.

advocated
Spoke in = favor=20 of.

affability (af a bil' i = ty)
Genteel good humor; jolly but not overbearing behavior. = The=20 fine line between affability (which is pleasant) = and=20 jocularity (which is irritating) is most important = to=20 discover.

affection
Kind = feelings.

affinity (a fin' i=20 ty)
Attraction.

afford
Give. =20
Example: The judge afforded him = an=20 opportunity to tell his side of the story. =20
    Afford also means to be able = to=20 spend. Example: Most college students can't=20 afford to spend more than $500 a month on rent.

affront (a = frunt')
Defiant=20 insult.

aggravate (ag' ra = vate)
Make=20 worse, or more serious.
Example: Bill = Clinton=20 aggravated his crimes by his efforts to silence his = accusers.

aggressor
The one who = starts=20 the fight.

aghast (a = gast')
Extremely=20 astonished and horrified; a state of bewilderment usually expressed = with=20 open mouth and bugged eyes.

agitated
Disturbed; = stirred=20 up.

agonize over
Be = in fearful=20 suspense.

agreeable
Friendly; = in=20 harmony.

alacrity (a lak' ri=20 ty)
Willingness and enthusiasm; energetic = joy.

all-out
A major effort, = using all=20 available resources.

allays (a layz')
Tones = down;=20 softens.

allegiance
Being a = friend or=20 ally; loyalty.

alliance (a ly'=20 ans)
Partnership; coalition; team. A relationship based on = mutual=20 commitments to defend each other's interests. An = ally=20 (al' eye) is your partner in this relationship.

aloof (a loof')
Like you = aren't=20 interested in being there; superior and detached in attitude, like a = cat=20 more than like a dog.

altar
Raised place for = performing=20 ritual killings.

ambiguous (am big' yoo=20 us)
Vague; unclear because it could mean two = things.   =20
An ambiguity (am big yoo' i ty) is vague spot = in a=20 text.

ambitious (am bish' = us)
Greedy;=20 hungry for more power.

ambivalence (am biv' a = lence)
The state of not being able to decide if you like it more = than you=20 hate it.

ambush (am' = bush)
Surprise attack=20 out of hiding.

anarchy (an' er = ky)
Nobody's in=20 charge; freedom for the criminals.

ancestors
Forefathers; prior=20 generations of your family.

animus (an' i = mus)
Strong dislike;=20 hostile attitude.

annotated (an' o ta = ted)
With=20 additional notes to the text, such as this edition of Plutarch's=20 Lives. Example: Annotated = statutes are=20 printed laws supplemented with references to related judicial = decisions.

annulled (a = nuld')
Cancelled;=20 made as if it never happened.

anomalous (a nom' a = lus)
Out of=20 place; shouldn't be there. An anomaly is = something=20 anomalous, i.e. something you don't expect to find=20 there.

antagonist (an tag' o=20 nist)
Opponent; enemy.

anti- (an' ty)
Against; = opposed=20 to.

anxious (ank' = shus)
Worried;=20 filled with anxiety.

ape = Verb.
Imitate=20 without understanding, the way monkeys do.

apologize (a pol' o = gize)
Say=20 that you are sorry for what you have done; offer excuses for = errors.

appease (a peez')
Give = them what=20 they want so they will stop making trouble.

aptitude (ap' ti = tude)
Promise;=20 probability of success at learning.

arbitrarily (ar bi = trer' i=20 ly)
For no good reason; from a whim of power.

arbitrate (ar' bi trate) = Verb.
Decide a dispute by a third party, whose decision = the=20 disputants agree to follow. This third party is called the=20 arbitrator, and the dispute resolution process is = called=20 arbitration.

arch-enemy
Worst = enemy;=20 nemesis.

archer
Soldier who = shoots=20 arrows.

arete (ah' re = tay)
Arete,=20 in English, means something like "virtue" and "excellence" and all = of the=20 qualities that together make up good character. The knightly = code of=20 chivalry is similar to the Greek idea of = arete, but=20 to the Greeks the concept had more metaphysical = significance.

arguably (ar' gyu a bly)
It would = not be=20 unreasonable to think so; a good advocate could think up some = plausible=20 argument to support this position; unbiased and reasonable people = would not=20 laugh if you said this.

aristocracy (ar is = tok' ra=20 see)
The ruling class, or, as a political system, "rule of the = best" (its=20 literal meaning in Greek). Who these "best" are is usually = determined=20 by which family they happen to be born in.

arrange
Set up; = organize.

arrest (a = rest')
Stop.

arrogant (ar' o = gant)
Pushy;=20 bossy. The opposite of humble.

art
A body of technical = knowledge or=20 skill. Note that the term is not limited to painting or = sculpture,=20 which is properly called "fine art."

artificial
Not = natural; done=20 by means of technology.

artisan (ar' ti = zan)
One who=20 makes beautiful things, for example, a jeweler or a craftsman in = wood.

ashamed (a = shaymd')
Embarrassed;=20 wish you were dead.
Example: The fact that = he was=20 not ashamed proved that he had no sense of honor, = and =20 therefore could not be trusted with the office of President.

assailant (a say'=20 lant)
Attacker; one who is trying to harm somebody.

assassinate (a sas' in = ate)
Murder a public official.

assault
Attack. =20
Example: The crime of assault is = complete even=20 if no blow is struck (that's battery), so long as the victim was = scared by=20 the attack.

assemble
Gather = together.

assume
Suppose that it's = true.

assurance (a shur'=20 ance)
Guarantee; confidence.

astonishing (as ton' = ish=20 ing)
Incredible; amazing.

at stake
Up for = grabs; the=20 prize for the winner; at risk.

atrocity (a tross' si = ty)
Cruel=20 and violent act; an outrage. Atrocious (a = tro' shus)=20 means outrageously bad. Example: His table = manners are=20 atrocious.

attain
Achieve.

attendant
Servant.

attribute (at' tri = bute) =20 Noun.
A quality or characteristic. Note the = difference=20 in how this word is pronounced from when it is used as a verb. =

attribute (a = trib' ute)=20 Verb.
Say it came from that = source.
Example: =20 The painting was attributed to Rembrandt.

attrition
Loss in=20 numbers.
Example: The attrition = rate for=20 first year law students is 35%.

auctioned
Sold to the = highest=20 bidder at an auction, or public bidding procedure.

austere (os = teer')
Spartan;=20 serious and disciplined; not ornamented; not luxurious. The = quality of=20 being austere is called austerity = (os ter'=20 i ty).

authority
The power = and right=20 to command.

avenge (a venge')
Get = even for;=20 take revenge.

avoid
Steer clear of; = dodge;=20 evade.

awed (awd)
Impressed = extremely, to the point of amazement. You are = awed by=20 something awesome.

awkward (ok' werd)
Not = graceful;=20 embarrassing; clumsy. =20 =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;   =20 100

back out
Withdraw = from a=20 commitment; retreat.
Example: When prices rose, = they tried=20 to back out of the deal.

backed up = by
Supported=20 by.

backing
Supporting; on = the side=20 of.

ballast (bal' = est)
Additional=20 weight in the bottom of a ship, put there for the purpose of = lowering its=20 center of gravity, thereby preventing the ship from tipping = over.

ban
Prohibit.

banish
Order someone to = leave and=20 not ever come back.

bankrupt
When your = debts exceed=20 your assets; broke.

banquet (bank' = wet)
Dinner party=20 for a large group.

barbarian (bar bay' ri = en)
To=20 the Greeks, only Greece had civilization worthy of the name and = people=20 worthy of the system, therefore all foreigners who had made it past = being=20 savages were considered barbarians, even if they were = technologically=20 advanced. Barbarians, such as the Persians, were considered = laughably=20 crude and gaudy.

bargain (bar' = gen)
Deal;=20 contract. Your part of the bargain is what = you are=20 committed to doing under the terms of the contract.

barren
Not fertile; = nothing grows=20 there.

barricade
Defensive = barrier;=20 wall against the enemy.

bear fruit
Produce = results.

bear the = brunt
Take most=20 of the load.

bear with
Endure;=20 tolerate.

beat to the=20 punch
Strike first; launch a pre-emptive attack.

beat up
Hit = repeatedly.

begrudge (be = gruj')
Give=20 unwillingly.

behold (be hold')
Look = at.

belittle (be lit' = tel)
Denigrate=20 another person's abilities; criticize; run down.

benefit = Verb.
Get=20 something good.

betray (be tray')
Turn=20 against. Betrayal is when a person you think = is a=20 friend acts as your enemy behind your back.

bewitch
Cast a spell = on;=20 influence by magic.

bitter
Resentful; = harsh.

bizarre (be = zar')
Weird; very=20 odd.

blockade
When you = prevent=20 transportation in or out.

blundered
Made a bad=20 mistake.

boast
Brag.

body politic (pol' = i=20 tic)
The politically active population, in general.

bold
Audacious; = daring.

bombastic
Grand and = loud but=20 empty. Bombast is called "bullshit" in = colloquial=20 American English.

booty
Loot; plunder; = ill-gotten=20 gains.

boss around
Give = orders=20 because you are intoxicated with authority.

bothering
Annoying; = pestering;=20 being a nuisance.

braggadocio (brag a = do' si=20 o)
Bragging.

breeds
Produces, as a=20 parent.
Breeding is the education of a = person in=20 the social graces by the example of his family. =20 Ill-bred means that you have bad manners, and = therefore=20 your parents are presumably bumpkins=20 too.

brevity
Briefness; = using few=20 words to express your thought.
Example: =20 Brevity is the soul of wit.

brittle
Easily cracked; = not=20 tough.

broke=20 off
Stopped.
Example: After = she=20 broke off their engagement, she returned his = ring.

brother-in-law
The brother = of your wife or husband.

brusque
Abrupt and = blunt, not=20 wasting time with courtesies and formalities.

buffoon (buff = oon')
Jolly=20 clown.

bumpkin
Person who is = ignorant of=20 manners and style; redneck.

bungled
Badly done; = inept.

burdened
Loaded = down.

by means = of
Through; using.=20 =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;            = ;            =          =20 46

cadre (cad' re)
A group = of future=20 leaders; hard core of an organization.

call off
Cancel a = planned=20 event.

calm down
Pacify; = mellow out;=20 chill.

came to = pass
Turned out;=20 happened as an expected result.

candid (can' = did)
Honest;=20 unbiased.
Example: After his comically insincere = address=20 on national TV, the American people suspected that Bill Clinton was = not=20 candid with the grand jury either.

capable
Gets things = done.

capacity
What you are = capable=20 of; how much you can do.
Also capacity = means=20 one's legal power, as opposed to personal power. =20 Example: Mr. Smith signed the promissory note in his=20 capacity as President of ABC Corporation, and he = signed=20 individually as well at the request of the bank.

capital = crime
Punishable=20 by death.

caprice (ca = preece')
Fickleness;=20 unsteady affection; foolish whimsy.

capture
Catch. = As a=20 noun, capture means being caught.

casual (cas' yu el)
Not = nervous,=20 tense, or strict. Nonchalant (non shal ont').

casualties
Those who = are hurt=20 or killed.

catastrophic (cat as = tro'=20 fic)
Very, very bad news. A catastrophe = (cat as'=20 tro fee) is bigger than a disaster or a calamity.

catch up
Overtake; = close the=20 lead; come from behind.

cavalry (cav' al = ry)
Soldiers who=20 ride on horses.

