Collection 4: The Tragedy of Hamlet, Act 3

As you read Act 3 of William Shakespeare's "The Tragedy of Hamlet," learn this word list. Here are links to lists for texts in Grade 12's Collection 4: Hamlet, Act 1, Hamlet, Act 2, Hamlet, Act 3, Hamlet, Act 4, Hamlet, Act 5, Hamlet's Dull Revenge, Tell Them Not to Kill Me!, Blocking the Transmission of Violence, Hatred
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. drift
    the pervading meaning or tenor
  2. conference
    a discussion among participants who have an agreed topic
  3. sound
    measure the depth of (a body of water) with a line
  4. niggard
    a selfish person who is unwilling to give or spend
  5. affront
    treat, mention, or speak to rudely
  6. espial
    the act of detecting something; catching sight of something
  7. gracious
    disposed to bestow favors
  8. sling
    a simple weapon consisting of a looped strap in which a projectile is whirled and then released
  9. consummation
    the act of bringing to completion or fruition
  10. rub
    an unforeseen obstacle
  11. mortal
    subject to death
  12. calamity
    an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
  13. contumely
    rude language intended to offend or hurt
  14. despise
    look down on with disdain or disgust
  15. spurn
    reject with contempt
  16. bodkin
    a dagger with a slender blade
  17. quietus
    euphemism for death
  18. fardel
    a burden (figuratively in the form of a bundle)
  19. bourn
    an archaic term for a boundary
  20. hue
    the quality of a color determined by its dominant wavelength
  21. orison
    reverent petition to a deity
  22. commerce
    social exchange, especially of opinions or attitudes
  23. paradox
    a statement that contradicts itself
  24. nunnery
    the convent of a community of nuns
  25. beck
    a beckoning gesture
  26. calumny
    a false accusation of an offense
  27. ignorance
    the lack of knowledge or education
  28. expectancy
    something expected (as on the basis of a norm)
  29. observe
    show respect towards
  30. affection
    a positive feeling of liking
  31. lief
    in a willing manner
  32. robustious
    noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline
  33. periwig
    a wig for men that was fashionable in the 17th and 18th centuries
  34. pate
    the top of the head
  35. groundling
    a playgoer in the cheap, standing section of the theater
  36. termagant
    a scolding, nagging, bad-tempered woman
  37. Herod
    king of Judea who (according to the New Testament) tried to kill Jesus by ordering the death of all children under age two in Bethlehem (73-4 BC)
  38. scorn
    look down on with disdain
  39. tardy
    after the expected or usual time
  40. unskillful
    poorly done
  41. censure
    harsh criticism or disapproval
  42. barren
    completely wanting or lacking
  43. candied
    encrusted with sugar or syrup
  44. crook
    bend or cause to bend
  45. fawning
    attempting to win favor by flattery
  46. pipe
    a wind instrument shaped like a tube
  47. stop
    a knob on an organ changing the sound quality from the pipes
  48. occult
    hidden and difficult to see
  49. fare
    proceed, get along, or succeed
  50. attractive
    having the ability to draw or pull
  51. hobbyhorse
    a child's plaything consisting of an imitation horse mounted on rockers; the child straddles it and pretends to ride
  52. belike
    with considerable certainty; without much doubt
  53. argument
    a summary of the subject or plot of a literary work
  54. Phoebus
    Greek god of light
  55. Tellus
    goddess of the earth
  56. Hymen
    (Greek mythology) the god of marriage
  57. distrust
    doubt about someone's honesty
  58. extremity
    the greatest or utmost degree
  59. wormwood
    any of several aromatic herbs
  60. validity
    the property of being strong and healthy in constitution
  61. slender
    small in quantity
  62. advance
    move forward
  63. hitherto
    up to this point; until the present time
  64. device
    any clever maneuver
  65. protest
    utter words of objection
  66. trope
    language used in a nonliteral sense
  67. chorus
    actors who comment on the action in a classical Greek play
  68. keen
    intense or sharp
  69. confederate
    a person who joins with another in carrying out some plan
  70. Hecate
    (Greek mythology) Greek goddess of fertility who later became associated with Persephone as goddess of the underworld and protector of witches
  71. Damon and Pythias
    (Greek mythology) according to a Greek legend: when Pythias was sentenced to be executed Damon took his place to allow Pythias to get his affairs in order; when Pythias returned in time to save Damon the king was so impressed that he let them both live
  72. recorder
