Hamlet Vocabulary Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the definition of 'apparition'?

a forerunner

to seize by power or force

shameless, impudent

an unexpected appearance; a ghost (correct)

What does 'usurp' mean?

a lament for the dead

to obtain by threats or intimidation

moving backward

to seize by power or force (correct)

What is the meaning of 'brazen'?

freedom from punishment

shameless, impudent (correct)

to drive back

a forerunner

What is the definition of 'harbinger'?

a forerunner Signup and view all the answers

What does 'extort' mean?

to obtain by threats or intimidation Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'auspicious'?

favorable Signup and view all the answers

What does 'dirge' refer to?

a song of grief Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of 'visage'?

a face Signup and view all the answers

What does 'filial' mean?

of a son or daughter Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'retrograde'?

moving backward Signup and view all the answers

What does 'jocund' mean?

cheerful Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of 'dexterity'?

skill in using one's hands or body Signup and view all the answers

What does 'importunity' mean?

persistence in requesting or demanding Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'prodigal'?

recklessly wasteful Signup and view all the answers

What does 'calumny' mean?

slander Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of 'imminent'?

impending, likely to occur Signup and view all the answers

What does 'libertine' mean?

dissolute; one who leads an immoral life Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'dalliance'?

play; frivolous action Signup and view all the answers

What does 'precepts' refer to?

rules of conduct or conduct Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of 'censure'?

to condemn Signup and view all the answers

What does 'purge' mean?

to cleanse or get rid of impurities or guilt Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'dispatch'?

to send off or kill Signup and view all the answers

What does 'pernicious' mean?

harmful Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of 'impunity'?

freedom from punishment or injury Signup and view all the answers

What does 'sully' mean?

to soil or stain by disgrace Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'gaming'?

gambling Signup and view all the answers

What does 'entreat' mean?

to request earnestly or beg Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of 'expostulate'?

to reason with or protest Signup and view all the answers

What does 'artful' mean?

cunning or sly Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'soliciting'?

begging Signup and view all the answers

What does 'surmise' mean?

to guess Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of 'repulse'?

to drive back or reject Signup and view all the answers

What does 'pestilent' refer to?

diseased or deadly Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'quintessence'?

pure essence; a perfect example of a quality Signup and view all the answers

What does 'appurtenance' mean?

a subordinate part; an adjunct Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of 'abridgement'?

abbreviation; condensation Signup and view all the answers

What does 'niggardly' mean?

stingy Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'beseech'?

to implore Signup and view all the answers

What does 'wont' refer to?

a habit or custom Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of 'consummation'?

fulfillment; completion Signup and view all the answers

What does 'contumely' mean?

an insulting remark; slander Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'insolence'?

rudeness; contempt Signup and view all the answers

What does 'resolution' indicate?

great determination Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of 'orisons'?

prayers Signup and view all the answers

What does 'buffet' mean?

to slap or punch Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'clemency'?

mildness, especially of weather; mercy Signup and view all the answers

What does 'rank' mean?

foul-smelling; unmistakably bad Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of 'bulwark'?

defensive wall Signup and view all the answers

What does 'incorporeal' mean?

not composed of matter; ghost-like Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'discourse'?

a speech or lecture Signup and view all the answers

What does 'unction' mean?

act of anointing with oil; that which soothes Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of 'abstinence'?

doing without, especially food and alcohol Signup and view all the answers

What does 'mandate' mean?

an order or command Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'discord'?

a conflict or disagreement Signup and view all the answers

What does 'convocation' mean?

a group that has been called together Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of 'oblivion'?

forgetfulness Signup and view all the answers

What does 'incensed' mean?

enraged; angered Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'abate'?

to wane; become less Signup and view all the answers

What does 'remiss' mean?

negligent; lax in performance of duty Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of 'lay'?

song Signup and view all the answers

What does 'circumvent' mean?

to evade; find a way around Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'obsequies'?

funeral rites Signup and view all the answers

What does 'churlish' mean?

ill-mannered or rude Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of 'requiem'?

music or dirge for the dead Signup and view all the answers

What does 'indiscretion' mean?

an indiscreet action or statement Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'dearth'?

scarcity or lack Signup and view all the answers

What does 'winnowing' mean?

sifting; fanning Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of 'foil'?

to frustrate or thwart; a long thin sword with a blunt point used in fencing Signup and view all the answers

What does 'carouse' mean?

to drink and be merry Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'havoc'?

widespread destruction, ruin Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Vocabulary Words from Hamlet