Centaur (sen' = tar)
Mythical=20 creature that is half horse and half man.

champion
One who = fights on=20 behalf of another. This term comes from the days when lawsuits = were=20 decided by combat, and weak litigants were permitted to substitute a = champion for themselves. Note that in = contemporary=20 American English, champion also means the winner of = a=20 tournament.

chaos (kay' = os)
Disorganization; a=20 state of total disorder; absolute randomness.

characteristics = (kar' ak ter=20 iss" tix)
Features; what you notice as distinctive= =20 about someone or something.

charge
Running at the = enemy;=20 assault.

charge = with
Accuse of; put=20 a burden on.

chasm (kaz' um)
Deep = crack in the=20 ground.

chaste (rhymes with = past)
Clean;=20 refraining from sexual contact.

chauvinism (sho' vin is = m)
Pride in your group identity.

cheered them = up
Made=20 them happier.

chronicle (kron' i = cul)
Report=20 of events.

circumstances (sir' = cum stan=20 ses)
The world around you.

civil = rights
Freedoms and=20 powers; what you can lawfully do in the society.
Note = that=20 civil rights does not mean preferential treatment = based on=20 your race or gender -- that is called "affirmative action."

client
One who engages = the=20 services of a professional.

cloy
Bore the=20 taste.
Example: Her relentless chatter soon began = to=20 cloy, and he looked for some excuse to leave.

cluster
Bunch or = group.

cold = war
Hostilities, but no=20 all-out war.

colleagues (col'=20 eegs)
Co-workers; associates.

commend
Praise.

commissioned
Formally gave=20 the job.

common = sense
What you=20 would expect anyone to know.

commonwealth (com' = mon=20 welth)
A social organization where each participant has a share = in the=20 governing power, like a corporation.

compassion
Sympathy; = pity;=20 kind spirit.

compel (com pel')
To = force; make=20 someone do something.

competent (com' pe = tant)
Can do=20 the job; capable.

compile
Assemble data = or=20 documents into a record or book.

complying = with
Going=20 along with; doing what they want.

composure
Calmness; = emotional=20 balance.

compound =20 Verb.
Add to, make worse.
As an adjective,=20 compound means added on. = Compound=20 interest is added to the principal of a debt, either daily or = annually, as=20 it accrues. A compound fracture is a broken = bone that=20 pierces the skin.

compulsion
Pressure; = the=20 opposite of persuasion; being compelled. When you are=20 compelled to do something, you're not happy about = it but=20 you go ahead and get it done.

comrades (com' = radz)
Fellow=20 soldiers; buddies.

conceal (con = seel')
Hide.

conceited
Deluded by = a high=20 opinion of yourself; pretending to be cool.

conceivable
What = you can=20 think of if you really try. "Every conceivable comfort " means = that=20 all possible efforts were made to provide the very best = accommodations.

consensus
Agreement; = common=20 will.
Example: The strength of the Japanese = management style is the emphasis on consensus = building,=20 rather than autocratic edicts from the big boss.
Note that = the=20 common mistake "consensus of opinion" is redundant.

concerted=20 effort
Everybody is working as a team to accomplish = a=20 task.

concession
Something = given=20 reluctantly.

concluded
Finished.
=20 Example: The school year concluded = in=20 June.
Concluded, in a different context, = also=20 means decided after thinking about it a while. = Example:=20 The company concluded that the exposure from = harassment and discrimination lawsuits outweighed any benefit from = making=20 its product in the USA.

condemn
Express = abhorrence;=20 damn.

condemned (con demd') = =20 Past Participle, used as an Adjective.
Doomed; facing a bad=20 future.

confederation
Loose=20 alliance.

confer (con = fer')
Consult;=20 talk.

confide
Trust; give = secret=20 information.

confine
Limit. =

confirm
Establish the = truth of;=20 make more firm the opinion.

confiscation (con fis = ka'=20 shun)
Seizure of property by the government.

conflict (con' flict) = Noun.
Fight. Used as a verb, the accent is on the = second=20 syllable.

conform (con form')
Do = like=20 everybody else does.

confrontation
Showdown;=20 potential fight.

congregate (con' gre = gate)
Get=20 together as friends.

conscience (con' = shens)
Moral=20 sense; what you know from inside.

consent (con = sent')
Permit or=20 permission.

consequences (con' sa = quen=20 ses)
Results that follow from an action.

consisting = of
Made up=20 of.

consolidate
Bring = together=20 and organize; make sure of.

conspire
Plan together = to do=20 something evil.

constitution
Agreed plan of=20 government.

construe (con = stroo')
Figure out=20 the meaning of writings or actions; interpret.

consul
Rome elected two=20 co-presidents each year, called consuls.

consult = with
Plan together=20 with; seek counsel from.

contemporaries
Those who=20 are alive when you are.

contempt (con = tempt')
Disdain;=20 scorn; an attitude of disrespect. = Contemptible means=20 worthy of contempt.

contention
Argument, = disagreement, competition.

contentment
Satisfaction;=20 peaceful spirit.

continually
From = time to=20 time, but not every moment.
     Note = the=20 important difference between continually and=20 continuously, which means without a break.

continue
Go on; keep = going.

continuous (con tin' yu = us)
Without a break.

contrary to (con' = tra=20 ry)
Against; opposite to.

contrast (con' trast)=20 Noun.
Difference; oppositeness.
Used as a verb, = the=20 accent is on the second syllable.

contrive
Accomplish = with some=20 ingenuity.

convene
Call together = for a=20 meeting.

conviction
Being = convinced;=20 what you believe.

corpse
Dead body.

corroborate (co rob' = or=20 ate)
Support the testimony of a witness with other evidence, such = as the=20 testimony of other witnesses or physical evidence.

corrupt
Immoral; = changed for the=20 worse.
Example: Rust is = corrupt=20 iron, just as possessiveness is corrupt love. =
    Corruption is particularly concerned with the = taking=20 of bribes, or payoffs of various kinds to circumvent the civil or = moral=20 law. For the definitive treatment of this most interesting and = relevant subject, see Bribes by John T. = Noonan,=20 Jr. [Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth = Circuit]=20 (University of California Press 1987).

counsel (kown' = sel)
Advice;=20 guidance.

count on
Rely on; = depend on;=20 have faith in.

counterfeit (cown' ter = fit)
Fake; not what it is purported= to=20 be.

coup (coo)
Takeover of = government by=20 force.

courteous (ker' te=20 us)
Well-mannered; polite; considerate and graceful in = conversation and=20 behavior. Courtesy (ker' te see) is the = quality of=20 being courteous.

courtesan
Female = entertainer;=20 high-class prostitute.

cover
Hide; conceal; = distract=20 attention from.

cowardice
Being too = afraid to=20 act properly.
Example: = "Cowards=20 die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death = but=20 once." -- Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Act = 2, Scene=20 2.

credibility
Believability;=20 reputation for telling the truth.

creditor
One who money = is owed=20 to.

credulity (cre du' li=20 tee)
Willingness to believe in what you're told.

crisis (kry' = sis)
Important=20 moment; time to worry a lot. The plural is = crises=20 (kry' seez).

crusade
Holy war; = campaign for a=20 good cause.

cuckold (cuk' = old)
Husband of an=20 unfaithful wife.

cue (kyew)
Signal for an = actor to say=20 or do something.

cunning
Slyness; = craftiness;=20 guile.

curry = favor
Ingratiate;=20 suck up; brown nose.

custodians
Those who = take care=20 of something given to them by another.

customary
According = to custom;=20 what's usually done.=20 =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;      =20 109

daunt
Discourage.

debacle (de bok' = ul)
Big defeat;=20 screw-up.

debate (de = bate')
Contest of=20 arguments.

debauch (de = bawch')
Orgy;=20 excessive party.

debris (dey bree')
The = broken=20 pieces.

deceit
Intentionally = giving the=20 wrong idea. Deception is what is done by=20 deceit.

decline to
Say no = to some=20 proposed action; turn down an offer.

decree (da = cree')
Official public=20 statement of new rules.

decrepit (de crep' = it)
Worn out=20 and falling apart.

deduced (de = duced')
Figured out;=20 drew the logical conclusion.

defaulted (de fal' = ted)
Failed=20 to meet a promise.
    This term is = typically used=20 to describe the failure of a borrower to pay back a loan. The = loan=20 goes into default when the payments are past = due. =20 The promise to pay is made with a promissory note, which must = state the=20 amount and a certain date for payment. Without the certain = date, it is=20 only an IOU.

defective (de fek'=20 tive)
Something's wrong with it; badly made. If it's=20 defective, it has a defect (dee'=20 fect).

defer (de = fer')
To defer=20 to someone means to acknowledge the superior right or = ability of=20 another person to take action. To defer some = action=20 means to put it off until later.

defy (de fy')
Challenge = the power=20 of.

dejected
Bummed out; = extremely=20 discouraged.

deliberate (de lib' er=20 et)
Carefully considered; cautious.
Used as a verb, to=20 deliberate (de lib' er ate) means to think about=20 something.

delusion
False = perception;=20 hallucination; mirage.

demagogue
Public = speaker that=20 can arouse a crowd.

demeanor (de mean' = er)
How you=20 carry yourself; attitude.

democracy
Rule of the = people=20 (its literal meaning in Greek). Not Plutarch's recommended = form of=20 government: see the Fable of the = Snake in=20 the life of Agis.

demolish
Destroy = completely and=20 systematically.

demoralized
Discouraged; have = lost their morale (mo rall'), or fighting = spirit.

dense
Thick; lots of them = in a=20 small space.

deplore
Be extremely = unhappy=20 about.
Example: Her family=20 deplored his atrocious table manners.

deposed
Removed from = high office;=20 impeached.

depression
Sadness = to the=20 point of paralysis.

deprive (de = pryv')
Prevent from=20 having.

deride
Taunt; speak = scornfully to=20 someone.

descend (de send')
Come = down.
    To be a = descendant means=20 that you are related by blood to someone who has died, i.e. you are=20 descended from him.

desert (de zert')
Walk = out;=20 abandon.

desolate (dess' o = let)
Ruined=20 and deserted; empty place.

desperation
The = state of=20 being desperate, or having the recklessness of despair. =20
Example: "The majority of men live lives of quiet = desperation," said Thoreau in=20 Walden.

