Part 2: English Words from Greek Mythology: Echo and Narcissistic

Narcissus. Credit: Pinterest

Now that I've recently read a book about Greek mythology, I've learned there are a number of words in English that come from there. Today's words are Echo and Narcissus.

WHO WAS ECHO? In Greek mythology, Echo ("echo" [from ἦχος (ēchos), "sound") was an Oread or a nymph who resided on Mount Cithaeron. Zeus courted Echo, and Zeus's wife, Hera, became suspicious and came from Mt. Olympus in an attempt to catch Zeus with the nymphs. Echo, by trying to protect Zeus (Zeus ordered her to protect him), endured Hera's wrath, and Hera made her only able to speak the last words spoken to her. 
  When Echo finally met a man named Narcissus and fell in love with him, she was unable to tell him how she felt and was forced to watch him as he fell in love with himself. That's where the word: "narcissistic" comes from! 

HOW IT IS USED IN ENGLISH - Echo is a noun, plural is echoes.

1. a repetition of sound produced by the reflection of sound waves from a wall, mountain, or other obstructing surface.

2. a sound heard again near its source after being reflected.

3. any repetition or close imitation, as of the ideas or opinions of another.

4. a person who reflects or imitates another.

5. a sympathetic or identical response, as to sentiments expressed.

6. a lingering trace or effect.

WHO WAS NARCISSUS?  Narcissus was a hunter from Thespiae in Boeotia who was known for his beauty. He was the son of the river god Cephissus and nymph Liriope. He was proud, in that he disdained those who loved him. Nemesis noticed this behavior and attracted Narcissus to a pool, where he saw his own reflection in the water and fell in love with it, not realizing it was merely an image. Unable to leave the beauty of his reflection, Narcissus lost his will to live. He stared at his reflection until he died. Narcissus is the origin of the term narcissism, a fixation with oneself and one's physical appearance or public perception.

HOW IT IS USED IN ENGLISH - 

A)  narcissus is a noun, plural narcissus, narcissuses, narcissi [nahr-sis-ee, -sis-ahy] 

1. any bulbous plant belonging to the genus Narcissus, of the amaryllis family, having showy yellow or white flowers with a cup-shaped corona.

2. the flower of any of these plants.

B) Narcissistic  [nahr-suh-sis-tik]  is an adjective

1. having an undue fascination with oneself; vain.

2.  Psychoanalysis. tending to derive erotic gratification from admiration of one's own physical or mental attributes.