Definitions

Labyrinth-an intricate combination of paths or passages in which it is difficult to find one's way or to reach the exit. “Pan’s Labyrinth” is a political fable in the guise of a fairy tale.

Palladium-a rare metallic element of the platinum group, silver-white, ductile and malleable, harder and fusing more readily than platinum: used chiefly as a catalyst and in dental and other alloys. Palladium Equity Partners of New York has bought Houston’s Castro Cheese, the maker of La Vaquita cheeses and dairy products, the companies announced Monday.

Museum-a building or place where works of art, scientific specimens, or other objects of permanent value are kept and displayed. No, this really is meant to be more like one of those literal dioramas of the traditional natural history museum, an imagining of a real habitat, with plant life and landscape reproduced in meticulous detail.

Narcissism-inordinate fascination with oneself; excessive self-love; vanity. The cause, he says, is acquired situational narcissism, a psychological dysfunction that Millman was the first to identify and that he treats in his celebrity patients.

Odyssey: a long series of wanderings or adventures, esp. when filled with notable experiences, hardships, etc. A Space Odyssey," a film in which infinite care, intelligence, patience, imagination and Cinerama have been devoted to what looks like the apotheosis of the fantasy of a precocious, early nineteen-fifties city boy

Meander-to proceed by or take a winding or indirect course: The stream meandered through the valley. noise of camels as they meander among the dunes that border this lonely desert settlement.Protean-readily assuming different forms or characters; extremely variable. Picasso: Protean and Prodigious, the Greatest Single Force in 70 Years of Art

Protean-readily assuming different forms or characters; extremely variable. But it has a formal freedom unprecedented in Johnson's public works, as if he has found an esthetic sufficiently protean to express his promiscuous love of shapes.

Stoical-impassive; characterized by a calm, austere fortitude befitting the Stoics. The key words are clear: "indignant," "stoical," "enigmatic," "complex," "useful."

Herculean-requiring the great strength of a Hercules; very hard to perform. I don’t think anybody can say I haven’t made a Herculean effort,” Selig said.

Laconic-using few words; expressing much in few words; concise. But the tough, laconic Mr. Ford is wrenchingly effective throughout most of ''Random Hearts,'' and the story in which he figures is a strong one.

Zephyr-a gentle, mild breeze. can be found crammed inside the Seattle corporate headquarters of Zephyr Holdings.

Nemesis-something that a person cannot conquer, achieve, etc. A Nemesis Converts The Pope

Flora-the plants of a particular region or period, listed by species and considered as a whole. I run through the park because I like looking at the birds and the flora

Ambrosia-something especially delicious to taste or smell. Turning Sap Into Ambrosia

Hermetic-made airtight by fusion or sealing. A hermetic seal is the main reason the Kim dynasty has survived so long.

Promethean-of or suggestive of Prometheus. “Promethean Fire” could well be the response to 9/11 that many see in this magisterial work

Nectar-the saccharine secretion of a plant, which attracts the insects or birds that pollinate the flower. A honeybee collects nectar from an almond tree in bloom.

Sibylline-of, resembling, or characteristic of a sibyl; prophetic; oracular. The tactic disturbed some less-sibylline types (me, included).

Tantalize-to torment with, or as if with, the sight of something desired but out of reach; tease by arousing expectations that are repeatedly disappointed. but these things no longer surprise or tantalize us as they once did.

Delphic-of or pertaining to Delphi. For Delphic Oracle, Fumes and Visions.

Helicon-a mountain in central Greece. In 1985, he set up the Helicon Foundation, named after the mountain where Mnemosyne, the Greek goddess of memory

Platonic-of, pertaining to, or characteristic of Plato or his doctrines. The movie also showcases Mr. Herzog’s eye for terrifyingly beautiful landscapes, and a rare understanding of the deep platonic love that blossoms between men in dire circumstances.

Draconia-of, pertaining to, or characteristic of Draco or his code of laws. don't appearance of Joseph Wiseman as the tyrant Draco, king of Draconia, the galaxy whose terrible plans for earth form what might loosely be called the story.

Calypso-a musical style of West Indian origin, influenced by jazz, usually having topical, often improvised, lyrics. This documentary from filmmaker Geoffrey Dunn explores the history of calypso music in Trinidad and Tobago.

Amazon-Class. Myth.one of a race of female warriors said to dwell near the Black Sea. Amazon.com is in talks with three Hollywood studios about starting a service that would allow consumers to download movies and TV shows for a fee and burn them.