despise
View with = extreme disgust=20 and contempt.

despot (dez' pot)
Cruel = and=20 capricious ruler.

detection
Being = caught;=20 discovery.

detest (de test')
Really = hate a=20 lot.

detour (dee' = toor)
Change in=20 path.

detractors
Critics;=20 jeerleaders; those who say bad things about you.

devout (de vowt')
Pious; = very=20 religious.

dictator
Ruler with = unlimited=20 power. A boss who is extremely arbitrary in=20 his management style.

dignity
Quiet = confidence and=20 pride; the demeanor = that=20 goes with high rank.

dilemma
You have two = choices, and=20 neither one is good.

diligent (dil' e=20 jent)
Hard-working.

diminish (dim in' = ish)
Lessen;=20 reduce.

diplomacy
Politeness = and=20 guile.

disarray (dis a=20 ray')
Disorganization; a messed up = state.
Example: The=20 Americans were in disarray over the wisdom of = supporting=20 Clinton's new war.

discipline (dis' i = plin)
Inner=20 control.

disclaim (dis = claim')
Deny that=20 it's yours.
    A = disclaimer of=20 warranties is frequently found on used cars, so that the salesman = can claim=20 you agreed to buy the car whether it runs or not.

discontent (dis con=20 tent')
Unhappiness; the state of not being contented.

discourse (dis' = course)
Speech;=20 skill at talking.

disdained (dis=20 daynd')
Rejected; declined with contempt.

disguise (dis = kies')
False=20 appearance; camouflage.

disgust (dis = gust')
Distaste;=20 abhorrence.

dishearten
Discourage; bum=20 out.

dismayed
Afraid and = shocked.

disown (dis own')
Say = he's not one=20 of us.

disparage
Talk about = how bad=20 someone is.

dispute = Noun.
Quarrel;=20 argument over something.

dissent
Disagreement; = contrary=20 opinion.

dissipate (dis' i = pate)
Weaken=20 by scattering.

dissuade (dis = wayd')
Talk out=20 of; opposite of persuade, which is to talk into.

distinct (dis = tinct')
Not mixed=20 up but different and separate; easy to see.

distinction
Standing out from = the crowd; fame.

distinctive
Characteristic=20 and tending to identify.
Example: She could = tell=20 who sent her the note by the distinctive = handwriting.

distract (dis = tract')
Divert=20 attention.

divert
Cause to move in = a=20 different direction; turn aside.

divine (de = vine')
Heavenly.

do away with
Get = rid of;=20 remove.

doctrine (doc' = trin)
System of=20 teachings.

dominate
Control by = superior=20 strength.

dominion
Being the = boss.

dose (rhymes with = close)
Quantity of=20 medicine taken.

double-agent
Spy = who has=20 been turned. You think he's your spy, by the enemy has made = him work=20 for them.

dowry
Price paid to a = husband by=20 the father of the bride to marry her.

drafted
Compelled to be = soldiers.

dread (dred)
Fear.

drone
Useless=20 male.
     This term is from = entomology. =20 In the world of bees, where the queen and all of the workers are = female, a=20 few drones are permitted to exist as consorts for = the=20 queen.

drought (drowt)
When = the land=20 dries up for lack of rain.

due = process
Notice of the=20 intended action of the government and the opportunity to be heard = concerning=20 this intended action. "Due process" is a term = of art=20 in constitutional law, and it comprises the two elements of notice = and=20 opportunity to be heard.=20 =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;            = ;          =20 79

eager (ee' ger, with a = hard g, as=20 in good)
Fired up; really wanting to.

easy-going
Pleasant = and=20 calm.
Example: Television viewers still = enjoy=20 easy-going Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry.

eccentric
Off-center; = odd;=20 weird in an amusing way.

effective
Capable; = competent;=20 it works.

effeminate
Weak and=20 foolish.

elan (ey lan')
Vigor and=20 style. A French concept, with no English = equivalent.

elated
Extremely = happy.

eligible (el' i ji=20 bul)
Qualified; fit to be chosen.

elite (e leet')
Belonging = to a=20 chosen group of individuals much better than average.

eloquence (el' o=20 quence)
Beautiful speaking.

embark
Get on a ship for = a=20 trip.

embezzle
Steal while = you are in=20 a position of trust.

emphatic (em fat' = ik)
Vehement;=20 strongly worded; emotional.

encounter
Meet; run = into.

encumbered
You can't = move=20 easily because of all the stuff you are carrying.

endear
Make loved.

endorsement
Support,=20 recommendation, backing.

endure
Suffer patiently = until the=20 end.

enfranchise (en fran'=20 chize)
Give the right to vote.
Example: = He=20 argued that the decline and fall of the United States began with the = enfranchisement of women by the 19th Amendment to = the U.S.=20 Constitution in 1920.

enhance
Make = better.

enlisting
Signing up; = recruiting.

en masse = (on=20 moss')
All together in a compact group.

enrage (en rage')
Make = very=20 angry.

enthusiasm
Working = hard and=20 happy.

entourage (on' tu = raj)
The=20 crowd that accompanies a big shot.

envoy (on' = voy)
Messenger; person=20 sent on official business.

envy
Want to change places = with=20 someone.

essential (es sen' = chul)
Very=20 important.

estranged
Not = speaking to each=20 other.

eternal
Lasts = forever.

ethic
Moral system; code = of=20 behavior.

eunuch (yoo' = nuk)
Castrated=20 male slave. Eunuchs were extensively used in = the=20 ancient world as bureaucrats. Wealth was their compensation = for the=20 loss of their balls.

euphemism (yoo' fem is = m)
Nice=20 way to say it.
Example: The "political = correctness"=20 movement has made sensitivity into a joke by=20 ridiculous euphemisms.

evade
Sneak past.

eventually (e ven' chwa = ly)
Happens later, as expected.

evidence (e' vi = dence)
Facts=20 tending to prove the truth of an assertion.

evident
Can be = seen.

exaggerate
Hype; = make to=20 appear bigger than what is real.
Example: = It was=20 plain to the jury that the plaintiff was = exaggerating her=20 injury in the hope of getting rich.

exasperated (eg zas' = per a=20 ted)
Fed up; angry and impatient.

excessive (ek ses' = ive)
Too=20 much.

exempted
Don't have to = do what=20 everyone else has to.
    An=20 exemption is a waiver of a requirement.

exert (eg zert')
Project = one's=20 power; exercise.

exhaustion (eg zaws'=20 chun)
Tiredness; weariness; emptiness.

exhort (eg zort')
Loudly = encourage=20 someone.

exile = Noun.
Absence from=20 your native country, against your will.
    A = person in=20 this condition is called an exile.

expel (ex pel')
Kick out; = send=20 away.
    Expulsion is the = act of=20 expelling.

expenditure (ex pen' = di=20 chur)
When you spend money on something, you make an=20 expenditure.

expertise (ex per=20 tees')
Knowledge of an expert.

expired
Time has run = out.

exploit (ex' ployt)=20 Noun.
Heroic deed.
This word has very = different=20 meanings when used as a noun and as a verb. The verb=20 exploit (ex ployt') means to make use of in a = greedy=20 way.

expressly
Clearly = stated, in=20 writing or otherwise.

exquisite
Very, very = nice.

extemporaneous
Composed on = the spot; not made up beforehand.

extirpate (ex' tir = pate)
Root=20 out; completely remove all vestiges of something bad.

extort (ex tort')
Compel = to pay by=20 threats. Extortion is a crime.

extraordinary (ex = tror' di na=20 ry)
Highly unusual.

extravagance (ex tra' = va=20 gance)
Excessiveness; immodesty; bad taste.

exult (eg zult')
Feel = proud openly.=20 =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;            = ;      =20 58

fable
Instructive tale, = with=20 animals as the characters.

faction
Group within a = larger=20 group.

faked out
Deceived = by a=20 feint.

familiarity (fa mil' i = a" ri=20 ty)
Knowledge from seeing something a lot.

famine (fam' in)
When = there is not=20 enough food, and people starve.

fatigue (fa = teeg')
Tiredness from=20 hard work.

favor
Preference; = benefit. =20
Example: Most of the directors are in = favor=20 of the proposal.
Example: The = judge=20 decided in her favor. =
Example: He=20 did her a favor.

fawning
Giving = excessive=20 affection.

feasting
Eating = abundantly.

feeble
Weak.

feigning (fay'=20 ning)
Pretending.

feud (fyood)
Long quarrel = between=20 families.

fickle
Not constant; = disloyal.

figure out
Find = the answer=20 to a puzzle or a question.

finance (fi' nance)=20 verb
Pay the costs of = something.
   =20 Financial (fi nan' shul) means having to do with = money,=20 such as the financial statements of a = business. =20 Financing is the process of putting money into an=20 enterprise.

find fault=20 with
Disapprove of; criticize; nit-pick.

finish off
Put the = final=20 touches on a victory.

first-hand
By = personal=20 experience, rather than the experience of others.

first pick
First = choice;=20 priority in choosing.

flank
The end of a line = of=20 troops.
    To outflank the enemy line = means=20 getting around them.

flatly
Absolutely and = bluntly;=20 with no attempt to sugar-coat the message.

flee
Fly; run away; = escape.

flight
Fleeing; running = away.

flotilla
Group of = warships, less=20 than a fleet.

flourish (fler'=20 ish)
Be healthy and grow.

flunky
A person who is = obedient to=20 the point of absurdity and shame.

following
About to be = stated.

foment
Stir up; incite; = make=20 trouble.

for the sake = of
For the=20 intended benefit of.
     A = succinct=20 definition of this common phrase in English is beyond my = power. Study=20 the example of its use in the text, and elsewhere.

ford
Cross a stream of = water on=20 foot, by wading through it.

foreclose
Stop; wipe = out;=20 prevent.
    In real estate law,=20 foreclosure occurs when a creditor who has not been = paid=20 legally stops the ownership interest of the debtor in some = property.

foregoing (for go' = ing)
What=20 has already been stated in the document.

forewarned (for = warned')
Knew=20 what was about to happen.

forsake
Give up; = abandon.

fortify
Construct to = make=20 stronger against attack. Fortifications are = what is=20 built.

fortitude
Toughness.

foundation
Base; = what provides=20 stability for a building.

fragile
Easy to = break.

fragments
Broken = pieces.

fragrance
Pleasant = smell;=20 odor.

frame = Verb.
Shape;=20 construct a plan.
    = Example: The=20 writers of the Constitution are referred to collectively as "the=20 Framers."

frame of = mind
Attitude;=20 general feeling about things.

frank
Truthful and to the = point;=20 honest.

frankincense
Nuggets of sap=20 from a certain Arabian bush, burned to produce a dense and fragrant = smoke.=20

frantic
In a big hurry, = with=20 anxiety; freaking out.

fraud
A material = misrepresentation=20 made with the intent to induce reliance on it. A deliberate = lie to=20 cheat someone.

