"Paradise Lost" by John Milton, Book IV

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. frail
    wanting in moral strength, courage, or will
    SATAN, now first inflam'd with rage, came down,
    The Tempter ere th' Accuser of man-kind,
    To wreck on innocent frail man his loss
    Of that first Battle, and his flight to Hell
  2. vaunt
    extravagant self-praise
    my dread of shame
    Among the spirits beneath, whom I seduc'd
    With other promises and other vaunts
    Than to submit, boasting I could subdue
    Th' Omnipotent.
  3. recant
    formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief
    But say I could repent and could obtain
    By Act of Grace my former state; how soon
    Would highth recall high thoughts, how soon unsay
    What feign'd submission swore: ease would recant
    Vows made in pain, as violent and void.
  4. perturbation
    an unhappy and worried mental state
    Whereof he soon aware,
    Each perturbation smooth'd with outward calm,
    Artificer of fraud
  5. pensive
    deeply or seriously thoughtful
    Now to th' ascent of that steep savage Hill
    SATAN had journey'd on, pensive and slow
  6. manifold
    many and varied; having many features or forms
    Then let us not think hard
    One easy prohibition, who enjoy
    Free leave so large to all things else, and choice
    Unlimited of manifold delights
  7. conjugal
    relating to the relationship between a wife and husband
    So spake our general Mother, and with eyes
    Of conjugal attraction unreprov'd,
    And meek surrender, half embracing lean'd
    On our first Father
  8. askance
    directed to one side with doubt or suspicion or envy
    aside the Devil turn'd
    For envy, yet with jealous leer malign
    Ey'd them askance
  9. circumspection
    the trait of being cautious and sensible
    So saying, his proud step he scornful turn'd,
    But with sly circumspection, and began
    Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale his roam.
  10. celestial
    relating to or inhabiting a divine heaven
    About him exercis'd Heroic Games
    Th' unarmed Youth of Heav'n, but nigh at hand
    Celestial Armoury, Shields, Helms, and Spears
    Hung high with Diamond flaming, and with Gold.
  11. impetuous
    marked by violent force
    Thither came URIEL, gliding through the Even
    On a Sun beam, swift as a shooting Star
    In AUTUMN thwarts the night, when vapors fir'd
    Impress the Air, and shews the Mariner
    From what point of his Compass to beware
    Impetuous winds
  12. diurnal
    having a daily cycle or occurring every day
    whither the prime Orb,
    Incredible how swift, had thither roll'd
    Diurnal
  13. extol
    praise, glorify, or honor
    But thou hast promis'd from us two a Race
    To fill the Earth, who shall with us extol
    Thy goodness infinite
  14. inordinate
    beyond normal limits
    Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires
    Blown up with high conceits engend'ring pride.
  15. superfluous
    serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
    Not to know me argues your selves unknown,
    The lowest of your throng; or if ye know,
    Why ask ye, and superfluous begin
    Your message, like to end as much in vain?
  16. inviolable
    immune to attack; incapable of being tampered with
    But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account
    To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep
    This place inviolable, and these from harm.
  17. rebuke
    an act or expression of criticism and censure
    So spake the Cherub, and his grave rebuke
    Severe in youthful beauty, added grace
    Invincible
  18. recompense
    make amends for
    Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell,
    Though thither doom'd? Thou wouldst thy self, no doubt,
    And boldly venture to whatever place
    Farthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to change
    Torment with ease, and soonest recompense
    Dole with delight, which in this place I sought
  19. desolate
    providing no shelter or sustenance
    I therefore, I alone first undertook
    To wing the desolate Abyss, and spy
    This new created World, whereof in Hell
    Fame is not silent, here in hope to find
    Better abode, and my afflicted Powers
    To settle here on Earth, or in mid Air
  20. facile
    arrived at without due care or effort; lacking depth
    if from this hour
    Within these hallow'd limits thou appear,
    Back to th' infernal pit I drag thee chain'd,
    And Seal thee so, as henceforth not to scorn
    The facile gates of hell too slightly barr'd.
Created on Wed Aug 07 13:20:48 EDT 2013 (updated Tue Mar 26 11:00:24 EDT 2019)

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