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"Hi, I'm Etta Molly Gee, Professor of Library Science at Vocabulary University.
We welcome you to our "classic text" site where vocabulary has been pulled from many
recommended texts. I have suggestions for your FAQ: How can you, as a teacher, student
and/or life-long learner use the V.U. classic texts vocabulary lists?
(Tip 1) Individually or as a group, choose words that are unknown to you from the
list. To help memorize, look up and write down the definition, part of speech and use
the new word in a sentence of more than 6 words.
(Tip 2) Write a story, postcard, letter or journal entry using 15-25 words in
context.
(Tip 3) Working individually or in a group, pair synonyms and/or antonyms.
Determine how many words are adjectives, nouns and verbs.
Remember, vocabulary mastery comes from encountering new words in assigned reading, in
studying vocabulary word lists and using words in context."
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A high school recommended book, Much Ado About Nothing written by William
Shakespeare, gives the student the opportunity to learn SAT-College Prep vocabulary in
context. We have selected 55 words to encourage study.
(Teachers: If you have a vocabulary list for this book (or for others) that you would
share with us, email Jan and Carey Cook. We will post it and give you attribution if you wish!
Thanks for helping us!!!)
Much Ado About Nothing written by William Shakespeare: Words (55 total
words) are listed by category as specified by our teacher-contributor, Emily Lewis. The
words include the parts of speech and what they mean in today's English:
Vocabulary 1A "Much Ado About Nothing" - Vocabulary Overview
1. Renaissance - n. (1) A rebirth or revival, (2a) The humanistic revival of classic art,
literature, and learning that originated in Italy in the 14th century. (2b) The period of
this revival , roughly the 14th through the 16th century, marking the transition from
medieval to modern times.
2. The Globe Theater - n. A theater just outside of London, England built in 1599;
especially famous because the plays of William Shakespeare were written and performed
there.
3. Bard - n. (1) One of an ancient Celtic order of minstrel poets who composed and recited
verses celebrating heroic exploits. (2) A poet, especially a lyrical poet
4. Groundlings - n. A spectator in the cheap standing- room section of an Elizabethan
theater.
5. Theatre - n. Dramatic literature or its performance.
6. Shakespeare, William - n. 1564- 1616. An English playwright, poet, and actor whose
plays include historical works, comedies, and tragedies.
7. Anne Hathaway - n. The wife of William Shakespeare. She married the playwright in
1582.
8. Comedy - n. A dramatic work or film that is humorous or satirical and that usually has
a happy ending.
9. Tragedy - n. (a) A drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to
ruin or suffers extreme emotional sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, a
moral weakness, or an inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances. (b) The genre made
up of such works.
10. Acting Company - n. A group of twelve men who acted together for years, each man had a
role he would commonly play, like leading man, comedian, or king
11. Playwright - n. One who writes plays; a dramatist
Vocabulary Keywords - "Much Ado About Nothing"
1. Shrewd - adj. good at judging people or situations, crafty
2. Counterfeit - adj. forged, false
3. Disdain - adj. intense scorn
4. Slander - n. saying something false and damaging
5. Amorous - adj. expressing or feeling love
6. Banquet - n. ceremonial meal
7. Disposition - n. personality, behavioral tendency
8. Perturbation - n. the act of being disturbed or troubled
9. Melancholy - adj. feeling or causing pensive sadness
10. Mirth - n. laughter
Vocabulary 5 "Much Ado About Nothing"
11. Ducat - n. (1) Any of various gold coins formerly used in certain European countries.
(2) Slang. a. A piece of money. b. An admission ticket
12. Fife - n. A small, high-pitched, transverse flute used primarily to accompany drums in
a military or marching band.
13. Tabor - (also tabour) n. A small drum, often having a snare, played by a fifer to
accompany the fife.
14. Orthography - (n. pl. orthographies) (1) The art or study of correct spelling
according to established usage. (2)The aspect of language study concerned with letters and
their sequences in words. (3) A method of representing a language or the sounds of
language by written symbols; spelling
15. Lief - adv. (liefer, liefest) Readily; willingly: I would as lief go now as later. adj
(1) Beloved; dear. (2) Ready or willing. adj : (`lief' is archaic) very willing; "was lief
to go"; "glad to help" [syn: glad, lief(p)] adv : in a willing manner; "this was gladly
agreed to"; "I would fain do it" [syn: gladly, fain]
16. Pennyworth - n. (1) As much as a penny will buy. (2) A small amount; a modicum. (3) A
bargain: got my pennyworth at that price
17. Crotchet - n. An odd, whimsical, or stubborn notion
18. Flout - v. (flouted, flouting, flouts) v. tr. To show contempt for; scorn: flout a
law; behavior that flouted convention.
