Hamlet Act 1 and Act 2 Vocabulary

Vocabulary terms and definitions from Act 1 and Act 2.

assail

attack repeatedly

portentous

ominous

tenantless

not occupied

harbinger

forerunner

jocund

cheerful, merry

requite

pay back, reward

traduce

to slander

cerement

garment for a corpse

arrant

notorious

ambiguous

uncertain, unclear

usurp (usurpest)

to seize by force or without right

martial

relating to war; warlike

auspicious

favorable

dirge

a song or hymn of grief

filial

of, relating to, or befitting a son or daughter

pernicious

deadly

obsequious

servile compliance, fawning; to seek attention by flattery.

visage

face, appearance

purport

meaning

arras

curtain, screen

quintessence

purest form of some quality

gules

red

cleave

pierce, penetrate

offal

garbage, refuse

lecherous

lewd, lustful

malefaction

evil deed, crime

blench

turn white or pale

fain

(archaic) with pleasure; rather

paragon

a model of excellence or virtue