prologue: n. An introduction or preface, especially a poem recited to introduce a play.
choler: n. Anger, irritability. 1:1:5 (Sampson): “I mean, and we be in choler, we’ll draw.”
valiant: adj. Possessing valor; brave. 1:1:9 (Gregory): “To move is to stir, and to be valiant, is to stand.”
profane: vt. 1) To treat with irreverence (“to profane the name of God”). 2) To put in an improper, unworthy or degrading use: abuse, violate. 1:1:85 (Prince): “Profaners of this neighbor-stainèd steel—“
pernicious: adj. 1) Tending to cause death or serious injury; deadly 1:1:87 (Prince): “the fire of your pernicious rage”
forfeit: n. Something surrendered or subject to surrender as punishment vtr. 1) To surrender, be deprived of, or give up the right to 1:1:100 (Prince): “Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.”
adversary: n. An opponent or enemy. 1:1:109 (Benvolio): “Here were the servants of your adversary”
augment: vt. To make (something already developed or well under way) greater, as in size, extent, or quantity: vi. To become augmented; increase. 1:1:135 (Montague): “With tears augmenting the fresh morning’s dew”
portentous: adj 1) Foreboding, full of unspecifiable significance: exciting wonder and awe. 2) Marked by pompousness; pretentiously weighty. 1:1:144 (Montague): “Black and portentous must this humor prove”
transgression: n. A violation of law, command or duty; the exceeding of due bounds or limits. 1:1:188 (Romeo): “Why, such is love’s transgression.”
propagate: vt. To cause to multiply, increase or breed1:1:190 (Romeo): “Which thou wilt propagate, to have it prest”
purge: vt. 1) To free from impurities; purify; cleanse. 1:1:194 (Romeo): “Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers’ eyes”
vex: vt. 1) To annoy, as with petty things. 2) to puzzle. 3) To bring distress or suffering to 1:1:195 (Romeo): “Being vexed, a sea nourished with loving tears.”
assail: vt. 1) To attack as if with violent blows; assault. 1:1:216 (Romeo): “Nor bide th’ encounter of assailing eyes.”
posterity: n. Future generations. 1:1:223 (Romeo): “Cut beauty off from all posterity.”
bliss: n. 1) Extreme happiness; ecstasy. 1:1:225 (Romeo): “To merit bliss by making me despair.”
forswear: vt. 1) To renounce or repudiate under oath. 2) To make oneself guilty of perjury. vi. To swear falsely; commit perjury. 1:1:226 (Romeo): “She hath forsworn to love, and in that vow” // 1:5:54(Romeo): “Did my heart love til now? Forswear it, sight!” // 3:2:87 (Nurse): “All forsworn, all naught, all dissemblers.”
poised: adj. Marked by balance or equilibrium. Poise, n. Easy self-possessed assurance of manner vtr. To hold in equilibrium, to balance. vi. To be balanced or held in suspension. 1:2:96 (Benvolio): “Herself poised with herself in either eye”
nimble: adj. Quick, light or agile in movement or action; deft 1:4:15(Romeo): “With nimble soles; I have a soul of lead”
inconstant: adj. Changing often and without discernible reason; fickle. 1:4:100 (Mercutio): “And more inconstant than the wind, who woos” 4:1:119-120 (Friar): “If no inconstant toy nor womanish fear // Abate thy valor in the acting it.”
untimely: adj. 1) Occurring at an inappropriate time. 2) Premature adv.1) inopportunely. 2) Prematurely. 1:4:111 (Romeo): “By some vile forfeit of untimely death” // 3:1:120 (Benvolio): “Which too untimely here did scorn the earth.” 4:5:28(Capulet): “Death lies on her like an untimely frost.”
disparagement: Disparage, vtr. To belittle or reduce in esteem 1:5:72 (Capulet): “I would not for the wealth of all this town/Here in my house do him disparagement” //
semblance: n. 1) An outward or token appearance. 2) The barest trace; a modicum 1:5:76 (Capulet): “An ill-beseeming semblance for a feast”
wax: vi. To increase gradually in size, number or intensity. 1:5:128 (Capulet): “Ah, sirrah, by my fay, it waxes late”
prodigious: adj. Impressively great in size, force or extent 2) Extraordinary; marvelous. 3) monstrous 1:5:142 (Juliet) “Prodigious birth of love it is to me/That I must love a loathèd enemy.”
