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Speaking Greek: Critical Greek Words

 

agon: it can mean competition or conflict as in athletics. In Greek drama it can mean the struggle or conflict between characters.

aidos: shame, embarrassment, modesty, decorum.

areté: bravery, courage, personal excellence; also moral virtue.

ate: folly.

Chthonic: "in, under, or beneath the earth, pertaining to the Earth. Wikipedia makes the following distinction: The Greek word khthon is one of several for "earth"; it typically refers to the interior of the soil, rather than the living surface of the land (as Gaia or Ge does) or the land as territory (as khora (χ?ρα) does). It evokes at once abundance and the grave.

Dike: custom, usage; hence, what is right.

ethos: character, the enduring aspects of ones personality, in contrast to pathos which is immediate emotional response..

to eu: the perfect or the good.

Hoplite: heavily armed infantryman that formed part of a phalanx.

hybris (hubris): outrage; arrogance, insolence, violence, injury, rape.

isonomia : equal law, balance, equality before the law, equality of rights.

to kallos: the beautiful.

kosmos: order

nemesis: righteous anger or retribution.

pathos: emotion

rhythmos: rhythm .

sophrosyné: self-restraint engendered by self-knowledge

symmetria : commensurability of the parts. Correct proportion of the parts in relationship to the whole.

techné: craft, technique, skill, expertise.

Major Greek Antinomies or Binaries
Greek	Barbarian
Male	Female
Free	Slave
Human	Animal
Civilization	Savagery
Divine	Human
Nemesis	Hybris
Cosmos	Chaos
Rational	Irrational
God	Giant