"Paradise Lost" by John Milton, Book VI

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. vicissitude
    a variation in circumstances or fortune
    There is a Cave
    Within the Mount of God, fast by his Throne,
    Where light and darkness in perpetual round
    Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through Heav'n
    Grateful vicissitude, like Day and Night
  2. obsequious
    attentive in an ingratiating or servile manner
    Light issues forth, and at the other door
    Obsequious darkness enters, till her hour
    To veil the Heav'n, though darkness there might well
    Seem twilight here
  3. seditious
    inciting action or rebellion
    Ill for thee, but in wisht hour
    Of my revenge, first sought for thou returnst
    From flight, seditious Angel, to receive
    Thy merited reward, the first assay
    Of this right hand provok't
  4. presage
    a sign of something about to happen
    Amazement seiz'd
    The Rebel Thrones, but greater rage to see
    Thus foil'd their mightiest, ours joy fill'd, and shout,
    Presage of Victory and fierce desire
    Of Battle
  5. precipitate
    hurl or throw violently
    Hence then, and evil go with thee along
    Thy offspring, to the place of evil, Hell,
    Thou and thy wicked crew; there mingle broils,
    Ere this avenging Sword begin thy doom,
    Or some more sudden vengeance wing'd from God
    Precipitate thee with augmented pain.
  6. imperious
    having or showing arrogant superiority
    Hast thou turn'd the least of these
    To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise
    Unvanquisht, easier to transact with me
    That thou shouldst hope, imperious, and with threats
    To chase me hence?
  7. conspicuous
    obvious to the eye or mind
    They ended parle, and both addresst for fight
    Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue
    Of Angels, can relate, or to what things
    Liken on Earth conspicuous, that may lift
    Human imagination to such highth
    Of Godlike Power
  8. sanguine
    a blood-red color
    The griding sword with discontinuous wound
    Pass'd through him, but th' Ethereal substance clos'd
    Not long divisible, and from the gash
    A stream of Nectarous humor issuing flow'd
    Sanguine, such as Celestial Spirits may bleed
  9. ignominious
    deserving or bringing disgrace or shame
    all the ground
    With shiver'd armour strown, and on a heap
    Chariot and Charioteer lay overturn'd
    And fiery foaming Steeds; what stood, recoil'd
    O'erwearied, through the faint Satanic Host
    Defensive scarce, or with pale fear surpris'd,
    Then first with fear surpris'd and sense of pain
    Fled ignominious
  10. repine
    express discontent
    Sense of pleasure we may well
    Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine,
    But live content, which is the calmest life
  11. machination
    a crafty and involved plot to achieve your ends
    Some one intent on mischief, or inspir'd
    With dev'lish machination might devise
    Like instrument to plague the Sons of men
    For sin, on war and mutual slaughter bent.
  12. dissipation
    breaking up and scattering by dispersion
    unarm'd they might
    Have easily as Spirits evaded swift
    By quick contraction or remove; but now
    Foul dissipation follow'd and forc't rout
  13. dolorous
    showing sorrow
    Their armor help'd their harm, crush't in and bruis'd
    Into their substance pent, which wrought them pain
    Implacable, and many a dolorous groan,
    Long struggling underneath
  14. manifest
    provide evidence for
    To manifest thee worthiest to be Heir
    Of all things, to be Heir and to be King
    By Sacred Unction, thy deserved right.
  15. obdurate
    stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing
    In heav'nly Spirits could such perverseness dwell?
    But to convince the proud what Signs avail,
    Or Wonders move th' obdurate to relent?
  16. emulous
    eager to surpass others
    That they may have their wish, to try with me
    In Battle which the stronger proves, they all,
    Or I alone against them, since by strength
    They measure all, of other excellence
    Not emulous, nor care who them excels;
  17. contiguous
    connecting without a break
    At once the Four spread out their Starry wings
    With dreadful shade contiguous, and the Orbs
    Of his fierce Chariot roll'd, as with the sound
    Of torrent Floods, or of a numerous Host.
  18. pernicious
    exceedingly harmful
    One Spirit in them rul'd, and every eye
    Glar'd lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire
    Among th' accurst, that wither'd all their strength,
    And of their wonted vigour left them drain'd,
    Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fall'n.
  19. fraught
    filled with or attended with
    Hell at last
    Yawning receiv'd them whole, and on them clos'd,
    Hell their fit habitation fraught with fire
    Unquenchable, the house of woe and pain.
  20. bereaved
    sorrowful through loss or deprivation
    SATAN, he who envies now thy state,
    Who now is plotting how he may seduce
    Thee also from obedience, that with him
    Bereaved of happiness thou mayst partake
    His punishment, Eternal misery
Created on Wed Aug 07 14:55:01 EDT 2013 (updated Tue Mar 26 11:00:46 EDT 2019)

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