12th Night Vocabulary


Act One:


Steward (first definition on Merriam Webster): one employed in a large household or estate to manage domestic concerns (such as the supervision of servants, collection of rents, and keeping of accounts)

  • Robert, the steward of the wealthy Smiths’ household, woke up early every morning to make sure the maids were cooking breakfast for the family and had cleaned the house.

Eunuch: a castrated man placed in charge of a harem or employed as a chamberlain in a palace

  • Viola dressed as Cesario, a eunuch who had a high voice, which allowed her to gain Orsino’s trust as she now worked for him.

Recompense: to give something to by way of compensation (as for a service rendered or damage incurred)

  • Although the product was damaged when he bought it, the customer did not ask to be recompensed because the vendor was his friend.



Act Two:


Churlish: marked by a lack of civility or graciousness : SURLY

  • The churlish boy has a tendency to criticize everyone.  

Wavering: to vacillate irresolutely between choices : fluctuate in opinion, allegiance, or direction

  • The wavering parents couldn’t decide whether to take a vacation in Mexico or in the Bahamas. 

Surfeit: an overabundant supply : EXCESS 

  • The seller ordered a surfeit of product and does not have enough space in his storage to keep it all before customers buy his products.

Portend: to give an omen or anticipatory sign of

  • Seeing a black cat portends that something bad will happen.



Act Three:

Vouchsafe: to grant or furnish often in a gracious or condescending manner

  • The store owner vouchsafed forgiveness and didn’t press charges on the thief because he knew that the thief was starving and had no money.

Feign: to give a false appearance of : induce as a false impression

  • The man feigned death to escape the terrorists going after him. 

Pedant: one who makes a show of knowledge but is truly unimaginative

  • The pedant at the tour of the museum kept pointing out small mistakes that the tour guide made.

Valor: strength of mind or spirit that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness : personal bravery

  • The 3 year old had a lot of valor to go down the tall slide.

Coffer: Chest

  • The girl bought a coffer full of jewelry and other treasures at the garage sale



Act Four:


Hyperbolic: of, relating to, or marked by language that exaggerates or overstates the truth

  • The way he described his vacation was so hyperbolic that it sounded like he was in a fairy tale and not Florida. 

Sirrah: used as a form of address implying inferiority in the person addressed

  • “Sirrah, go clean up the kitchen,” said the lord to his maid. 

Fiend: a person of great wickedness or maliciousness

  • The fiend’s true colors were shown when he stole the rest of the homeless man’s money.


Act Five:


Jocund: marked by or suggestive of high spirits and lively mirthfulness

  • The jocund wedding after party was filled with fun, happiness, and food.

Joinder (Please use the definition in the book on page 170): Joining

  • The joinder of the husband and wife was marked by their wedding. 

Propriety - the quality or state of being proper or suitable

  • There was a sense of propriety at the royal wedding.