A Midsummer Night's Dream: Act 4

by William Shakespeare
In this comedy, two Athenian couples and a troupe of actors become unwitting pawns in a squabble between a fairy king and queen. Read the full text here.

Here are links to our lists for the play: Act I, Act II, Act III, Act IV, Act V

Here are links to our lists for other plays by William Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, Hamlet, King Lear, Julius Caesar, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night, Measure for Measure, Othello
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. loath
    strongly opposed
    Do not fret yourself too much in the action, monsieur, and, good monsieur, have a care the honey-bag break not; I would be loath to have you overflown with a honey-bag, signior.
  2. provender
    food for domestic livestock
    Truly, a peck of provender; I could munch your good dry oats. Methinks I have a great desire to a bottle of hay. Good hay, sweet hay, hath no fellow.
  3. upbraid
    express criticism towards
    For, meeting her of late behind the wood,
    Seeking sweet favors for this hateful fool,
    I did upbraid her and fall out with her.
  4. bewail
    express sorrow or regret about something
    And that same dew, which sometime on the buds
    Was wont to swell like round and orient pearls,
    Stood now within the pretty flouriets’ eyes,
    Like tears that did their own disgrace bewail.
  5. enamored
    marked by foolish or unreasoning fondness
    My Oberon, what visions have I seen!
    Methought I was enamored of an ass.
  6. amity
    a cordial disposition
    Now thou and I are new in amity,
    And will tomorrow midnight solemnly
    Dance in Duke Theseus’ house triumphantly,
    And bless it to all fair prosperity.
  7. rite
    any customary observance or practice
    No doubt they rose up early to observe
    The rite of May, and hearing our intent,
    Came here in grace of our solemnity.
  8. concord
    a harmonious state of things and of their properties
    I know you two are rival enemies.
    How comes this gentle concord in the world,
    That hatred is so far from jealousy
    To sleep by hate and fear no enmity?
  9. enmity
    a state of deep-seated ill-will
    I know you two are rival enemies.
    How comes this gentle concord in the world,
    That hatred is so far from jealousy
    To sleep by hate and fear no enmity?
  10. betrothed
    pledged to be married
    To her, my lord,
    Was I betrothed ere I saw Hermia.
  11. expound
    add details to clarify an idea
    I have had a dream, past the wit of man to say what dream it was.
    Man is but an ass if he go about to expound this dream.
  12. paramour
    a lover, especially a secret or illicit one
    Yea, and the best person too; and he is a very paramour for a sweet voice.
  13. paragon
    a perfect embodiment of a concept
    You must say “paragon.” A “paramour” is (God bless us!) a thing of naught.
  14. discourse
    talk at length and formally about a topic
    Masters, I am to discourse wonders; but ask me not what; for, if I tell you, I am not true Athenian. I will tell you everything right as it fell out.
  15. presently
    in the near future
    Get your apparel together; good strings to your beards, new ribbons to your pumps. Meet presently at the palace. Every man look o’er his part. For the short and the long is, our play is preferred.
Created on Fri Oct 25 21:13:55 EDT 2013 (updated Tue Jul 15 16:47:51 EDT 2025)

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