Siren-a seductively beautiful or charming woman, esp. one who beguiles men. When a reconstituted 36-year-old band headlines Siren, that tells you something (good) about the band and (not-so-good) about the festival.

Mercurial-changeable; volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic. America's girl next door has morphed into the mercurial diva down the hall.

Procrustean-pertaining to or suggestive of Procrustes. to a Procrustean bed, agonizingly tugged in several directions at once.

Aurora-Meteorol.a radiant emission from the upper atmosphere that occurs sporadically over the middle and high latitudes of both hemispheres in the form of luminous bands. An overview of Aurora Borealis, including cast and credit details, a review summary, and more.

Iridescent-displaying a play of lustrous colors like those of the rainbow. Dr. Kenneth Vecchio holds abalone shells, which are thickly lined with the iridescent material nacre. ...

Panacea-a remedy for all disease or ills; cure-all. An overview of Genetically Modified Food: Panacea or Poison, including cast and credit details, a review summary, and more.

Lethargy-the quality or state of being drowsy and dull, listless and unenergetic, or indifferent and lazy; apathetic or sluggish inactivity. Calipari Shows Concern Over Bradley's Lethargy

Gorgons-Class. Myth.any of three sister monsters commonly represented as having snakes for hair, wings, brazen claws, and eyes that turned anyone looking into them to stone. The calculating monster who pulls the strings in Dariush Mehrjui's heartbreaking film is an imperious mother-in-law (Jamileh Sheikhi) whose selfishness and pride put her in the same elite league with some of Hollywood's most formidable Gorgons.

Harpies-a scolding, nagging, bad-tempered woman; shrew. Charlie-baiting harpies and letting those harpies sometimes materialize as giant crows. ...

Hydra-(often cap.) Class. Myth.a water or marsh serpent with nine heads, each of which, if cut off, grew back as two. Up against the Many-Headed Hydra, Hercules forced the monstrous serpent from its den by shooting fiery arrows coated with pitch.

Lycanthrope- werewolf or alien spirit in the physical form of a bloodthirsty wolf. Phil becomes convinced that he's a lycanthrope after the disappearance.

Martial-inclined or disposed to war; warlike. Testimony in Court-Martial Describes a Sniper Squad Pressed to Raise Body Count.


Sophistry-a subtle, tricky, superficially plausible, but generally fallacious method of reasoning. Sophistry only insofar as we should forget, or not care.

Fauna-the animals of a given region or period considered as a whole. I was trying some different themes, and left that one up instead of Fauna.

Stentorian-very loud or powerful in sound. Hattie Jacques is the stentorian female who barges solemnly into crime.

Pyrrhic-consisting of two short or unaccented syllables. The Bunch opts for a final Pyrrhic victory.

Victory- a success or triumph over an enemy in battle or war. An overview of Dark Victory, including cast and credit details, a review summary, and more.

Damocles-a flatterer who, having extolled the happiness of Dionysius, tyrant of Syracuse, was seated at a banquet with a sword suspended over his head by a single hair to show him the perilous nature of that happiness. An overview of Sword of Damocles, including cast and credit details, a review summary, and more.


Achilles-the greatest Greek warrior in the Trojan War and hero of Homer's Iliad. An overview of The Fury of Achilles, including cast and credit details, a review summary, and more.

Oedipus-a king of Thebes, the son of Laius and Jocasta, and the father by Jocasta of Eteocles, Polynices, Antigone, and Ismeme. A performance of “Oedipus Rex” by inmates at a maximum-security prison provides an echo chamber of ironies.

Midas-Class. Myth.a Phrygian king, son of Gordius, who was given by Dionysus the power of turning whatever he touched into gold. The Midas Touch

Hades-the underworld inhabited by departed souls. Hades Blood is not the only artistically inclined member of this group.

Spartan-of or pertaining to Sparta or its people. For most of its running time ''Spartan,'' a political thriller with the lonely, aching, slightly musty soul of a film noir, is a vigorous and engrossing ...

Titanic-of or containing titanium, esp. in the tetravalent state. ETHEL BEANE, WHO SURVIVED TITANIC SINKING, DEAD AT 90 ... MARY C. WELLMAN DIES AT 80; WAS A SURVIVOR OF THE TITANIC

Marathon-any long-distance race. News about the New York City Marathon.