invocation: n. 1) The act of summoning support or inspiration; especially an appeal to a higher power for assistance. 2:1:27(Mercutio): “That were some spite; my invocation/Is fair and honest”
discourse: vi. To speak or write formally and at length; to engage in conversation or discussion; converse. n. Verbal exchange; conversation. 2:2:13(Romeo): “Her eye discourses; I will answer it.” 3:5:52-53 (Romeo): “I doubt it not; and all these woes shall serve // For sweet discourses in our times to come.”
enmity: n. Deep-seated, often mutual hatred. 2:2:73 (Romeo): “And I am proof against their enmity”
perjury: n. 1) In law, the deliberate, willful giving of false testimony under oath. 2) The breach of an oath or promise. Perjure (vt.): 1) In law, to give false testimony under oath. 2) To breach an oath or promise. 2:2:92 (Juliet): “Thou mayst prove false. At lovers’ perjuries,/They say Jove laughs.” 3:2:86 (Nurse): “No faith, no honesty in men; all perjured” 3:3:128 (Friar): Thy dear love sworn but hollow perjury.
perverse: Adj. 1) Directed away from what is right or good; perverted. 2) Contrary; marked by a disposition to oppose and contradict. 2:2:96 (Juliet): “I’ll frown and be perverse and say thee nay,”
repose: n. 1) The act of resting or the state of being at rest. 2) Freedom from worry; peace of mind. vtr. 1) to lay oneself down. 2) to rest or relax oneself. 2:2:123 (Juliet): “Good night, good night! As sweet repose and rest/Come to thy heart as that within my breast!”
strife: n. Heated, often violent dissension; bitter conflict. 2:2:152 (Juliet): “To cease thy strife and leave to my grief.”
sallow: adj. Of a sickly yellowish hue or complexion. 2:3:70 (Friar): “Hath washed thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline!”
chide: vtr. To scold mildly so as to correct or improve; reprimand. vi. To express disapproval. 2:3:85 (Romeo): “I pray thee chide me not. Her I love now” 4:1:73-74 (Friar): “Then is it likely thou wilt undertake // A thing like death to chide away this shame”
rancor: n. Bitter, long-lasting resentment or anger. 2:3:92 (Friar): “To turn your households’ rancor to pure love.”
devise: vt. To form, plan or arrange in the mind. 2:4:186-7 (Romeo): “Bid her devise/Some means to come to shrift this afternoon.”
feign: vt. 1) a] To give a false appearance of 2:5:16(Juliet): “But old folks, many feign as they were dead”
unwieldy: adj. 1) Difficult to carry or manage because of bulk or shape. 2) Clumsy; ungainly. 2:5:16(Juliet): “Unwieldy, slow, heavy and pale as lead.”
consort: vi. 1) To keep company; associate. 2) To be in accord or agreement. n. 1) A companion or partner, especially the spouse of a monarch. Music.: a] An ensemble of players. b] A group of instruments of the same family. 3:1:46(Tybalt): “Mercutio, thou consortest with Romeo.” // 3:1:47(Mercutio): “Consort? What, does thou make us minstrels?” // 3:1:132 (Tybalt): “Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here.”
martial: adj. Of, relating to, or suggestive of war or the armed forces 3:1:163-4 (Benvolio): “And, with martial scorn, with one hand beats/Cold death aside”
dexterity: n. Skill and grace in physical or mental movement; adroitness. 3:1:164-6 (Benvolio): “And with the other sends/It back to Tybalt, whose dexterity/Retorts it.”
exile: vt. To send into exile, to banish. Noun. 1)a] Enforced removal from one’s native country. B] Self-imposed absence from one’s country. 2) The condition or a period of living away from one’s native country. 3) One who lives away from one’s native country, whether because of expulsion or voluntary absence. 3:1:189 (Prince): “Immediately we do exile him hence.”
