Vocabulary from Epic of Gilgamesh and Much Ado About Nothing

Overbearing

Unpleasantly or arrogantly domineering; dominating

Dejected

Sad and depressed; dispirited

Seminal

Strongly influencing later developments; groundbreaking

Voluptuous

Curvaceous and physically attractive; shapely

Dote

Be extremely and uncritically fond of; adore

Usurp

Take a position of power illegally or by force

Grappled

Engage in a close fight without weapons; wrestle

Reviled

Criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner

Forsake

Abandon someone or something; give up

Menacing

Suggesting the presence of danger; threatening

Gaunt

Lean and haggard, especially due to suffering or hunger

Wretched

Poor quality or very bad; deeply unhappy

Hewed

Chop or cut with an axe or similar tool

Embarked

Begin a course of action, especially important/demanding

Cowered

Crouched down in fear; recoiled

Betwixt

Between two people or things

Pernicious

Having a harmful effect; damaging

Subdued

Quiet and rather reflective or depressed

Earnest

Showing sincere and intense conviction

Shrewd

Having sharp powers of judgment

Revel

Enjoy oneself in a lively and noisy way

Mirth

Amusement or laughter

Thwart

Prevent someone from accomplishing something

Entreat

Ask someone earnestly or anxiously to do something

Disdain

Scorn; the feeling that something is unworthy

Gallant

Brave and heroic

Disparage

Regard as being of little worth

Defiled

Spoiled or polluted

Arrant

Complete; utter

Vanquish

Defeat thoroughly

Conjecture

An opinion based on incomplete information

Frugal

Simple and plain; careful with money

Hastily

With excessive speed or urgency

Scruple

A feeling of doubt with regard to morality

Treachery

Betrayal of trust

Penance

Voluntary self-punishment to make up for sin

Slanderous

False and malicious (especially speech)

Ambiguity

Being open to more than one meaning

Keenly

In an eager or intense manner

Impetuous

Acting quickly without thinking

Adamant

Refusing to change one's mind

Malice

Intention to do evil

Brute

A savage or violent person

Stealth

Secretive or cautious movement

Cacophony

A harsh, jarring mixture of sounds

Volatile

Likely to change rapidly or unpredictably

Taunted

Provoked with insulting remarks