frenzy
Strong = passion.

frivolous (friv' o = lus)
Silly;=20 a waste of time.

frolic
Party of the=20 light-hearted.

front man
One who = has only=20 apparent authority; puppet; figurehead.
    = Example: Many became convinced that Bill Clinton was = merely a=20 front man for some sinister forces.

frowning
The opposite = of=20 smiling.

frugal
Extremely = reluctant about=20 spending money. This is the nice way to say it. =20 Frugality is the quality of being=20 frugal.

frustrated
Things = are not=20 going according to plan; disappointed and angry.

fugitives
People that = are=20 running away from something.

full-scale
Not = miniature, but=20 the real size of the thing.

full-time
Not = part-time. =20
    If you do something = full-time, it's=20 your usual business. A part-time job is something you do for = only a=20 few hours.

fundamental
Basic.

furnish
Provide; give = something=20 necessary.

fury (fyu' ry)
Anger.

futile (few' til)
Bound = to fail;=20 hopeless; useless.=20 =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;      =20 60

garrison (ga' ri = son)
The=20 soldiers who are controlling a place.

gesticulate (jes tik' = u=20 late)
Make excited gestures, or expressive body movements, along = with or=20 in lieu of speech.

get away
Leave; = extricate=20 one's self from a bad situation.
    To = get=20 away with something is to escape punishment for it.

get back
Return.

get the = chance
Have the=20 opportunity.

get the=20 point
Understand.

get out of
Not = have to do=20 it.

get over
Pass = through to the=20 end of something bad.
    = Example: I=20 can't play tennis until I get over my sprained = ankle.

get rid = of
Eliminate.

get tired = of
Lose your=20 interest in.

give up
Quit.

glutton
A person who = eats too=20 much.

go along = with
Indulge;=20 consent; follow.

go back
Return.

go crazy
Freak out; = become=20 like an insane person.

going on
Proceeding; = taking=20 place; happening.

golden age
A time = long ago=20 when things were much better. This refers to the first age = after the=20 creation of man, in Greek mythology. After the golden age came = the=20 silver age, then the bronze age, and finally the iron age. = Maybe now=20 it's the plastic age. See note 8 = to the Life=20 of Aristides.

good = faith
Sincerity and=20 honesty in a deal.

good = sense
Wisdom.

good will
Affection = and=20 respect.

gourmet (gor mey')
A = person who=20 is an expert in food.

graft
When an official = takes=20 bribes.

gratify
Please; = satisfy.

gravity
Seriousness; = calm=20 dignity.
    This word comes from the Latin = word=20 gravitas (grah' vi tahs), which is today a = term of=20 art in politics, meaning the quality that command attention without=20 effort. In the Hippie Era, such a dude was said to be = heavy.

grief = (greef)
Sadness.

grievance
Complaint = about bad=20 conduct.

groundless
Having no = support=20 in reality.

groveling
Crawling on = the=20 ground in an exaggerated display of fear and subjection. =

grudge
Animosity; = resentment;=20 score to settle.

grudgingly
Unwillingly and=20 with feelings of resentment.

guarantee (gar an = tee')
Make=20 sure.

guile (gyle, with a hard = g, as in=20 good)
Sneaky tricks; craftiness.

gymnopaediae
Dance of=20 the naked girls.=20 =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;  =20 33

had in = store
Held for the=20 future.

hag
Ugly woman.

halt
Stop.

harass (ha = rass')
Bother; annoy;=20 bug.

hardship
Unpleasant=20 situation.
Example: Camping involves=20 hardships such as bugs, cold, bad food, etc., yet = some=20 people like it.

harmony (har' mo = ni)
Smooth and=20 friendly cooperation.

haughty (haw' = ty)
Disagreeably=20 proud; stuck-up.

have a hard = time
When=20 it's difficult to do something.

hearing (hee' = ring)
Chance to=20 talk to the judge.

hegemony (he gem' o=20 ny)
Dominating influence.

heir (ayr)
Someone who=20 inherits.

help it
Prevent = it. =20
Example: Because he's blind, he can't = help=20 it if he runs into things.

herald
One who announces = some=20 news.

hereditary (her ed' it=20 ary)
Passed on in the genes, so you're born with it.

hermit
Lives alone and = has no=20 interest in meeting people.

hoard (rhymes with = board)
Stash;=20 some cache of goods or cash that has been stored.

hold a = grudge
Stay angry=20 with someone.

hoplite
An armored = Greek=20 soldier. The panoply of a hoplite comprised a helmet with face = guards,=20 armor for the chest and back, greaves to protect the shins, a spear, = and a=20 sword. Hoplites were used for close fighting in = formation.

hostage
Prisoner kept = to make=20 sure a bargain is kept.

hostile (hos'=20 tyle)
Unfriendly.
The process of unfriendly relations = is called=20 hostilities.

humble (hum' = bul)
Modest; not=20 trying to impress anybody.

humiliation
Disgrace; shame=20 because of your circumstances.

hypocrite (hip' o = krit)
Someone=20 who pretends to be good, but acts otherwise; one who fakes good = faith. =20
    For examples, read what Jesus said about the = Jews and=20 lawyers of his day (cf. Matthew 23:13-33). =20 =             &= nbsp;       =20 23

ignore (ig nore')
Pay no = attention; disregard.
    =20 Ignorant (ig' nor ant) means that no attention has = been=20 paid to something, so you don't know anything about it.

illiterate
Can't = read or=20 write.

illusion
Wrong belief = from=20 mistaken perception.

imbecile (im' be = sil)
Fool with=20 a weak mind, but not as stupid as an idiot.

imitate (im' i = tate)
Copy;=20 mimic.

immense (im ens')
Too = big to=20 measure; huge.

immune (im yune')
Can't = be harmed;=20 safe from some danger.

impaired
Weakened;=20 obstructed.

impart
Give; transfer = to.

impartial
Fair; not = favoring=20 either side in a dispute; the ideal of a judge.

impassive
Can't tell = what he's=20 feeling; stone-faced.

impeachment
Being = fired from=20 high office because of misconduct.

impending
About to = happen.

imperative (im per' a=20 tiv)
Necessary and in the nature of a command; no argument for or = against=20 is needed or invited.

imperialism
Building an=20 empire; asserting control outside your own country. This = word=20 connotes a reckless ambition to expand control. Example: = Bill=20 Gates, Hitler, and Napoleon made the same mistake:=20 imperialism.

imperious
Bossy; = seems to enjoy=20 giving commands and acting like someone important.

implicate (im' pli = cate)
Put=20 blame on because of their involvement. =
Example: =20 Several lawyers at the White House were implicated = in the=20 cover-up scandal.

implied
Following as a = reasonable=20 conclusion from words or conduct, although not clearly = expressed. =20 Implicit rather than explicit.

implore
Ask = passionately;=20 beg.

impudent (im' pyu = dent)
Sassy;=20 disrespectful; bratty.

impulse (im' = pulse)
Sudden change=20 in momentum; push; whim.

impunity (im pyu' ni = ty)
No=20 punishment.

in charge = of
Responsible=20 for.

in favor of
Likes = the=20 idea.
Example: Both the Republican and = Democratic=20 parties seem to be in favor of bigger, meaner, and = more=20 intrusive government.

in spite = of
Despite;=20 notwithstanding.
Example: In spite=20 of his inferiority in size, David defeated Goliath.

in the = interest of both=20 parties
Both sides in the negotiation will benefit = by=20 this.

in the = way  =20 Adjective.
An impediment; a nuisance; an = obstruction.

inauspicious (in aw = spish'=20 us)
Unlucky looking; off to a bad start.

incapable
Can't do = it.

incident
Event; = something that=20 happens.

incite (in site')
Talk = into taking=20 bad action.

incompetence
Being = unable to=20 do a job right.

inconsistent
Contradictory;=20 no steady truth.
Example: Clinton's=20 inconsistent explanations led the Americans to = doubt his=20 character and fitness to command them.

incredible
Hard to=20 believe.

indefatigable (in de = fa' ti ga=20 bul)
Doesn't get tired.

indemnity (in dem' ni=20 tee)
Paying for the harm done; insulating against loss. = Frequently=20 contracts will provide for one party to indemnify = the other=20 in the event of disputes raised by third parties by paying the legal = fees=20 and any judgment.

indicate
Give a sign;=20 signal.

indictment (in dite'=20 ment)
Formal accusation of a felony, or serious crime, by a grand = jury. To be indicted (in di' ted) in the = United=20 States is big-time trouble.

indignant
Angry, = highly=20 offended.

indignity
Insulting=20 situation.

indirect
Not direct; = roundabout;=20 circuitous.

indiscreet (in dis=20 creet')
Prone to scandal; careless about keeping secrets.

indispensable
Can't get=20 along without it; necessary; critical.

induce
Cause to act.

indulge
Pamper; permit = another to=20 do what pleases them.

inept (in ept')
No skill; = awkward=20 and clumsy.

inevitable (in ev' i ta = bul)
Can't avoid it; has to happen.

infantry (in' fan = try)
Soldiers=20 who walk; foot-soldiers.

infect
Spread disease = into.

inferiority (in fe ri = o' ri=20 ty)
Being less than; the opposite of superiority.

infested
Were present = as pests,=20 like roaches in a house.

infiltrate (in' fil=20 trate)
Sneak your forces in.

influence (in' flu=20 ence)
Ability to shape behavior by suggestion. =20
Example: The Hollywood elite has deliberately = misused the=20 power of television to influence the public.

infuriated
Made very = angry.

ingenious (in gee' ni=20 us)
Clever; showing ingenuity; smart.

ingratiate (in gray' = she=20 ate)
Make yourself popular; suck up.

ingratitude
Not = being=20 properly grateful for benefits received.

inhabitant
Someone = who lives=20 there.

inherit
Get after = someone dies=20 because you are an heir.

initial (i nish' = al)
First; at=20 the beginning.

injustice
The = opposite of=20 justice; unfairness; partiality.

innate (in ate')
Born = with it.

in on it
Privy; to = be a=20 participant in a project or the sharer of a secret.

inquire
Ask; = investigate.

insatiable (in say' sha = bul)
Can't get enough.

inscription
Writing = carved=20 in.

insignia (in sig' ni = a)
Symbols=20 and marks of rank, such as the stars on the shoulders of a general, = or the=20 eagle with arrows on the podium of the President.

insignificant
Not = important; small.

insinuated (in sin' yu = a=20 ted)
Hinted in a sly way; snuck in the suggestion.

insolent (in' so=20 lent)
Contemptuous and insulting; arrogantly rude.

inspire
The meaning of = this word=20 is best approached by examining its etymology: in (in) spire = (breath) -- so=20 inspire means to put in a breath, or catch a spirit.

instigator (in' sti ga=20 tor)
Trouble-maker; one who incites another to take bad = action.

instituted
Established; put in = place some system.

intact (in tact')
Not = broken;=20 whole.

integrity (in teg' ri = tee)
True=20 spirit; honesty; honor.

intention
Aim; = purpose. =20 Something that is intended to happen is=20 intentional, or on purpose, and it is therefore not = an=20 accident.

intercede (in ter = seed')
Plead=20 on behalf of someone in trouble.

internal
On the = inside. =20 Internal is the opposite of = external,=20 which means on the outside.

interrogation
Question and=20 answer session.

intervene
To step in = between=20 disputants, like a referee in a boxing match.

intimidation
Making afraid;=20 terrorism.

intoxication
Poisoning of=20 the mind; giddiness.

intricate
Complex and = full of=20 small detail.

intrinsic = value
What=20 it's worth as raw materials.
    The=20 intrinsic value of a coin is what the metal is = worth,=20 regardless of what is stamped on it.

introduce
Put in; = bring up for=20 consideration.

inveterate (in vet' er=20 et)
Stubborn in bad behavior.

invincible
Can't be=20 defeated.

involved
Mixed up = with; part=20 of.

ironic
Showing=20 irony, or a joke of fate. For an example of=20 irony, study the text in the Life of Philopoemen: = what=20 happened to him was what he had just finished criticizing in another = --=20 becoming a prisoner of war. It would not be a case of=20 irony if Philopoemen had said nothing.

irrelevant (ir rel' e=20 vant)
Doesn't matter; beside the point.

irresistible
Can't = resist=20 it; there's no stopping it.

irritate
Bother; = annoy; bug.=20 =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;  =20 92

jeopardy (jep' ar = dy)
Risk of=20 loss; danger.

jolly
Appears to be = having a good=20 time.

judicious (joo dish' = us)
Wise;=20 smart and not excessive.

juncture
Critical = point in=20 time.

just
In tune with the = truth; honest=20 and fair.

just in = time
Almost too=20 late.=20 =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;            = ;      =20 6

keep a = lookout
Be on=20 guard against intruders; watch out for trouble.

kidded
Made the subject = of a joke;=20 teased. Kidding is a flexible term in = English,=20 meaning teasing or misleading for the purpose of humor, such as = unkind=20 people do to children (kids).

kinship
Relation by = blood. =20 Your kin are your relatives.

kiss of = death
Refers to=20 when the false friend Judas kissed Jesus to identify him to the Jews = who=20 were trying to arrest him.=20 =             &= nbsp;      =20 4

labyrinth (lab' er = inth)
Maze;=20 place with complicated pathways so you easily get lost there. = This=20 term derives from the palace built by Daedelus for King Minos of = Crete.

lame
Limping; crippled in = the=20 leg.

lamentation
Expressions of=20 grief and sorrow.

lampoon (lam = poon')
Ridicule;=20 make fun of, especially by ridiculous imitation.

landslide
Large = majority in a=20 vote.

lapse
Slip up; break in = good=20 conduct.

larceny
Stealing or = cheating.

lavish
Extravagant; = profuse; way=20 too much.

lax
Careless; loose.

leaven the lump = (le' ven,=20 rhymes with heaven)
Yeast makes bubbles in bread, in a = process=20 called leavening. A little yeast mixed in a lump of dough = rapidly=20 multiplies and leavens the lump.

legacy (leg' a = si)
Inheritance;=20 what is passed down from generation to generation.

lenience (lee' ni=20 ence)
Toleration; easy-goingness. =
Example: =20 Children grow up to be violent underachievers because irritable = parents show=20 too little lenience for childish exploration.

liberal
Foolishly = generous; not=20 strict; not frugal; not prudent.

liberated
Freed.

license
Permission or=20 permissiveness. License is used pejoratively = to=20 describe a disordered state of society where anything goes.

lieutenant (loo ten'=20 ant)
Assistant.

litigation (li ti ga'=20 shun)
Court battles; lawsuits.

live up to
Act = according to=20 a certain standard.

loath (rhymes with = both)
Reluctant;=20 disinclined.
    A related word is the verb = loathe (rhymes with clothe), which means to hate = and have=20 disgust for.

long odds
Small = probabilities=20 of winning. Odds are the probability that a=20 particular event will occur.

looks
Appearance.

looting
Theft on a = large scale;=20 stealing by a mob.

loyal
A true friend.=20 =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;          =20 23

made up =
Compensated;=20 supplied to fill a deficiency.

magnify
Make to appear = bigger.=20

magnitude
Size. =

majesty (ma' jes = ty)
Kingly=20 conduct; strength and beauty and dignity; grandeur.

major (may' = jer)
Relatively large;=20 the opposite of minor.

malcontent (accent = on first=20 syllable)
Not happy about anything; always complaining.

malice (mal' iss)
Evil = intentions;=20 hate; desire to harm. Malicious (ma lish' us) = means=20 done with an attitude of malice.

man of his=20 word
Trustworthy man, whose promises can be relied = on.

maneuver (ma noo' = ver)
Move your=20 forces around.

martyr (mar' ter)
One = who suffers=20 punishment for his beliefs.

massacre (mass' a = ker)
Mass=20 killing.

masterpiece (mas' ter=20 peese)
In the guild system of feudal Europe, skill in crafts was=20 recognized at three levels: apprentice (learning the basics); = journeyman=20 (knows the basics); and master (really good at it). To qualify = for=20 recognition as a master, a journeyman had to produce a work so good = that it=20 could be admired by masters. This work was his=20 masterpiece.

meager
There's not much = there;=20 inadequate.
Example: A medal was a=20 meager reward for his heroism.

means
Procedure or device = used to=20 accomplish something.
Example: The = battlecry of=20 evil is: "The ends justify the means."

mediate
Help to resolve = a=20 dispute.

melee (may' lay)
Confused = battle.

menial (mee' ni = al)
Servile;=20 suitable for those who do boring work.

merit =20 Verb.
Deserve.

merits
Strengths and=20 weaknesses.

mercenary
Motivated = by money;=20 hired soldier.
    The difference between a = soldier and a=20 mercenary is that the soldier fights for a cause, = while a=20 mercenary fights for money. No equivalent=20 distinction has been drawn for lawyers, however.

meticulously (me tik' = u lus=20 ly)
With great precision and attention to detail.

minor
The opposite of = major;=20 small.

misery (miz' er = ee)
Unhappiness=20 and discomfort.

misfortune
Bad luck; = a time of=20 trouble.

misgivings
Doubts = and second=20 thoughts.

mission
A project of = importance=20 given to you by high authority.

mobile (mo' bul)
Easily=20 movable.

mocking
Making fun = of.

moderate (mod' er = et)
Not=20 extreme; temperate.

modest
Not bragging; = shy.

momentum
Mass times=20 velocity. A moving object has momentum, which = is its=20 tendency to keep going in the same direction at the same speed.

monarchy (mon' ar = ky)
Government=20 by one person.

mood
Emotional state.

morality
Behavior in = harmony=20 with laws of spiritual cause and effect.

mortal
One who is = subject to=20 death; as an adjective, mortal means fatal, or = causing=20 death.

mortgage (mor' gaj)
A = security=20 interest in property, for a debt. For example, to build a = house, the=20 landowner borrows money from a bank, and the bank gets a=20 mortgage on the house and the land, so if the debt = is not=20 paid, the bank gets both.

motion
Proposal for a = formal=20 decision.

motivate
Build = enthusiasm; make=20 someone willing to do something.

motive
A reason for = doing=20 something.

move out
March on an = objective.

multitude
Large = crowd.

mutiny
When the crew = refuses to=20 follow the captain; disobedience of a group to lawful authority.

mutual (mew' chu al)
In = agreement;=20 reciprocal.

myrrh (mur)
Fragrant = resin from a=20 desert shrub, burned as incense.=20             = 44

naive (ny eve')
Ignorant = and=20 trusting, like a child.

natives
Born there.

nausea (naw' ze = a)
Feeling you get=20 before you vomit; disgust.

neglected (ne glek' = ted)
Forgot=20 about; paid no attention to.

negligent (neg' li = gent)
Not=20 paying attention; careless.
    The concept = of=20 negligence is the foundation of tort law, and = accusations=20 of lack of due care consume billions of man-hours in the United = States.

negotiate (ne go' she = ate)
Try=20 to make a deal; bargain.

niggard
Cheapskate; = stingy=20 person.

nimble
Fast and = agile.

noble
Not corruptible;=20 aristocratic; high-minded.
   =20 Nobility is a difficult concept to explain to Americans in = the late=20 20th century, when the party line is that everyone is at least as = sordid and=20 corrupt as our President. Look it up in the dictionary and = meditate on=20 it.

nominated
Offered as = a=20 candidate for office; proposed a person for election.

notorious (no tor' i = us)
Well=20 known to be bad.
Note the difference between=20 notorious and famous.=20         11

oasis
Spring in the = middle of the=20 desert.

oath
Promise = before God=20 as witness and guarantor.
    When = witnesses are=20 called in court to testify, they do so under oath, = so if=20 they lie, it is a felony called perjury. This is punishable by = severe=20 penalties in the criminal law, and presumably by God as well.

obedience
Following = orders.

obedience
Following = orders.

objected (ob jek'=20 ted)
Protested; said no to what was happening.

objective (ob jek' = tiv) =20 Noun
Goal; what you intend to accomplish. =
Used as=20 an adjective, objective means unbiased, fair, based = on the=20 facts.

obliged (o = blyjd')
Under an=20 obligation, or duty to do something.

obliterated (o blit' = er a=20 ted)
Completely destroyed; wiped out.

obscure
Difficult to=20 interpret.

observe
Pay attention = to, and try=20 to obey.

occupations
Jobs; = usual=20 work.

occupied
Put a = military force=20 there to control the place.

odds
Probability of = success.

offends
Insults; = grosses out;=20 makes angry.

offset
Balance out; = counter.

oligarchy (o' li gar=20 ky)
Government by a few.
    The = alternatives=20 are anarchy (no government at all) and monarchy (government by = one).

omen
Cause for = superstitious=20 speculation; signal of good or bad things about to happen.

on board
Present on = a=20 ship.

on the lookout=20 for
Looking for.
Example: = Our=20 company is on the lookout for acquisitions in the = area of=20 consumer electronics.

on the = run
Fleeing;=20 retreating as fast as possible.
    Having = the=20 enemy on the run means that the battle is going in = your=20 favor.

on the verge = of
Close=20 to.

onerous (own' er = us)
Heavy;=20 burdensome.
Example: The congressman = objected to=20 the onerous demands of the federal government for = paperwork=20 on small business.

onslaught (on'=20 slawt)
Attack.

opponent
Competitor; = enemy;=20 antagonist.

oppress (o = press')
Treat your=20 people badly. Oppression is=20 oppressive government.

