"Paradise Lost" by John Milton, Book II

Learn these words from the original ten-book version of Milton's epic poem, which retells the Biblical story of humanity's fall from divine favor. Read the full text here.

Here are links to our lists for the poem: Book I, Book II, Book III, Book IV, Book V,
Book VI, Book VII, Book VIII, Book IX, Book X

Here is a link to our lists for the twelve-book version of Paradise Lost.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. eminence
    high status importance owing to marked superiority
    Satan exalted sat, by merit rais'd
    To that bad eminence
  2. dominion
    control or power through legal authority
    Powers and Dominions, Deities of Heav'n,
    For since no deep within her gulf can hold
    Immortal vigor, though opprest and fall'n,
    I give not Heav'n for lost.
  3. opprobrious
    deserving or bringing disgrace or shame
    For while they sit contriving, shall the rest,
    Millions that stand in Arms, and longing wait
    The Signal to ascend, sit ling'ring here
    Heaven's fugitives, and for their dwelling place
    Accept this dark opprobrious Den of shame,
    The Prison of his Tyranny who Reigns
    By our delay?
  4. infernal
    characteristic of or resembling Hell
    when to meet the noise
    Of his Almighty Engine he shall hear
    Infernal Thunder, and for Lightning see
    Black fire and horror shot with equal rage
    Among his Angels
  5. timorous
    shy and fearful by nature
    To vice industrious, but to Nobler deeds
    Timorous and slothful
  6. ominous
    threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
    I should be much for open War, O Peers,
    As not behind in hate; if what was urg'd
    Main reason to persuade immediate War,
    Did not dissuade me most, and seem to cast
    Ominous conjecture on the whole success
  7. impregnable
    incapable of being attacked or tampered with
    First, what Revenge? the Tow'rs of Heav'n are fill'd
    With Armed watch, that render all access
    Impregnable
  8. firmament
    the sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected
    what if all
    Her stores were op'n'd, and this Firmament
    Of Hell should spout her Cataracts of Fire,
    Impendent horrors, threat'ning hideous fall
    One day upon our heads
  9. paramount
    more important than anything else; supreme
    Midst came their mighty Paramount, and seem'd
    Alone th' Antagonist of Heav'n, nor less
    Then Hell's dread Emperour with pomp Supreme,
    And God-like imitated State
  10. oblivion
    total forgetfulness
    Far off from these a slow and silent stream,
    LETHE the River of Oblivion rolls
    Her wat'ry Labyrinth, whereof who drinks,
    Forthwith his former state and being forgets,
    Forgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain.
  11. averse
    strongly opposed
    I pleas'd, and with attractive graces won
    The most averse, thee chiefly, who full oft
    Thy self in me thy perfect image viewing
    Becam'st enamour'd
  12. prodigious
    very impressive; far beyond what is usual
    till my womb
    Pregnant by thee, and now excessive grown
    Prodigious motion felt and rueful throes.
  13. brandish
    exhibit aggressively
    At last this odious offspring whom thou seest
    Thine own begotten, breaking violent way
    Tore through my entrails, that with fear and pain
    Distorted, all my nether shape thus grew
    Transform'd: but he my inbred enemy
    Forth issu'd, brandishing his fatal Dart
    Made to destroy
  14. profound
    situated at or extending to great depth
    But what owe I to his commands above
    Who hates me, and hath hither thrust me down
    Into this gloom of TARTARUS profound,
    To sit in hateful Office here confin'd
  15. voluptuous
    displaying luxury and furnishing gratification to the senses
    thou wilt bring me soon
    To that new world of light and bliss, among
    The Gods who live at ease, where I shall Reign
    At thy right hand voluptuous, as beseems
    Thy daughter and thy darling, without end.
  16. vacuity
    a region that is devoid of matter
    At last his Sail-broad Vans
    He spreads for flight, and in the surging smoke
    Uplifted spurns the ground, thence many a League
    As in a cloudy Chair ascending rides
    Audacious, but that seat soon failing, meets
    A vast vacuity
  17. tumult
    a state of commotion and noise and confusion
    Rumor next and Chance,
    And Tumult and Confusion all imbroil'd,
    And Discord with a thousand various mouths.
  18. encroach
    impinge or infringe upon
    I upon my Frontiers here
    Keep residence; if all I can will serve,
    That little which is left so to defend
    Encroacht on still through our intestine broils
    Weak'ning the Scepter of old Night
  19. alacrity
    liveliness and eagerness
    With fresh alacrity and force renew'd
    Springs upward like a Pyramid of fire
    Into the wild expanse
  20. empyreal
    of or relating to the sky or heavens
    Or in the emptier waste, resembling Air,
    Weighs his spread wings, at leisure to behold
    Far off th' Empyreal Heav'n, extended wide
    In circuit, undetermin'd square or round,
    With Opal Tow'rs and Battlements adorn'd
    Of living Sapphire, once his native Seat
Created on Wed Aug 07 13:02:01 EDT 2013 (updated Tue Mar 26 11:00:11 EDT 2019)

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