The Merchant of Venice Vocabulary Acts 4 & 5

abate

to reduce in intensity or amount

abject

utterly hopeless or miserable

adversary

an opponent

compulsion

an irresistible urge to do something

epitaph

an inscription in memory of a person on a tombstone

exposition

an explanation

impediment

an obstacle or something that prevents action

inevitable

something that is certain to happen

malice

the desire to cause harm to another person

mercenary

a person whose only motivation to do a job is for the money

mitigate

when something lessens the unpleasantness of a situation

obdurate

refusing to do what other people want

paltry

ridiculously small and worthless

precedent

a decision that is the basis or reason for future decisions

shrew

an ill tempered woman

stratagems

elaborate or deceitful schemes

suffice

to be enough; sufficient

vehement

forcefully expressing emotion or conviction

wanton

a reckless, malicious, indecent or unrestrained person

zeal

enthusiasm for something