oracle
Spirit that = reliably=20 forecasts the future.
    Plutarch was for = many=20 years one of the two priests serving the Delphic oracle in the = temple of=20 Apollo.

oration
Formal public = speech,=20 usually long.
    Perhaps the most famous = example=20 is Antony's funeral oration in Shakespeare's play,=20 Julius Caesar. An = orator=20 (o' ra ter) is one who gives an oration.

oratory
Public = speaking.

ordeal (or deal')
Long = and=20 unpleasant experience.

order of = battle
How you=20 arrange your forces; formation; setup.

oscillated (os' il a = ted)
Went=20 from one extreme to another, like a vibrating string.

ostentatious
Showing off in=20 a vulgar way.

ostensibly (os ten' si=20 bly)
Not really, but pretending to be the reason.

ostracize (os' tra=20 size)
Banish; exclude.
   =20 Ostracism was a procedure in Athens whereby anyone = deemed=20 too dangerous to keep in the city was banished by popular vote in a = secret=20 ballot. Its purpose was to prevent one man from becoming too = powerful=20 and beginning a tyranny.

outrage
Indignation; = being=20 extremely offended and angry.

outcome
Result.

outdo (owt do')
Perform = better than=20 another.

outnumbered (owt num'=20 berd)
At a disadvantage, numerically.

ovation
Loud = applause. =20
    A standing ovation is where = the=20 audience stands up while it applauds.

overbearing
Too = bossy;=20 domineering.

overcome
Conquer; = defeat;=20 beat.

overpower
Too much to = handle.

overrule
Cancel = because the boss=20 says no.

overwhelm
Overpower; = blow away.=20 =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;          =20 44

pacified
Calmed down;=20 tranquilized.

pageant (pa' = jent)
Spectacular=20 production, such as a parade or a beauty contest.

paid him back in=20 kind
Did to him what he was guilty of.

paralyzed (pa' ra = lyzed)
Unable=20 to move.

paramount (pa' ra=20 mount)
Greatest; most important.

parasite
Organism that = feeds on=20 another without killing it, like leeches, ticks, and fleas. =20
    Figuratively, it means people who occupy the = position=20 of ticks on society.

pardon
Let off the hook; = exonerate; excuse; absolve.

parsimonious (par si = mo' ni=20 us)
Cheap; hates to spend money.

partisan (par' ti = zan)
Fighter=20 for a political party.
    Used as an = adjective,=20 partisan means not candid = because=20 blinded by politics.

partition =
Division of=20 space.

pass on
Tell; = transfer.

patron
One who gives = money;=20 sponsor.

pay = attention
Notice; be=20 alert; concentrate.

payroll
List of = employees; people=20 who get a regular payment for services.

peltast
A lightly armed = Greek=20 soldier, who usually carried a small shield, a sword, and a javelin, = bow, or=20 sling. The peltast was not covered with body = armor=20 like a hoplite, = and=20 therefore was useful only in fighting from a distance.

penalty (pen' al=20 ty)
Punishment.

persistence (per sis'=20 tence)
Refusing to quit; keeping at a task until it's done.

persona
Mask; public = image.

personify
Be the = living=20 embodiment of.

persuade
Talk into;=20 convince.

pertaining = to
Concerning;=20 relating to.

pertinent (per' ti = nent)
To the=20 point; very relevant.

pervade (per = vade')
Spread all=20 through, like water in a sponge.

perverse (per = verse')
Stubbornly=20 contrary; determined to do the opposite of what's expected.

pervert (per vert')=20 Verb.
To distort or twist into something wrong. =20
Example: Spin doctors pervert = the=20 truth.

petty
Small; trivial; = worthy of a=20 small-minded person.

phalanx (fay' = lanx)
Dense=20 formation of tightly linked and heavily armored soldiers, several = rows deep,=20 with their spears projecting forward between them. = Figuratively, any=20 formidable array.

phantom (fan' = tom)
Ghost.

pick out
Select.

picked men
Elite; = those=20 selected by merit to form a special group.

pilfering
Stealing = little=20 bits.

pillaging
Robbing by = a=20 conquering army, usually with killing.

pilot (pi' lot)
One who = makes sure=20 the ship doesn't crash. This word now is mostly used for the = commander=20 of an airplane.

piracy (py' ra = see)
Robbery at=20 sea; what pirates do.

placate (play' = cate)
Give a=20 little something to keep them quiet for a while.

plague (playg)
Mass = outbreak of=20 serious desease.

playwright
One who = writes=20 plays.

plea
Prayer.

pleading
Giving = reasons for=20 getting favorable treatment.
    The papers = submitted by the parties to a lawsuit and stating the merits of the = case,=20 pro or con, are called pleadings. Papers that = pertain=20 to requested action by the judge are called = motions.

plot
Evil plan.

plundering
Looting.

pointed = out
Directed=20 attention to; what you do when you point your finger at something so = that=20 someone else will notice it.

policy (pol' i = cy)
Rules.

pomp
Spectacle in = ceremonies. =20
Example: The pomp of an English=20 coronation ceremony is very impressive.

populace (pop' u = less)
People in=20 a place.

portents (por' = tents)
Signs of=20 the future.

postpone (post = pone')
Put off=20 until later.

potion
A medicinal = brew.

poverty (pov' er = ty)
Being poor;=20 lack of money.

precede (pre seed')
Go=20 before.

precedent (press' i = dent)
Model=20 for future decisions.
Example: Roe v. = Wade is a precedent for deciding = cases where=20 the right of privacy in abortion is involved.

predicament (pre dik' = a=20 ment)
Trouble; tight spot.

predictable (pre dik' = ta=20 bul)
You can tell what they will probably do.

prefer (pre fer')
Like = better.

preferential=20 treatment
Being treated better than others. =

prejudice
To have a = strong bias=20 for or against something; mind is made up already, before hearing = the=20 evidence.
Example: Most people are=20 prejudiced against spiders, although some keep them = as=20 pets.

preoccupied (pre oc' u = pied)
Distracted; all attention focussed on some worry.

prestige (pres = teej')
Good=20 reputation; authority= =20 earned from good conduct.

presume (pre = zyume')
Suppose,=20 assume.
    Also, in another context,=20 presume means to behave with unjustifiable = forwardness.

pretense (pree'=20 tense)
Pretending; fake reasons.

pretension
Putting = on airs;=20 pretending to be superior.

pretext (pree' text)
A = fake=20 reason for doing something.

prevail (pre = vail')
Win; come out=20 on top.

prey
Victim; what a = predator=20 hunts.

prince
Son of a = king.

principal
Main; = biggest. =20
Note the difference between principal and=20 principle. Although both are pronounced the = same=20 (homonyms) they have completely different meanings.

privately
Not = publicly; done by=20 people on their own, and not as part of a group effort.

privilege (priv' = lej)
Something=20 you are allowed to do as a favor.

pro and con
For = and=20 against.

proceeds (pro' = seeds)
Money from=20 the sale.

procrastinate (pro = kras' ti=20 nate)
Put things off; neglect to take care of business = promptly.

profligate (prof' li=20 gat)
Wastefully extravagant.

prohibit
Forbid; order = not to do=20 something.

prolix (pro lix')
Talks = too=20 much.
Prolixity (pro lix' i ty) is the = quality of=20 being a blabbermouth. Example: If brevity is = the soul=20 of wit, prolixity must be the soul of = stupidity.

prominent (prom' i=20 nent)
Famous; distinguished; great.

promulgated (prom' ul = ga=20 ted)
Issued as a law.

propensity (pro pen' si = ty)
Tendency; habit.

proposal
Suggested = course of=20 action.

proposition
A = proposed rule=20 or deal.

prospect (pross' = pect)
What's in=20 view for the future.

prosper (pross' per)
Be = successful.

provisions
Supplies.

provoke (pro = voke')
Cause to=20 react.
Provocative (pro vok' a tive) = means=20 tending to cause to react. Example: A red flag = is said=20 to be provocative to a bull.

prosecute (pross' e = cute)
Go=20 after; continue a project.

prosperity (pross per' = i=20 ty)
Wealth; being well-off; good fortune.

prowess (prow' = ess)
Skill=20 and strength; effectiveness of a fighter.

prudent
Cautiously = wise; using=20 good judgment; checking things out a lot beforehand. =20
Prudence is the quality of being=20 prudent. Antonym: rash.

purported (per por'=20 ted)
Pretended by an express claim to be; passed off = as.  =20
Example: American carmakers offer cars=20 purported to be made in the USA, but which are made = mostly=20 of imported components.

pursuit (per = sute')
Chasing=20 after.

put off
Postpone;=20 delay.
Example: He was sorry that he = put=20 off doing his homework until the weekend. =20
    Also, to put someone off = means to=20 give them some excuse for delay.

put up = with
Endure; stand;=20 tolerate; suffer.

pyre
Stack of wood for = cremation, or=20 burning a body to ashes.    92

quarrel
Fight; dispute; = argument.

quota (kwo' ta)
Required = number to=20 have or produce.
Example: The associate at the law = firm=20 had a quota of 165 billable hours each month, so he = became=20 accustomed to cheating and lying and became a partner.=20 =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;          =20 2

rabble
Crowd.

rally
Psych up; stop = defeated=20 troops from fleeing.

rampage (ram' = page)
Angrily=20 romp.

rancor (rank' or)
Bad = will; hate;=20 spite.

rash
Reckless; too bold; = not=20 prudent.

ratify
Affirm; = specifically=20 approve; okay; make what another has done into your own act.

reaffirm
Affirm = again. =20
    To affirm a position means = to=20 declare publicly that you agree. If a judicial decision is = appealed to=20 a higher court, and the higher court agrees with the lower court, = the=20 decision is affirmed.

rebelled (re = beld')
Refused to=20 follow orders.
    A = rebellion is=20 when a large group refuses to accept the authority of the purported= =20 leaders.

reciprocate (re sip' = ro=20 cate)
Do the same in return.

reckless (rek' = less)
Careless;=20 thoughtless; extremely negligent; like a child or a fool.

reconcile (rek' on = sile)
Make=20 friends again; restore good relations.

recruited (re cru'=20 ted)
Gathered people into a group.

refinement
Absence = of=20 pollution; spirituality.

reforms
Changes for the = better;=20 improvements in government.
    Martin = Luther was=20 disgusted by the Catholic practice of selling tickets to Heaven, so = he=20 started the Reformation, which was the beginning of = the=20 Protestant churches.

refrain = from
Keep from=20 doing.

refuge (ref' uge)
Safe = place;=20 sanctuary.

regime (re = zheem')
Period of rule;=20 administration.

regret (re gret')
Be = sorry. =20 As a noun, regret means being sorry.

reinforcements
More people = to help.

rejoice
Be happy; = celebrate with=20 joy.

relatively (rel' a tiv = ly)
In=20 comparison.

relent (re lent')
Ease = up; cease=20 giving trouble.

