Shakespeare Vocabulary

Flashcards

Click "Next" to see a card. Now, say the answer out loud *before* you click "Next" again to see if you are right. Hit delete to remove a card from the pile you are "studying."

Abdicate1 : to cast off : discard 2 : to relinquish (as sovereign power) formally
Aloofremoved or distant either physically or emotionally
Audaciousintrepidly daring : adventurous; recklessly bold
Capitala store of useful assets or advantages
Capitalizeto gain by turning something to advantage : profit
Capitulateto surrender often after negotiation of terms
Decapitateto cut off the head of : behead
Decisivehaving the power or quality of deciding: resolute, determined
Illicitnot permitted : unlawful
Fortuitousoccurring by chance OR fortunate, lucky
Malignto utter injuriously misleading or false reports about : speak evil of
Odiousarousing or deserving hatred or repugnance : hateful
Pretensea claim made or implied ; especially : one not supported by fact OR
professed rather than real intention or purpose : pretext
Rancorbitter deep-seated ill will
Rebuffto reject or criticize sharply : snub
Wieldto handle (as a tool) especially effectively OR to exert one's authority by means of
Anathemaone that is cursed by ecclesiastical authority OR (more likely) someone or
something intensely disliked or loathed
Bombastpretentious inflated speech or writing
Capricea sudden, impulsive, and seemingly unmotivated notion or action b: a sudden
usually unpredictable condition
Egregiousconspicuous; especially : conspicuously bad : flagrant
Enigmaan obscure speech or writing OR something hard to understand or explain
Eschewto avoid habitually especially on moral or practical grounds : shun
Exigentrequiring immediate aid or action; urgent
Fecundfruitful in offspring or vegetation : prolific
Industriousconstantly, regularly, or habitually active or occupied
Malaisean indefinite feeling of debility or lack of health often indicative of or
accompanying the onset of an illness
Maledictiona curse
Malevolentwanting harm to befall others
Malignanttending to produce death or deterioration
Perspicacityshrewdness, perceptiveness
Zeniththe culminating or highest point : acme