Romeo & Juliet Vocabulary

pernicious

(adj) harmful, damaging, destructive

prologue

(n) separate introductory section of a literary or musical work; an introduction, a forward, a preface

augment

(v) to make greater by adding to it; to increase, grow, supplement

grievance

(n) real or imagined wrong; unfairness, injustice, complaint

heretic

(n) one who differs in opinion from accepted belief; a nonconformist, a dissenter

transgression

(n) an act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct; an offense

toil

(n) exhausting physical labor; hard work, effort, drudgery

forfeit

(v) lose or be deprived of (property or a right or privilege) as a penalty for wrongdoing; give up, yield

languish

(v) suffer from being forced to remain in an unpleasant place or situation; to waste, to pine

devout

(adj) having or showing deep religious feeling or commitment; totally committed to a cause or a belief, dedicated, devoted

lineament

(n) a distinctive feature or characteristic, especially of the face

kinsman

(n) male blood relation; male relative

cunning

(adj) having skill in achieving one's goals by deceit or evasion; scheming, crafty, sly

variable

(adj) not consistent, liable to change; unstable, inconstant

procure

(v) to obtain something, especially with care or effort; acquire, get, find

vile

(adj) morally wicked; foul, loathsome, horrid

sallow

(adj) (of a person's face or complexion) of an unhealthy pale color; wan, pallid, bloodless

waverer

(n) one who is inconstant, someone who changes their mind frequently

lamentable

(adj) expressing grief; mournful; pitiable, unfortunate

unwieldy

(adj) difficult to carry or move because of size, shape, or weight

purblind

(adj) having poor eyesight or defective vision

rancor

(n) bitterness and resentfulness, especially when long standing

invocation

(n) the act of calling for assistance; summoning a deity or the supernatural, a prayer

baptize

(v) to have been initiated or to be given a new name

abhor

(v) to regard with extreme repugnance; to detest utterly; to loathe

agile

(adj) ready ability to move with quick, easy grace; having a quick, resourceful and adaptable character

eloquence

(n) discourse marked by force and persuasiveness

exile

(v) to banish someone from his/her home country

fickle

(adj) marked by lack of steadfastness, constancy, or stability : given to erratic changeableness

fray

(n) a disorderly or protracted fight, struggle, or dispute

gallant

(n) a fashionable, charming young man

martial

(adj) of, or relating to, or suited for war or a warrior

tedious

(adj) tiresome because of length or dullness

minstrels

(n) medieval musical entertainers

rapier

(n) a straight, two edged sword with a narrow pointed blade

matron

(n) married woman usually marked by dignified maturity or social distinction

dismal

(adj) depressing, dreary, gloomy, cheerless

enjoin

(v) to instruct, to order, or to urge someone to do something

loathsome

(adj) causing hatred or disgust; repulsive, detestable

pensive

(adj) engaged in or involving deep, serious thought

pilgrimage

(n) a journey to a place considered sacred for religious purposes.

vial

(n) a small glass container, usually glass, for holding liquid or medicines

remedy

(n) a medicine or treatment for disease or injury; a cure

chide

(v) to scold or to rebuke; to reprove, to lecture

treacherous

(adj) guilty of betrayal or deception; faithless, double-dealing, disloyal

inundation

(n) an overwhelming abundance of people or things; a flood, a deluge, a torrent

remnants

(n) a small remaining quantity; fragments, remains

penury

(n) extreme poverty or destitution

haughty

(adj) arrogantly superior and disdainful; vain, conceited

peruse

(v) to read in a thorough, careful way; study, inspect

sepulcher

(n) a small room or monument, cut in rock or built of stone, in which a dead person is laid or buried

ambiguities

(n) the qualities of being open to more than one interpretation; uncertainties

meager

(adj) lacking in quantity or quality; inadequate, scanty, limited, sparse

pestilence

(n) a fatal epidemic disease, especially bubonic plague.