relic (rell' ik)
What = remains; holy=20 object.

relish
Enjoy a lot.

reluctant
Don't want = to do=20 it.

remnant (rem' nant)
A = small part=20 that's left over; scrap.

remorse (re = morse')
Being sorry;=20 regret and shame.

rendered (ren' = derd)
Done;=20 caused to be.

rendezvous (ron' de = voo)
Place=20 to meet, or the meeting itself.

reparations
Payment = to cover=20 the damages from your action.

repealed
Abrogated; = cancelled=20 out by another law.

repent (re pent')
Be = sorry for the=20 past; take a new attitude for the future.

reprimand (rep' ri = mand)
Unkind=20 words from a boss; a scolding, or rebuke.

reputation
Opinion = generally=20 held about someone.

resemblance (re zem'=20 blance)
Looking like.

resented (re zen' = ted)
Took=20 offense at; considered an insult.

reservations
Doubts and=20 fears about a proposal.

reserved (re = zervd')
Aloof; = distant;=20 quiet.

resist (re = zist')
Oppose; act=20 against.

resolute (res' o = lute)
Firmly=20 determined.
     = Resolution is=20 the quality of being resolute. =
Example: =20 "And thus the native hue of resolution is sicklied = over=20 with the pale cast of thought, and enterprises of great pith and = moment,=20 with this regard, their currents turn awry, and lose the name of=20 action." -- Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act = 3,=20 Scene 1.

resolve (re = zolv')
Settle;=20 finally decide.

resort to
Finally = have to use=20 this.
Example: When the police got no = answer to=20 their knock on the door, they resorted to a = battering ram=20 to enter the house and execute the search warrant.

restrained
Held = back; kept=20 under control.

restraint
Being = cool. =20
    The concept of self-restraint = (sophrosyne in=20 Greek) is key to understanding the ethos and aesthetic of ancient=20 Greece.

resume (re zoom')
Start = again.=20

retaliate (re tal' e = ate)
Hit=20 back; take revenge.

retinue (ret' in = oo)
Group of=20 followers.

reverence (rev' er=20 ence)
Affectionate respect.

revile (re vyle')
Scold; = criticize=20 harshly; indulge in name-calling.

revive (re vyve')
Bring = to life=20 again; wake up.

revoked (re vokd')
Took = back;=20 repealed; cancelled.

revolt
Turn against the = leader;=20 mutiny.

rhetoric (ret' er = ik)
The art of=20 verbal persuasion.

rhetorical = question=20 (re tor' i cal)
A question that has an obvious answer, asked = merely to=20 get the listener to respond.
    An = irritating=20 habit in ordinary conversation, and a cause for suspicion when used = by=20 salesmen and politicians.

ridicule (rid' i = cule)
Making=20 fun of somebody.

rift
Split; = antagonism. =20
    A rift is to society as a = fault line=20 is to geology.

right = away
Immediately;=20 without wasting any more time.

ringleader
Boss of = criminals;=20 chief crook.

riot (ry' ot)
Destructive=20 crowd.

risking
Taking a=20 risk, or chance.

ritual
Ceremonial = procedure.

rival
Competitor in love = or=20 ambition.

rout (rowt)
Complete = defeat.

routine (roo = teen')
Usual;=20 nothing special.

rudder
The movable blade = at the=20 back that steers a boat.

rumor
Alleged news.

run out
Have no = more. If=20 you run out of money, you are broke.

rustic (russ' = tik)
Simple and=20 country-style.=20 =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;      =20 68

sabotage (sa' bo = taj)
Sneaky=20 damage intentionally done. A French concept.

sack
Loot, burn, and = kill.

sacred (say' cred)
Holy; = property=20 of God.

sacrifice
Ritual = killing of an=20 animal to please the gods.

sacrilege (sak' re=20 lij)
Impiety; disrespect of religion; misuse of a religious space = or=20 object. If you commit a sacrilege, you are=20 sacrilegious (sak re lij' us).

safe-house
Place to = hide.

sage
Wise.

sally
Attack out of a = fortified=20 position.

sanctuary
A safe = place.

satrap
A hereditary = ruler of a=20 large region in the Persian empire, similar in rank to a duke in the = European feudal system.

savage
Brutal and mean; = scarcely=20 human.

scandal
Something for = a decent=20 person to be ashamed of.

scolded
Rebuked; told = off in a=20 long-winded way.

scorned
Looked at with=20 contempt.

scout
Look over.

scrutiny (screw' ti = ny)
Careful=20 examination; checking out.

seceded (see see' = ded)
Left the=20 group.

second = guess
Have doubts=20 about what you have decided.

sector
Zone; area of=20 responsibility.
Example: The distinction is = often=20 made between the private sector (business) and the = public=20 sector (government).

secure
Safe; to make = safe.

seething
Just about to = boil.

semblance
Appearance.

serene (se reen')
No = worries; easy=20 in manner.

series (see' rees)
A = number of=20 similar things arranged in order; sequence.

setback
Defeat, = reversal, or=20 check.

settle = down
Relax.

severe (se = veer')
Serious;=20 grave; harsh. Severity (se ver' i ty) is how=20 severe it is.

sham
Fake.

shipwrecked
Survivors whose=20 ship has sunk.

show off
Display = proudly.

showdown
Decisive=20 confrontation.
     This term comes = from poker,=20 when the last players left show their cards to determine who takes = the=20 pot.

shrewd
Not apparently a = fool.

shun
Avoid with care; = refuse to have=20 anything to do with.

shut up
Stop = talking.

side-by-side
Next = to each=20 other in a line.

sincere (sin = sere')
Meaning what=20 you say; honest.

singled = out
Chosen from=20 among many others.

skirmish
Small = fight.

slacken
Loosen; = diminish.

slander
False statement = made to=20 injure someone's reputation.

slight =20 Noun.
Insulting lack of respect.

sloth
Laziness; torpor;=20 inactivity.

smoldering
No = flames, but=20 almost burning.

smug
Thinking that you're = not a=20 fool.

snickering
Secret=20 laughter.

sniping (sny' = ping)
Shooting from=20 a safe distance; being a critic.

so long = as
Provided that; on=20 the condition that.

sober
Serious; not dizzy = with any=20 excitement.

sole (rhymes with = bowl)
One and=20 only.

solemn (sol' um)
Not = light and=20 cheerful, but important and serious. = Solemnity (so=20 lem' ni ty) is the quality of being solemn.

solicit (so lis' = it)
Ask=20 for.
    Solicitation is = the act=20 of asking for something.

solitude (sol' i = tude)
Being=20 alone; loneliness.

soothe
Calm; quiet down; = ease the=20 pain.

sophist (so' = fist)
Person who=20 uses specious=20 arguments.
    Sophistry = is the=20 black art of confusing the truth.

sorcerer (sor' ser = er)
Evil=20 magician; caster of spells.
    The black = art=20 practiced by the sorcerer is called=20 sorcery.

sordid (sor' = did)
Showing a=20 disgustingly bad character; abnormally materialistic.

sovereign power = (sov'=20 ren)
Being a king; supreme power in government, which is not = subject to=20 any other authority.
   =20 Sovereignty (sov' ren tee) is the status of absolute power. = =20 In the words of Lord Acton: "Power corrupts, and absolute = power=20 corrupts absolutely." See the life of Alexander.

sowing
Planting = seeds.

spawned
Produced in a large = number, as=20 fish spawn eggs.

spearheaded
Led = into action,=20 like the head of a spear leads the shaft. The head provides = the=20 hardness and sharpness to create an opening, and the shaft provides = the mass=20 to assure penetration. This is commonly used macho = management=20 lingo.

specious (spee' = shus)
Attempting=20 to confuse the truth; made in bad faith. =
Example: =20 She made the specious argument that all sex is = harassment=20 because of the historical dominance of the male.

spectator
One who = watches an=20 event.

spite
Mean spirit; = hatefulness.

splendid
Beautiful in = a strong=20 way.

spoil = Noun.
What the=20 winner collects on the battlefield after a battle.

spurious (spyu' ri = us)
Not=20 genuine; fake.

spurned
Rejected in = anger.

squalid
Gross, messy = and=20 disgusting.

squeamish
Reluctant = to do it=20 because it's disgusting or wrong.

staggering
Moving = with erratic=20 steps, as if heavily loaded.

stagnation
A state = of dullness=20 and lack of progress. Stagnant water isn't = flowing,=20 and a stagnant economy is not growing.

stall
Cause delay on=20 purpose.

stamina (stam' i = na)
Endurance;=20 the ability to work without getting tired.

stamped = out
Eliminated=20 completely.

stampede (stam = pede')
Panic of a=20 herd.

start out
Begin a=20 journey.

stay put
Don't = move.

steadfast (sted' = fast)
Firm and=20 unyielding.

steady (ste' dy)
Not = changing;=20 firm; reliable.
     "Going=20 steady" means having a usual companion of the = opposite=20 sex.

stealthily (stel' thi=20 ly)
Without attracting attention; sneakily.

stern
Serious; = grumpy.

stewardship
Taking = care of=20 the property of others.

stimulate
Excite; = arouse.

stir up
Arouse; = incite.

stoned
To be killed by = rocks=20 thrown by a crowd.

stood their=20 ground
Didn't back down but defended their = position.

stragglers
Those who = fall=20 behind or otherwise lose contact with the main body of a group.

straight
Consecutive; = without a=20 break.

stratagem (stra' ta = gem)
Trick;=20 ploy; ruse.

strategic (stra tee'=20 jik)
Pertaining to strategy, or the larger plans = of a=20 war.
    Tactics are the techniques of = battle.

strenuous (stren' yu = us)
With a=20 lot of effort and hard work.

strife
Angry words and=20 fighting.

stupefied
Made = stupid; spaced=20 out; numbed by shock or amazement.

subjugate (sub' ju = gate)
Bring=20 under control; tame.

submit (sub mit')
Give = in;=20 surrender.

subordinated (sub or' = di na=20 ted)
Made secondary in rank.
Example: A=20 subordinated debenture is a debt that will be paid = after=20 the senior debt is paid in full.

subservient
Like a = servant;=20 serving from a position of inferiority.

subtle (sut' l)
Hard to = detect;=20 not obvious; cunning; wily.

subvert (sub = vert')
Undermine, or=20 weaken in a sneaky way. =
Example:  =20 Subversive people subvert an organization = by=20 creating bad feelings like resentment and suspicion.

succession (suk sess'=20 shun)
The order in which power passes. For example, in the = United=20 States government, the presidential succession = goes:=20 President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, President pro = tempore of=20 the Senate, Secretary of State, and then other cabinet = officers. A=20 person succeeds to an office automatically when the = previous occupant dies or retires. The one who steps into the = vacated=20 position is the successor.

suffer
Endure; have a = bad=20 time.

sufficient
Enough.

summon
Command to = come.