19. Haggard - adj. (1) a.Appearing worn and exhausted; gaunt. b.Wild or distraught in
appearance. (2) Wild and intractable. Used of a hawk in falconry; As a noun - An adult
hawk captured for training.
20. Misprize - tr.v. (misprized, misprizing, misprizes) (misprising) (1) To despise. (2)
To undervalue.
Vocabulary 4 "Much Ado About Nothing"
21. Enamor - v. (enamoured) To inspire with love; captivate: was enamored of the beautiful
dancer; were enamored with the charming island.
22. Usurer - n. One who lends money at interest, especially at an exorbitant or unlawfully
high rate.
23. Drover - n. One that drives cattle or sheep
24. Bullock - n. (1) A castrated bull; a steer. (2) A young bull
25. Poniard - n. A dagger typically having a slender square or triangular blade.
26. Termination - n. (1) The act of terminating or the condition of being terminated. a.
The end of something in time; the conclusion. b. An end of something in space; a limit or
edge. (2) A result; an outcome
27. Endow - v. (1) To provide with property, income, or a source of income. a. To equip
or supply with a talent or quality: Nature endowed you with a beautiful singing voice. b.
To imagine as having a usually favorable trait or quality: endowed the family pet with
human intelligence. (2) To provide with a dower
28. Cleave - v.(cleft) (1) To split with or as if with a sharp instrument. (2) To make or
accomplish by or as if by cutting: cleave a path through the ice. (3) To pierce or
penetrate: The wings cleaved the foggy air
29. Rite - n. (1) The prescribed or customary form for conducting a religious or other
solemn ceremony: the rite of baptism. (2) A ceremonial act or series of acts: fertility
rites. (3) The liturgy or practice of a branch of the Christian church.
30. Valor - n. (valour) the qualities of a hero or heroine; exceptional or heroic courage
when facing danger (especially in battle); "he showed great heroism in battle"; "he
received a medal for valorÔø‡Ôø‡?
Vocabulary 2 "Much Ado About Nothing"
31. Bubonic Plague - n. A contagious, often fatal epidemic disease caused by the
bacterium Yersinia (syn. Pasteurella) pestis, transmitted from person to person or by the
bite of fleas from an infected rodent, especially a rat, and characterized by chills,
fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and the formation of buboes
32. Victual - n. Food fit for human consumption
33. Predestinate - adj. Established or prearranged unalterably; "his place in history
was foreordained"; "a sense of predestinate inevitability about it"; "it seemed
predestined since the beginning of the world"
34. Baldrick - n. A wide (ornamented) belt worn over the right shoulder to support a
sword or bugle by the left hip.
35. Vile - adj. Loathsome; disgusting: vile language. Unpleasant or objectionable:
Contemptibly low in worth or account; second-rate. Of mean or low condition. Miserably
poor and degrading; wretched: a vile existence. Morally depraved; ignoble or wicked: a
vile conspiracy
36. Embassage - n. An embassy
37. Revelling - adj.Taking great pleasure or delight: engaging in uproarious festivities;
making merry
38. Pleach(ed) - v. To plait or interlace, especially in making a hedge or an arbor. To
shade or border with interlaced branches or vines
39. Enfranchise(d) - v. To endow with the rights of citizenship, especially the right to.
To vote. To free, as from bondage
Vocabulary More Keywords - "Much Ado About Nothing"
40. impediment - n. bar or hinder the progress
41. nuptial - adj. of marriage or a wedding
42. reproach - v. to accuse of and blame for a fault so as to make feel ashamed; rebuke,
reprove
43. frugal - adj. not wasteful
44. epitaphs - pl.n. an inscription on a tomb or gravestone in memory of the person
Thank you to Emily Lewis of the Provo Canyon School in Provo, Utah for being our
teacher contributor for Much Ado About Nothing.
(Teachers: If you have a vocabulary list for this book (or for others) that you would
share with us, email Jan and Carey Cook. We will post it and give you attribution if you wish!
Thanks for helping us!!!)
Vocabulary University® has provided vocabulary lists for the following 111 classic
books:
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111 Recommended High School/Junior High Reading,
Books A to I:
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111 Recommended High School/Junior High Reading,
Books J to Z:
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If there are other recommended books that you would like to see or contribute
vocabulary,
-- email your book ideas here.
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