amorous:adj. Strongly attracted or disposed to love, especially sexual love 3:2:8 (Juliet): “Lovers can see to do their amorous rites.” 5:3:102-103 (Romeo): “Shall I believe // That unsubstantial Death is amorous”
garish: adj. Marred by strident color or excessive ornamentation; gaudy. 3:2:25(Juliet): “And pay no worship to the garish sun.”
tedious: adj. Tiresome by reason of length, slowness, or dullness; boring. 3:2:28(Juliet): “So tedious is this day”
bier: n. 1) A stand on which a corpse or coffin containing a corpse is placed before burial. 2) A coffin along with its stand. 3:2:60 (Juliet): “And thou and Romeo press one heavy bier!”
banish: vt. To force to leave a country or place by official decree; exile. 2) To drive away; expel. 3:2:69 (Nurse): “Tybalt is gone, and Romeo banishèd”
dissemble: vt. 1) To disguise or conceal behind a false appearance; disguise. 3:2:87 (Nurse): “All forsworn, all naught, all dissemblers.”
adversity: n. A state of hardship or affliction; misfortune. 2) A calamitous event. 3:3:55(Friar): “Adversity’s sweet milk, philosophy.”
rail: vi. To express objections or criticisms in bitter, harsh or abuse language; scold. 3:3:119 (Friar): “Why railest thou on thy birth, the heaven, and earth?”
fickle: adj. Characterized by erratic changeableness or instability, especially with regard to affections or attachments; capricious. 3:5:60-64 (Juliet): “O Fortune, Fortune! All men call thee fickle.// If thou art fickle, what does thou with him //That is renowned for faith? Be fickle, Fortune, // For then I hope though wilt not keep him long // But send him back.”
inundate: vtr. To overwhelm or cover, especially with floodwaters. 4:1:12(Paris): “To stop the inundation of her tears”
prostrate: vtr. To make (oneself) bow or kneel down in humility or adoration. adj. Lying face down, as in submission, adoration or exhaustion. 4:2:20(Juliet): “By holy Lawrenceto fall prostrate here”
melancholy: n. Sadness or depression of the spirits. adj. Affected with or marked by depression of the spirits; sad. 4:5:84-86 (Capulet): “All things that we ordainèd festival // Turn from their office to black funeral--//Our instruments to melancholy bells”
dirge: n. 1) Music: A funeral hymn or lament. 2) Lit: A mournful or elegiac poem or other literary work. 4:5:87-88 (Capulet): “Our wedding cheer to a sad burial feast; // Our solemn hymns to sullen dirges change”
penury: n. Extreme want or poverty. 5:1:49-52 (Romeo): “Noting this penury, to myself I said, // ‘And if a man did need a poison now // Whose sale is present death in Mantua, // Here lives a caitiff wretch would sell it him.’”
obsequy: n. plural obsequies. A funeral rite or ceremony. Often used in the plural. 5:3:16-17 (Paris): “The obsequies that I for thee will keep // Nightly shall be to strew thy grave and weep.”
inexorable: adj. Not capable of being persuaded by entreaty; relentless; unstoppable. 5:3:36-37 (Romeo): “More fierce and more inexorable far // Than empty tigers or the roaring sea.”
auspicious: adj. Attended by favorable circumstances; propitious 5:3:111 (Romeo): “And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars”
sepulcher: n. A burial vault. 5:3:140-141 (Friar): “Alack, alack, what blood is this which stains // The stony entrance of this sepulcher?” 5:3:206-207 (Lady Capulet): “O me, this sight of death is as a bell // That warns my old age to a sepulcher.”
ambiguity: n. Doubtfulness or uncertainty as regards interpretation. 5:3:217 (Prince): “Seal up the mouth of outrage for a while, // Till we can clear these ambiguities.”
betroth: vtr. To promise to give in marriage, to promise to marry. adj. betrothed: Engaged to be married. n. betrothed: A person to whom one is engaged to be married. 5:3:238 (Friar): “You, to remove that siege of grief from her, // Betrothed and would have married her perforce // To CountyParis.”
Definitions are from The American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition, copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin (Microsoft Bookshelf ’95).
