Daedalus a legendary Athenian inventor, architect, and artist, who according to legend, built the Labyrinth.
democracies plural of democracy, a government in which the people hold the ruling power; democracies in Plato's experience were governments in which the citizens exercised power directly rather than through elected representatives.
dicast in ancient Athens, any of a large group of citizens chosen annually to serve as a court hearing cases; here, an Athenian who performs the function of both judge and juryman at a trial.
Diomede (also Diomedes) one of the great Greek heroes in the Trojan War.
Dionysiac festivals here, specifically, festivals including dramatic performances. (Dionysus was, among other things, the ancient god of wine and fertility, and his worship often involved orgiastic rites. The evolution of tragedy is linked to Dionysiac worship, and the performance of tragedies was part of yearly festivals in honor of the god.)
dithyramb in ancient Greece, an impassioned choric hymn in honor of Dionysus; here it refers to a short poem or chant, usually irregular in meter, with a wild, inspired rhythm.
draughts a board game like checkers.
Elegaic of or relating to a specific verse form, or type of poetry, written in praise of the dead (or, as here, something resembling that type of poetry).
end i.e., purpose, the object for the sake of which a thing exists or is made.
epicure a person who is especially fond of luxury and sensual pleasure; especially (and here), one with sensitive and discriminating tastes in food or wine. (The English word epicure is derived from the name of third-century B.C. Greek philosopher Epicurus; thus its use in translations of Plato is anachronistic.)
eristic of or provoking controversy or given to sophistical argument and specious reasoning; a person who engages in such argument (a Sophist).
exordium the opening part of a formal oration; here, Glaucon refers to Socrates' long explanation about what he is going to say.
foot-pad a highwayman who traveled on foot, robbing travelers; a mugger might be the modern equivalent.
Friend, sit still and obey my word . . . . Iliad IV, 412.
