The Oresteia

Agamemnon

absolve: to forgive ritually; to forgive of sins by means of a ritual

beacon: a signal, especially a signal created by light

blasphemous: impiously irreverent; speaking of something sacred in a disrespectful manner

compunction: a strong sense of guilt

defile: to make unclean or unfit for ceremonial use

deity: a god or goddess

devout: deeply religious; sincere; devoted

flout: to belittle; to scorn; to show total disregard for

forebode: to give warning of; to have a premonition of future misfortune

goad: to prod; to incite to action

lascivious: lustful; lewd; lecherous

oracle: a priest who makes prophecies; the prophecy itself

pious: having deep reverence for religious rituals; devout

portent: an omen; a sign of a future calamity

prescience: knowledge of actions or events before they occur; foreknowledge

prophecy: a prediction made by a religious person

staunch: firm and steadfast; true to a cause or friend

tapestry: a heavy fabric used to make a covering or a wall hanging

vengeance: retribution; the act of punishing someone as payment for some wrong or injury

wanton: immoral

The Libation Bearers

abomination: a hatred for something; the thing that inspires the hatred

adder: a poisonous snake

appease: to bring peace to; to soothe; to relieve of ill feeling

decree: an authoritative order having the force of law

detest: to dislike intensely; to abhor; to loathe

dilatory: tending or intended to delay

exalt: to raise in position, character, or status; to glorify, praise, or honor; to fill with intense joy, pride or delight

galled: pertaining to skin made sore by friction or abrasion; to exasperate

glut: to fill beyond capacity

homage: honor or respect publicly expressed to a person or idea

indignation: anger aroused by something unjust, mean, or unworthy

lament: to express grief; to mourn over; to regret deeply

libation: the pouring of a liquid offering as a religious ritual

nemesis: one who inflicts relentless vengeance

patrimony: an inheritance from one’s father

redemption: state of being saved from a state of sinfulness and its consequences

rite: a ceremonial religious act

scruples: ethical principles; demands made by one’s conscience

tyranny: absolute power, especially when exercised unjustly or cruelly

zeal: enthusiastic and diligent devotion in pursuit of a cause, ideal, or goal

Eumenides

aegis: protection

atone: to make amends for a sin; to make up for an offense

blight: a condition that diseases living things, withers hope, or halts prosperity

effigy: a crude image made of a person to express hatred for him or her

entreaty: a sincere request; a plea, especially for mercy

exorcise: to free from evil spirits

inexorable: unyielding; not capable of being persuaded by pleas

infringe: to go beyond proper boundaries or limits; to trespass

loathsome: repulsive, disgusting

matricide: the killing of one’s mother; one who kills one’s own mother

primeval: original; belonging to the earliest ages

precedence: priority

prerogative: an exclusive right or privilege

revile: to denounce with abusive language; to insult with a sense of moral superiority

sanctity: sacredness; holiness

scourge: to flog; to beat with a whip; to inflict punishment

spurn: to reject or refuse with a sense of moral superiority

titular: relating to a title and the honors or responsibilities connected to that title

transgress: to violate a law; to sin

wield: to handle a weapon; to exercise power