sumptuous (sum' chu=20 us)
Luxurious; very comfortable.

superflous (su per' flu = us)
Not needed; extra and useless.

superiority (su pee ri = o' ri=20 ty)
Being better by comparison. The opposite of=20 inferiority.

superstition (su per = stish'=20 un)
False beliefs, arising from misunderstanding of cause and=20 effect.
Example: Perhaps the most peculiar=20 superstition in modern times is the Cargo Cult of = the=20 Trobriand Islands, who believed that they could bring cargo planes = back to a=20 deserted airstrip by imitating the actions they had observed done by = the=20 ground crew.

suppress (sup = ress')
Check; keep=20 under control.

supreme (su = preem')
Highest;=20 ultimate.

surety (shu' re = tee)
Person who=20 must pay a debt if the debtor defaults, or fails to pay the creditor = according to the promissory note; guarantor.

surplus (ser' = plus)
Excess; the=20 amount that is more than what is needed.

suspected
Doubted; = thought to=20 be guilty.

suspended
Interrupted; put off=20 until later.

sycophant (sy' co = fant)
Yes=20 man; toady; suck up; snitch and flatterer.=20 =             &= nbsp;  =20 115

tacit (tass' = it)
Unspoken, but=20 understood.

tact
Diplomacy, = politeness,=20 intelligent conduct.

tactics
Techniques of = battle.

tainted
Infected; = rotten.

take advantage=20 of
Use.

take care of
Do = what is=20 necessary in that regard.

take charge
Be = the=20 boss.

take him = along
Allow him=20 to accompany you; bring him along; not leave him behind.

take it easy
Go = at a slow=20 pace; relax; goof off.

take over
Assume = control;=20 take charge.
    A = takeover is a=20 change in control. A hostile takeover in the = business world is when management is replaced by the voting power = of =20 unwelcome new shareholders.

talent
6000 drachmas,=20 approximately a day's pay for 6000 laborers, or 20 years of wages = for one.=20 A brick of gold, slightly bigger than a common construction = brick,=20 and weighing approximately 51 pounds. The amount of gold that = a bearer=20 can carry on a long journey.

talk out = of
Convince not to=20 do. This is the opposite of talk into, = which=20 means persuade to do something.

tame
Docile; not wild; = safe to be=20 around.

task
A project or job to = be=20 done.

tastes
Preferences. =20
    Someone who puts ketchup on ice cream is said = to have=20 bad taste in food. Someone who likes Bach is = said to=20 have good taste in music.

taunt (tawnt)
Insulting = and defiant=20 remark or behavior, typically made with the intention of provoking a = fight.

temperament (tem' pra=20 ment)
General disposition of a person.

temperance
Moderation; the=20 quality of not getting carried away by pleasure or emotion.

tendency (ten' den = see)
What you=20 usually do.
Example: He has a=20 tendency to blame others for his troubles.

tenure (ten' yer)
Time = that you=20 can hold an office.
Example: Federal judges = in the=20 United States have life tenure to insulate them = from=20 political pressures.

terminate
End.

terms
The details of a = deal.

terrain (ter ayn')
The = lay of the=20 land.

terror
Extreme fear.

thrive
Prosper; = flourish; grow and=20 be happy.

thwart
Put obstacles in = the way=20 of; frustrate.

timid (tim' id) [first = syllable=20 rhymes with him]
Very cautious; too scared to act; fearful.

tinker
Fix, construct, = or repair=20 in a small way.

tirade (ty' rade)
Angry=20 speech.

to the effect=20 that
Meaning to give the impression that; suggesting = that.

to the = point
Getting at=20 the important features of a problem, instead of blabbering about = things that=20 don't matter.

toady (toe' di)
A = flattering leech;=20 suck-up; sycophant.

toast
Short statement = before a=20 drink. A custom of unknown origin.

toil (toyl)
Hard and = boring=20 work.

tolerate
Endure = patiently. =20 Tolerable means that you can stand it.

tombs (toomz)
Places for = the=20 dead.

took = note
Noticed.

took on
Confronted; = challenged;=20 selected as an opponent or a task.

tormentor
Torturer; = one who is=20 causing you pain and/or trouble.

track down
Find by = patient=20 effort.

trappings
Clothes and = other=20 marks of rank.

treachery (trech' er=20 y)
Back-stabbing; disloyalty; deceit; false friendship.

treason
Selling out = your country;=20 disloyalty.

treaty
Contract between=20 sovereigns; deal between states.

tribute
Taxes; payment = of=20 respect.

tried
Put through the = judicial=20 process.

trivial
Not = important.

troops
Soldiers.

truce
When the fighting = stops for a=20 while, by agreement.

trustee (trus = tee')
Someone who=20 administers something for the benefit of another, called the = beneficiary.=20 The trustee has legal title, but beneficial=20 ownership is in the beneficiary, so the trustee has = a=20 fiduciary duty to take good care and not to treat it as his = own. The=20 legal arrangement is called a trust.

try to
Attempt = to. =20
    In modern American English, try=20 to is the preferred form for expressing an attempt to do = something.=20
Example: He tried to make = an=20 appointment for next Tuesday, but the dentist was not available.

tumult
Boiling with = trouble.

turbulence
Turmoil; = a term=20 used in fluid mechanics to denote when a fluid flows in highly = disorganized=20 motion, like a river rapids.

turf
Zone of control; = domain.

turmoil (tur' = moyl)
Trouble and=20 confusion.

turn down
Refuse;=20 decline.

turn out to = be
It's=20 impossible to give a brief definition of this phrase, which is = commonly used=20 in American English. It is best learned by studying some=20 examples: That investment turned out to = be a=20 winner. That President turned out to be a=20 crook. We thought it was a pool of water, but it = turned out to=20 be a mirage.

turn over
Surrender = control=20 or possession; give up.
Example: Vince = Foster's=20 lawyer refused to turn over some notes of an = interview=20 before Foster's death.

tyrant (ty' rant)
Boss = who rules=20 by fear.
    Government of this style is = called=20 tyranny (tir' a nee). Typically, the=20 tyrant is fearful himself, and uses a squad of = assassins to=20 silence or kill anyone who opposes him. See the life of Dion, = note 6. Dionysius of = Syracuse was=20 perhaps the most famous tyrant of the ancient = world. =20 =             &= nbsp;           =20 59

ulterior = motive
Secret=20 reason for doing something; hidden agenda.

ultimatum (ul ti may'=20 tum)
Final warning before war.

unanimous (yu nan' i=20 mus)
Everyone feels the same way about it; all votes are for = it.

unbiased (un by'=20 est)
Unprejudiced; open minded..
Example: If = the jury=20 is unbiased, the scales of justice are equally = balanced at=20 the beginning of the trial.

undermine
Subvert; = work against=20 in a sneaky way.
    This term is from the = ancient=20 technique of siegecraft where tunnels were dug under walls and then = the=20 tunnel supports were burned to cause the walls to collapse.

undue (un doo')
Not = justified by=20 the circumstances.

unfamiliar
Don't = know about=20 it.

unison (yu' ni = zon)
Cooperation of=20 all together.

unprecedented (un = press' i den=20 ted)
Never happened before.

unruly (un roo' = ly)
Disobedient=20 and troublesome.

unscrupulous
Mean; = without=20 conscience or humanity; doesn't care how other people are hurt by = his career=20 of greed and power.

up to
In the process of = doing.

uproar (up' roar)
Noise; = commotion.

urgent
Very important to = act=20 immediately.

usury (yoo' ser y)
Using = interest=20 on debts to take over property. Usury = connotes an=20 unusually high rate of interest, e.g. loan sharking.=20             = 15

vagabond (vag' a = bond)
Wandering=20 bum.

vague (vayg)
Not = clear.

vain (vayn)
Foolish;=20 unrealistic. In vain means futile.

valor
Value in battle; = courage and=20 skill.

vanity
Foolish notions = of selfish=20 pride.

vehement (vee' a = ment)
Angry and=20 emphatic.

vendetta (ven det' = a)
Persistent=20 persecution; a feud, or stubborn grudge fight.

venture
Speculative=20 project.
    A joint = venture is a=20 contractual arrangement between two companies whereby they agree to = share=20 the costs and profits of a particular project, without binding = themselves to=20 a complete merger or partnership.

vested=20 interest
Investment; there's something in it for = you, so you=20 are not objective because what happens affects you personally.

vetted
When a person or = a=20 proposition is checked out and debated before being submitted for=20 consideration to a decision-maker.

vicariously=20 liable
You get blamed for what someone else = does. =20
    For example, the company has to pay for what = its=20 employee did. This doctrine of vicarious = liability=20 is the reason that there are so many lawsuits in America, because = lawyers=20 would not pay to create the trouble unless they had rich defendants = to=20 extort money from.

vice
Harmful habit.

vicious (vish' = us)
Intending to=20 hurt; mean.

vicissitudes (va sis' = a=20 tudes)
Ups and downs; changes of Fortune.

victor
The one who wins = the fight=20 or athletic contest.

vigor
Energy and = strength.

villain (vil' un)
The = bad guy;=20 evil person.

vituperation (vy tu' = per a"=20 shun)
Spiteful, intemperate language; name-calling.

volume
Amount; = loudness.

voluntary (vol' un ta = ry)
Not=20 forced; done of your own free will. When you do something=20 voluntarily (vol un tar' i ly) nobody is forcing = you to do=20 it.=20 =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;            = ;            =       =20 21

war-monger
One who = is trying=20 to promote a war.=20 =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;  =20

watchword
To identify = soldiers=20 on your side as they approach your lines in the dark, a watchword is issued by the = commander and=20 learned by the sentries.

well-to-do
Rich.

whim
Sudden impulse.

whimsical
Unpredictable;=20 changing for no apparent reason.

wicker
Woven of flexible = sticks.

widespread
Found all = over.

willing
Voluntary; done = according=20 to one's own will, and not under compulsion.

wise
Smart in a = fundamental way;=20 having deep judgment.

wit
Intelligent humor.

withstand
Be OK after = it=20 happens.

witness  =20 Verb.
See, and say you saw. =
Example: We=20 need two people to witness this will in order to = make it=20 valid. Used as a noun, a witness is one = who says=20 that he saw something.

worked up
Aroused = to an=20 emotional fever.

wound up (wownd = up')
Resulted;=20 turned out to be the consequence.
Example: =20 Alexander the Great wound up losing all of his = friends when=20 he made himself a god.

wreath (reeth)
Circular = braid of=20 leaves, used to crown the winners of events at the ancient Olympic = games and=20 other games in Greece. The intention was to show that human = glory is=20 as temporary as these leaves.=20 =             &= nbsp;           &n= bsp;           &nb= sp;           &nbs= p;            = ;            =       =20 15

zeal
Enthusiasm; = willingness.
=
           &nbs= p;            = ;            =             &= nbsp;     =20 1065
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