Richard III: Act 1

by William Shakespeare
Richard, younger brother of King Edward IV, wants to rule England — and he will stop at nothing, including murder, in order to seize the crown.

Here links to our lists for the play: Act 1, Act 2, Act 3, Act 4, Act 5
15 words 91 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. dissemble
    make believe with the intent to deceive
    I, that am curtailed of this fair proportion,
    Cheated of feature by dissembling nature
  2. suppliant
    one praying humbly for something
    Heard you not what an humble suppliant
    Lord Hastings was to her for his delivery?
  3. forbear
    refrain from doing
    I do beseech your Grace to pardon me, and withal
    Forbear your conference with the noble duke.
  4. enfranchise
    grant freedom to, as from slavery or servitude
    I will unto the King,
    And whatsoe’er you will employ me in,
    Were it to call King Edward’s widow “sister,”
    I will perform it to enfranchise you.
  5. perforce
    by necessity
    RICHARD: Well, your imprisonment shall not be long.
    I will deliver you or else lie for you.
    Meantime, have patience.
    CLARENCE: I must, perforce.
  6. betide
    become of; happen to
    More direful hap betide that hated wretch
    That makes us wretched by the death of thee
    Than I can wish to wolves, to spiders, toads,
    Or any creeping venomed thing that lives.
  7. vouchsafe
    grant in a condescending manner
    Vouchsafe, divine perfection of a woman,
    Of these supposèd crimes to give me leave
    By circumstance but to acquit myself.
  8. inter
    place in a grave or tomb
    ...after I have solemnly interred
    At Chertsey monast’ry this noble king
    And wet his grave with my repentant tears,
    I will with all expedient duty see you.
  9. moiety
    one of two approximately equal parts
    On me, whose all not equals Edward’s moiety?
  10. factious
    dissenting with the majority opinion
    In all which time, you and your husband Grey
    Were factious for the House of Lancaster.
  11. meed
    a fitting reward
    To fight on Edward’s party for the crown;
    And for his meed, poor lord, he is mewed up.
  12. aerie
    the lofty nest of a bird of prey, such as a hawk or eagle
    Our aerie buildeth in the cedar’s top,
    And dallies with the wind and scorns the sun.
  13. obdurate
    showing unfeeling resistance to tender feelings
    But, sirs, be sudden in the execution,
    Withal obdurate; do not hear him plead,
    For Clarence is well-spoken and perhaps
    May move your hearts to pity if you mark him.
  14. prate
    speak about unimportant matters rapidly and incessantly
    Tut, tut, my lord, we will not stand to prate.
  15. fain
    in a willing manner
    My soul is heavy, and I fain would sleep.
Created on Mon May 24 12:34:39 EDT 2021 (updated Mon Aug 11 15:08:47 EDT 2025)

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