    a tubular wind instrument with 8 finger holes and a fipple mouthpiece
  73. distemper
    an angry and disagreeable mood
  74. choler
    a humor that was once believed to be secreted by the liver and to cause irritability and anger
  75. purgation
    purging the body by the use of a cathartic to stimulate evacuation of the bowels
  76. frame
    the internal structure that gives an artifact its shape
  77. start
    move or jump suddenly, as if in surprise or alarm
  78. pardon
    the formal act of liberating someone
  79. admiration
    the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
  80. musty
    stale and unclean smelling
  81. withdraw
    break from a meeting or gathering
  82. organ
    a structure in an animal specialized for some function
  83. fret
    bar of metal across the fingerboard of a musical instrument
  84. Nero
    Roman Emperor notorious for his monstrous vice and fantastic luxury (was said to have started a fire that destroyed much of Rome in 64) but the Roman Empire remained prosperous during his rule (37-68)
  85. estate
    a major social class regarded as part of the body politic
  86. peculiar
    unique or specific to a person or thing or category
  87. gulf
    an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land
  88. process
    a particular course of action intended to achieve a result
  89. tax
    make a charge against or accuse
  90. meet
    being precisely fitting and right
  91. vantage
    place or situation affording some benefit
  92. primal
    having existed from the beginning
  93. offense
    an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
  94. current
    dominant course of successive events or ideas
  95. shuffle
    mix so as to make a random order or arrangement
  96. lime
    a sticky adhesive that is smeared on small branches to capture small birds
  97. engage
    get caught
  98. pat
    exactly suited to the occasion
  99. scan
    examine minutely or intensely
  100. salary
    fixed payment for services
  101. gross
    conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
  102. seasoned
    rendered competent through trial and experience
  103. physic
    a purging medicine
  104. broad
    wide in scope or content
  105. rood
    representation of the cross on which Jesus died
  106. glass
    a mirror; usually a ladies' dressing mirror
  107. ducat
    formerly a gold coin of various European countries
  108. custom
    accepted or habitual practice
  109. braze
    solder together by using hard solder with a high melting point
  110. bulwark
    an embankment built around a space for defensive purposes
  111. rhapsody
    a state of elated bliss
  112. counterfeit
    not genuine; imitating something superior
  113. presentment
    a show or display
  114. mildew
    a fungus that produces a superficial white growth
  115. batten
    stuffing made of rolls or sheets of cotton wool or synthetic fiber
  116. moor
    open land with peaty soil covered with heather and moss
  117. heyday
    the period of greatest prosperity or productivity
  118. mope
    be apathetic, gloomy, or dazed
  119. tinct
    color lightly
  120. tithe
    a levy of one tenth of something
  121. vice
    a specific form of evildoing
  122. cutpurse
    a thief who steals from the pockets or purses of others in public places
  123. diadem
    an ornamental jeweled headdress signifying sovereignty
  124. patchwork
    sewing consisting of pieces of different materials sewn together in a pattern
  125. lapse
    pass by
  126. amazement
    the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising
  127. incorporeal
    without material form or substance
  128. excrement
    waste matter discharged from the body
  129. conjoined
    consisting of two or more associated entities
  130. capable
    having ability
  131. convert
    change the nature, purpose, or function of something
  132. effects
    property of a personal character that is portable
  133. want
    be without, lack; be deficient in
  134. habit
    a distinctive attire worn by a member of a religious order
  135. gambol
    play or run boisterously
  136. unction
    preparation applied externally as a remedy or for soothing
  137. pursy
    breathing laboriously or convulsively
  138. leave
    permission to do something
  139. scourge
    a whip used to inflict punishment
  140. bloat
    become swollen or puff up
  141. petard
    an explosive device used to break down a gate or wall
  142. mine
    excavation from which ores and minerals are extracted
  143. craft
    shrewdness as demonstrated by being skilled in deception
  144. prate
    speak about unimportant matters rapidly and incessantly
  145. grave
    dignified and somber in manner or character
Created on July 15, 2014 (updated July 24, 2014)

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