Page 233 - THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 9–12 | Classical Studies and International Languages

CLASSICAL STUDIES
ablative absolute. A grammatical construction in Latin that typically consists of a noun and participle in the ablative case and that functions as an adverb (e.g., deo volente).
aetiology. The investigation of causes or origins. For example, an aetiological myth is a myth that offers an explanation of the origin and/or history of a place or group of people, the causes of an event, or the origin of something in nature.
allusion. A brief reference, explicit or implicit, to a place, person, or event. The reference may be historical, literary, artistic, religious, or mythological.
apparatus criticus. Source material that accompanies a text. It often indicates variant readings and provides information to help in understanding a text, often information from primary sources.
aspirated/unaspirated. In ancient Greek, the way in which certain vowels are pronounced with respect to the use of breath. Aspirated vowels are preceded by h, unaspirated vowels are not, and the pronunciation is indicated with a diacritical mark.
augur. In classical Rome, a religious official (Etruscan) who observed natural signs and omens to determine whether the gods were in favour of a proposed action.
bas-relief. A kind of sculpture or carving where the shapes or figures stand out just slightly from a flat background.
case. In inflected languages, the form of a noun, pronoun, or adjective that shows the relationship of the word to its context (e.g., subject of a verb, object of a verb or preposition). The case of the word is indicated by an inflection, which is typically an ending.
catharsis. A Greek word that means cleansing or purging. Aristotle used it to describe the emotional release experienced by an audience watching a drama.
chorus. In classical drama, a group of actors who speak, move, and dance in unison to provide commentary on the action of the play.
chthonic. Relating to the underworld, particularly in reference to deities or other mythological beings.
cosmogony. A theory or model that explains the origin of the universe.
cult. A system of religious worship especially as ritual, or the members of the sect (e.g., the cult of Dionysius, the Greek god of wine).
declension. The variation of the form of a noun, pronoun, or adjective that indicates gender, number, and case. The term is also used to refer to the class of nouns or adjectives that have the same set of variations.
deponent verb. In Latin, a verb that is passive in form but active in meaning (e.g. loquar, I speak).
derivative. A word that is derived from another word or from a root.
deus ex machina. In modern drama, an unexpected development that resolves a seemingly unsolvable plot problem. The term originates in classical drama, where it referred to the appearance of an actor playing a god, arriving by way of a crane or cable device to bring about a resolution at the end of the play.
dialectic. In ancient Greece, the investigation of opposing ideas (e.g., concepts, opinions, metaphysical tenets) through logical reasoning in an attempt to arrive at truth. It is also some- times called the Socratic method. Plato made use of dialectic in his Socratic dialogues.
dramatis personæ. The characters in a play or other dramatic work; a list of such characters.
epigram. A brief and witty poem.
ethics. The branch of philosophy that is concerned with concepts of morality (e.g., good and bad; right and wrong; matters of justice, love, peace, virtue).
GLOSSARY
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