12th Grade Recommended Reading List: "The Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer, The Pardoner's Prologue

Explore this curated collection of vocabulary lists for books that are frequently assigned by educators in Grade 12.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. haughty
    having or showing arrogant superiority
    I cultivate a haughty kind of speech
    And ring it out as roundly as a bell
  2. flaunt
    display proudly
    But first I make pronouncement whence I come,
    Show them my bulls in detail and in sum.
    And flaunt the papal seal for their inspection
    As warrant for my bodily protection
  3. papal
    proceeding from the head of the Roman Catholic Church
    But first I make pronouncement whence I come,
    Show them my bulls in detail and in sum.
    And flaunt the papal seal for their inspection
    As warrant for my bodily protection
  4. impudence
    the trait of being rude and impertinent
    And flaunt the papal seal for their inspection
    As warrant for my bodily protection,
    That none may have the impudence to irk
    Or hinder me in Christ’s most holy work.
  5. saffron
    aromatic dried stigmas of a crocus flower, used as flavoring
    I speak some words in Latin—just a few—
    To put a saffron tinge upon my preaching
    And stir devotion with a spice of teaching.
  6. clout
    special advantage or influence
    Then I bring all my long glass bottles out
    Cram-full of bones and ragged bits of clout,
    Relics they are, at least for such are known.
  7. shrive
    grant remission of a sin to
    But those who can acquit themselves of blame
    Can all come up and offer in God’s name,
    And I will shrive them by the authority
    Committed in this papal bull to me.
  8. pulpit
    a platform raised to give prominence to the person on it
    Then, priestlike in my pulpit, with a frown,
    I stand, and when the yokels have sat down,
    I preach
  9. yokel
    a person who is not intelligent or interested in culture
    Then, priestlike in my pulpit, with a frown,
    I stand, and when the yokels have sat down,
    I preach, as you have heard me say before,
    And tell a hundred lying mockeries more.
  10. antic
    a playful, attention-getting act done for fun and amusement
    My hands and tongue together spin the yarn
    And all my antics are a joy to see.
  11. avarice
    reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth
    The curse of avarice and cupidity
    Is all my sermon, for it frees the pelf.
  12. cupidity
    extreme greed for material wealth
    The curse of avarice and cupidity
    Is all my sermon, for it frees the pelf.
  13. castigate
    censure severely
    For my exclusive purpose is to win
    And not at all to castigate their sin.
  14. hypocrisy
    an expression of agreement not supported by real conviction
    Believe me, many a sermon or devotive
    Exordium issues from an evil motive.
    Some to give pleasure by their flattery
    And gain promotion through hypocrisy
  15. discourse
    extended verbal expression in speech or writing
    Or when I dare not otherwise debate
    I’ll put my discourse into such a shape,
    My tongue will be a dagger
  16. slander
    attack the good name and reputation of someone
    no escape
    For him from slandering falsehood shall there be,
    If he has hurt my brethren or me.
  17. brethren
    the lay members of a male religious order
    no escape
    For him from slandering falsehood shall there be,
    If he has hurt my brethren or me.
  18. repent
    turn away from sin or do penitence
    And thus I preach against the very vice
    I make my living out of—avarice.
    And yet however guilty of that sin
    Myself with others I have power to win
    Them from it, I can bring them to repent
  19. livelihood
    the financial means whereby one supports oneself
    Let me preach and beg from kirk to kirk
    And never do an honest job of work,
    No, nor make baskets, like St Paul, to gain
    A livelihood.
  20. agape
    with the mouth wide open as in wonder or awe
    I mean to have money, wool and cheese and wheat
    Though it were given me by the poorest lad
    Or poorest village widow, though she had
    A string of starving children, all agape.
Created on Wed Apr 13 13:42:36 EDT 2022 (updated Wed Apr 13 14:22:34 EDT 2022)

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