Modern Words Used in The Tragedy of Macbeth

equivocate (v.)

use ambiguous language so as to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself

palpable (adj.)

capable of being touched or felt; easily perceived

harbinger (n.)

a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another, a sign

hurly-burly (n.)

noisy disorder and confusion

rapt (adj.)

completely fascinated by what one is seeing or hearing

brandished (v.)

waved or flourished as in threat or in anger

dire (adj.)

extremely serious or urgent; dreadful

plague (v.)

cause continual trouble or distress

diminutive (adj.)

extremely or unusually small

surmise (n./v.)

a guess or inference based on weak evidence

equivocate (sentence)

The crooked salesman went out of his way to ___________________ the sales terms to the elderly couple, but he still failed to close the deal.

palpable (sentence)

The tension in the room was _______________ ; therefore, the speaker made an attempt at humor to ease his audience.

harbinger (sentence)

The storm clouds on the horizon were a _______________ of doom, so many took shelter.

hurly-burly (sentence)

The _______________________ produced by the crowd necessitated the police; however, the authorities did not make a single arrest.

rapt (sentence)

____________ by the new doll, the child played with Sabrina for hours even though she had a whole chest full of dolls.

brandished (sentence)

As Macbeth ___________________ his sword, he vanquished his foes in battle.

dire (sentence)

Although he was in ___________ need of help in math, the student struggled through the problem alone.

plague (sentence)

She was _________________d with problems, so she talked to a trusted adult.

diminutive (sentence)

Surrounded by tall skyscrapers, the three-story apartment building looked ________________.

surmise (sentence)

Since Bob and Mary are both book addicts, we jokingly ___________ the couple met in a library.