"Paradise Lost" by John Milton, Book V

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.
20 words 189 learners

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Definition First
Print Flashcards

Other learning activities

Answer a few questions about each word. Use this to prep for your next quiz! Compete with other teams in real time to see who answers the most questions correctly! Test your spelling acumen. Read the definition, listen to the word and try spelling it!

Teaching tools

Create and assign quizzes to your students to test their vocabulary. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time.

Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. cordial
    sincerely or intensely felt
    His wonder was to find unwaken'd EVE
    With Tresses discompos'd, and glowing Cheek,
    As through unquiet rest: he on his side
    Leaning half-rais'd, with looks of cordial Love
    Hung over her enamour'd
  2. abhor
    feel hatred or disgust toward
    Evil into the mind of God or Man
    May come and go, so unapprov'd, and leave
    No spot or blame behind: Which gives me hope
    That what in sleep thou didst abhor to dream,
    Waking thou never wilt consent to do.
  3. hospitable
    disposed to treat guests and strangers with generosity
    So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste
    She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent
    What choice to choose for delicacy best
  4. dulcet
    extremely pleasant in a gentle way
    She crushes, inoffensive must, and meaths
    From many a berry, and from sweet kernels prest
    She tempers dulcet creams
  5. corporeal
    characteristic of the body as opposed to the mind or spirit
    and both contain
    Within them every lower faculty
    Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste,
    Tasting concoct, digest, assimilate,
    And corporeal to incorporeal turn.
  6. viand
    a choice or delicious dish
    So down they sat,
    And to their viands fell, nor seemingly
    The Angel, nor in mist, the common gloss
    Of Theologians, but with keen dispatch
    Of real hunger, and concoctive heat
    To transubstantiate
  7. deprave
    corrupt morally or by intemperance or sensuality
    O ADAM, one Almighty is, from whom
    All things proceed, and up to him return,
    If not depraved from good, created all
    Such to perfection
  8. propitious
    presenting favorable circumstances
    O favourable spirit, propitious guest,
    Well hast thou taught the way that might direct
    Our knowledge, and the scale of Nature set
    From center to circumference, whereon
    In contemplation of created things
    By steps we may ascend to God.
  9. immutable
    not subject or susceptible to change or variation
    God made thee perfect, not immutable
  10. progeny
    the immediate descendants of a person
    Hear all ye Angels, Progeny of Light,
    Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers,
    Hear my Decree, which unrevok't shall stand.
    This day I have begot whom I declare
    My only Son, and on this holy Hill
    Him have anointed, whom ye now behold
    At my right hand; your Head I him appoint
  11. bounteous
    given or giving freely
    They eat, they drink, and with refection sweet
    Are fill'd, before th' all bounteous King, who shower'd
    With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy.
  12. contemptuous
    expressing extreme scorn
    Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour
    Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolv'd
    With all his Legions to dislodge, and leave
    Unworshipt, unobey'd the Throne supreme
    Contemptuous
  13. ineffable
    too sacred to be uttered
    To whom the Son with calm aspect and clear
    Lightning Divine, ineffable, serene,
    Made answer.
  14. calumnious
    harmful and often untrue; tending to discredit or malign
    For thither he assembl'd all his Train,
    Pretending so commanded to consult
    About the great reception of their King,
    Thither to come, and with calumnious Art
    Of counterfeited truth thus held their ears.
  15. prostration
    abject submission
    With what may be devis'd of honours new
    Receive him coming to receive from us
    Knee-tribute yet unpaid, prostration vile,
    Too much to one, but double how endur'd,
    To one and to his image now proclaim'd?
  16. obloquy
    state of disgrace resulting from public abuse
    Canst thou with impious obloquy condemn
    The just Decree of God, pronounc't and sworn,
    That to his only Son by right endu'd
    With Regal Scepter, every Soul in Heav'n
    Shall bend the knee, and in that honour due
    Confess him rightful King?
  17. circumscribe
    restrict or confine
    Shalt thou give Law to God, shalt thou dispute
    With him the points of liberty, who made
    Thee what thou art, and form'd the Pow'rs of Heav'n
    Such as he pleas'd, and circumscribed their being?
  18. beseech
    ask for or request earnestly
    Our puissance is our own, our own right hand
    Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try
    Who is our equal: then thou shalt behold
    Whether by supplication we intend
    Address, and to begirt th' Almighty Throne
    Beseeching or besieging.
  19. perfidious
    tending to betray
    I see thy fall
    Determin'd, and thy hapless crew involv'd
    In this perfidious fraud, contagion spread
    Both of thy crime and punishment
  20. scorn
    lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
    From amidst them forth he pass'd,
    Long way through hostile scorn, which he sustain'd
    Superior, nor of violence fear'd aught;
    And with retorted scorn his back he turn'd
    On those proud Tow'rs to swift destruction doom'd.
Created on Wed Aug 07 13:28:51 EDT 2013 (updated Tue Mar 26 11:00:32 EDT 2019)

Sign up now (it’s free!)

Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, Vocabulary.com can put you or your class on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement.