Key terms & definitions

A Roman god associated with fertility and purification, honoured at the Lupercalia.

Uncontrolled sexual desire that dominates a person's choices; also called kaam.

A ritual purification. Livy describes Servius purifying the assembled citizen army through sacrifice at the completion of the census.

The light-reflecting quality of a textile surface that gives it a glowing or glossy appearance.

Shiny, because the surface reflects light well; freshly cut or polished metals are lustrous.

A five-year period associated with the Roman census; the plural is lustra.

A pituitary hormone whose surge stimulates the release of an egg from an ovary.

A hormone released by the pituitary gland that triggers ovulation.

A tax on selected non-essential goods, such as furs, which raises government revenue and generally increases the cost of buying them.

The poetic name associated with Cytheris as the beloved of the Roman poet Cornelius Gallus.

The traditional Spartan lawgiver to whom Plutarch attributes reforms of education and marriage.

A white blood cell that produces antibodies which bind to particular pathogens.

A type of white blood cell that produces antibodies; some also produce antitoxins.

Killing by a mob without a lawful trial, used to terrorise African Americans.

A stringed musical instrument. Orpheus plays one while singing his appeal to the rulers of the underworld.

A short poem expressing a speaker’s personal feelings, often with musical qualities created by rhythm and rhyme.

A poem that expresses a speaker’s personal feelings, often with musical qualities.

Poetry associated with song and composed in patterned verse forms, often exploring feelings, values or particular occasions rather than telling an extended heroic story.

Scientifically flawed agricultural ideas associated with Soviet scientist Trofim Lysenko, including planting seeds unusually deeply and closely together.

The bursting open of a cell, releasing the new virus particles inside it.

A viral pathway in which viral DNA is incorporated into the host cell’s DNA and copied as that cell divides, without immediately producing new virus particles.

An enzyme found in tears that breaks down and kills bacteria on and around the eyes.

Enzymes found in tears that break down bacteria.

A viral pathway in which new virus particles are made and released, often when the host cell bursts.

The return to Allah through resurrection and judgement after death.

A physical address embedded within a device’s network adapter that identifies that adapter on a network.

Allowing or blocking a device’s access to a network according to its network adapter’s MAC address.

The background, traditions and identity inherited from earlier generations; Cleopatra belonged to a Macedonian ruling family.

A conventional scheming villain in Renaissance drama who uses calculation and deception to gain power.

How readily a material can be cut and shaped using machine tools.