Apparition: Refers to a ghost or an unexpected appearance, often inducing fear or surprise.
Usurp: The act of seized power or authority unlawfully or by force.
Brazen: Describes behavior that is shameless, bold, or impudent; often used to convey audacity in actions.
Harbinger: An indicator or a forerunner of something that is going to happen, often signaling an impending event.
Extort: To obtain something, typically money, through threats or intimidation, implying coercion.
Auspicious: Indicates a favorable sign; used to describe conditions that predict success.
Dirge: A mournful song or piece of music, particularly associated with funerals; a lament for the deceased.
Visage: Refers to a person's face, especially regarding its features or expression.
Filial: Pertains to the duties or relationships of a son or daughter, often highlighting familial obligations.
Retrograde: Indicates movement backward, often used in contexts of decline or return to earlier states.
Jocund: Describes a cheerful, lighthearted demeanor or atmosphere.
Dexterity: Skillfulness in using one's hands or body; valuable in both physical and mental tasks.
Importunity: Refers to persistent and urgent requests or demands, often becoming tiresome to others.
Prodigal: Characterized by recklessly wasteful expenditure; often applied to habits related to spending.
Calumny: Slander; an untrue statement made to damage someone's reputation.
Imminent: Describes something that is likely to happen very soon; pressing or impending.
Libertine: A person who leads an unrestrained, dissolute life, often devoid of moral principles.
Dalliance: Light-hearted or trifling behavior; engaging in playful actions without serious intent.
Precepts: Rules or guiding principles for conduct; commands that dictate acceptable behavior.
Censure: To express severe disapproval or condemnation, usually in a formal context.
Purge: To cleanse or rid oneself of impurities, guilt, or unwanted aspects.
Dispatch: To send off promptly or to deal with something quickly, can also mean to put to death.
Pernicious: Describing something that is harmful, especially in a way that is gradual or not immediately obvious.
Impunity: The state of being exempt from punishment or harm; freedom to act without consequence.
Sully: To tarnish or stain someone's reputation; to make something dirty or disgraceful.
Gaming: Refers specifically to gambling activities, often involving risk and chance.
Entreat: To earnestly request or beg someone for something, implying desperation.
Expostulate: To reason with someone in protest; to express objections to someone's decisions.
Artful: Cunning or sly in cunningly achieving goals, often requiring intricate planning.
Soliciting: The act of begging or requesting earnestly for something.
Surmise: To make an educated guess, often without complete evidence; to infer.
Repulse: To drive someone or something back; to reject or fend off an attack or approach.
Pestilent: Describing something harmful or deadly; often associated with diseases.
Quintessence: The purest or most concentrated form of something; an ideal example of a particular quality.
Appurtenance: Something that belongs or is a supplementary part; an accessory or subordinate component.
Abridgement: A condensed form of a text or work; an abbreviation that retains essential information.
Niggardly: Describes stingy behavior; unwilling to give or spend resources.
Beseech: To implore or urgently request something from someone; can imply a deep need.
Wont: A habit or custom that is typically associated with an individual or group.
Consummation: The act of bringing something to completion or fulfillment.
Contumely: An insulting remark or behavior; often associated with arrogance and scorn.
Insolence: Rude or disrespectful behavior; contempt shown toward authority or others.
Resolution: A strong determination to accomplish a goal or adhere to a decision.
Orisons: Prayers or petitions, often made earnestly or solemnly.
Buffet: To strike forcefully; can also refer to a situation of struggle or conflict.
Clemency: Refers to mercy or leniency, often shown in decisions regarding punishment; can relate to mild weather.
Rank: A foul-smelling or distinctly negative quality; often describes something unmistakably bad.
Bulwark: A protective wall or barrier; metaphorically used to describe defense against dangers.
Incorporeal: Describing something that does not have a physical body; ghost-like in essence.
Discourse: Elaborate discussion or communication, often formal, conveyed through speech or writing.
Unction: The act of anointing with oil; a soothing characteristic of a balm or similar substance.
Abstinence: The practice of refraining from indulgence, particularly regarding food and alcohol.
Mandate: An authoritative order or command that requires compliance.
Discord: A state of conflict or disagreement; disruption of harmony.
Convocation: A gathering or assembly that has been called together for a specific purpose.
Oblivion: A state of forgetfulness or being forgotten; loss of consciousness.
Incensed: Enraged or intensely angered; describes a heightened emotional state.
Abate: To lessen, diminish, or reduce in intensity or degree.
Remiss: Describing negligence or lack of care in performing duties; laxity.
Lay: Refers to a song or ballad; often linked to storytelling.
Circumvent: To evade or find a way around an obstacle or rule.
Obsequies: The funeral rites or ceremonies performed for the deceased.
Churlish: Describing ill-mannered or rude behavior; lacking civility.
Requiem: Music or mass performed in honor of the deceased; often a solemn tribute.
Indiscretion: An action or statement marked by a lack of caution; often with potential negative consequences.
Dearth: A scarcity or lack of something, often referring to essential resources.
Winnowing: The process of sifting or separating valuable from worthless; identifying the best.
Foil: To thwart or frustrate plans; refers to a fencing sword with a blunt point.
Carouse: To engage in lively drinking and merrymaking; often a form of celebration.
Havoc: Widespread destruction or ruin; chaos resulting from an event.

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Enhance your understanding of Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' with this vocabulary flashcard set. Each card highlights key terms from the play along with their definitions, helping you to grasp the language and themes more effectively. Perfect for students looking to improve their literary vocabulary.