Some words are easy to remember because there's a story behind them. Learn the story and the meaning comes with it.
From Greek myths
| Word | Story | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| tantalize | Tantalus, fruit always out of reach | tease with the unobtainable |
| sisyphean | Sisyphus, the boulder that rolls back | endless and futile |
| herculean | Hercules's labors | needing huge effort |
| narcissistic | Narcissus and his reflection | self-admiring |
| procrustean | Procrustes and his bed | forcing a rigid fit |
From places and real people
- laconic and spartan both come from Sparta, in the region of Laconia: few words, few comforts.
- draconian: Draco's harsh laws in ancient Athens.
- maverick, boycott and martinet are named after real 19th- and 17th-century people.
From books
Quixotic comes from Don Quixote, and odyssey and mentor both come from Homer's Odyssey.
Why this helps on tests
Words like these turn up in reading passages because writers enjoy them. If you know Sisyphus, you'll never confuse sisyphean with herculean: one is hard, the other is hopeless.
Magister Quintus has more of these on Braineos: his decks are full of Latin and Greek stories.
Independent study material, not affiliated with College Board or ETS.