Hamlet Act 1 Vocab

Assay

To examine or analyze to determine something’s quality. Assess, rate, grade.

Augment

To make something greater in size, number, or strength. Develop, amplify, build up.

Beguile

To cheat or deceive through flattery, charm, or some other distraction. Mislead, fool, seduce.

Conceit

An overly favorable view of one’s own ability, intelligence, looks, etc. Arrogance, immodesty, pride.

Confute

To prove something to be false. Disprove,contradict, negate.

Congeal

To firm from a liquid state to a rigid or solid state. Solidify, curdle, thicken.

Countenance

One’s facial expression. Expression, appearance, demeanor.

Diligence

A constant and earnest effort to accomplish a goal. Consistency in care and caution. Alertness, earnestness, vigor.

Discourse

The conversation between two people. Communication, discussion, speech.

Doublet

A close-fitting outer garment, with or without sleeves and sometimes having a short skirt, worn by men in the renaissance.

Emulation

Effort or desire to equal or excel others, a jealous rivalry. Simulation, copying, impersonation.

Gorged

For a beast or animal to have something around their neck like a collar. Choked, glutted.

Hectic

Characterized by intense agitation, confusion, and rapid movement. Chaotic, boisterous, frenzied.

Indulgence

To yield to an inclination or desire and follow ones temptation. An allowance. Extravagance, leniency, priviledge.

Kindle

To excite stir up or set going, in particular a fire. Ignite, incite, stimulate.

Manifold

Of many kinds, to be numerous or varied. Something having many different parts or features. Assorted, diverse, varied.

Mirth

Joyous amusement and laughter. Hilarity, laughter, cheer.

Mitigate

To lessen in force or intensity, as wrath, grief, harshness or pain. Alleviate, blunt, soften.

Moiety

An indefinite portion, part, or share. Roughly a half. Affiliation, part, share.

Obsequious

Characterized by showing servile obedience and excessive eagerness to please. To be eagerly dutiful. Submissive, servile, slavish.

Offal

The technically edible organs of a butchered animal that are typically just thrown out. Refuse, waste, debris.

Partisan

An adherent or supporter of a person or party. An ally of a cause. Biased, Sympathetic, fanatic.

Pate

The crown or top of the head. Brain, crown, noggin.

Posterity

All descendants of one person, all future generations collectivly. Descendants, heirs, offspring.

Quagmire

An area of miry or boggy ground that yields when you step in it. A hard situation to get out of. A bog, dilemma, predicament.

Retrograde

Moving backwards. To retreat or otherwise move inversely. Reverting, inverted, declining.

Rivals

Two people who are competing for the same goal while trying to out do one another. Competitor, adversary, emulator.

Rouse

To bring out of sleep or some other state of idleness. To stir up anger in someone. Awake, anger, stir.

Sinews

A tendon, the source of strength, power, or vigor. Tendon, muscle, vitality.

Strew

to scatter seperate pieces over a surface or area. Scatter, sprinkle.

Sty

A pig pen, any filthy place or abode. Pigsty, pen, pigpen.

Suspiration

A long deep sigh.

Tenable

Capable of being held, maintained, or defended. Sustainable, enduring, maintainable.

Vaunt

To speak vaingloriously of. Boast, brag, strut.

Wit

Keen perception and cleverly apt expression of observed connections that are amusing . Banter, clever, jest.