| brandish | Synonym: to wave something in a threatening wayDefinition: to wave something about, especially a weapon, in a menacing, theatrical, or triumphant wayDirect Definition: BJ brandished his sword, or waved his sword in a threatening way, to make his opponents frightened. |
| plight | Synonym: a dangerous situationDefinition: a difficult and dangerous situation, especially a sad or desperate predicament. Contrast: Unlike the difficult plight Hobby was in, Gabe wasn’t in any bad situation. |
| minion | Synonym: a slavish followerDefinition: a servile or slavish follower of somebody generally regarded as important.Example: the rich man had a minion, a slavish follower or servile that does anything the rich man wants him/her to do. |
| lavish | Synonym: to giveDefinition: given or produced in abundance or to excess; to give or spend something generously or to excess.Direct Definition: The woman lavished, or gave, clothes to the people that don’t have much clothes. |
| harbinger | Synonym: foreshadowDefinition: Somebody or something that foreshadows or anticipates a future event.Contrast: Unlike the other words in Macbeth, the words: blood, hand, night and sleep foreshadow something that is going to happen later in the book |
| rapt | Synonym: fascinated Definition: involved in, fascinated by, or concentrating on something to the exclusion of everything else.Example: He was very rapt by the math problem; he was so fascinated by the math problem that he was concentrating very hard and not paying attention to anything else. |
| missives | Synonym: a letterDefinition: a letter or other written communication, often formal or legal communication.Direct Definition: I sent a missive, or a letter, to my friends in Louisiana. |
| metaphysical | relating to the philosophical study of nature of being and beings or a philosophical system resulting from such studyGood and evil are metaphysically linked through space and time. |
| beguile | to win and hold somebody’s attention, interest, or devotion; to mislead or deceive somebodyHer laughter was beguiling because I knew she was sad. |
| sovereign | the ruler or permanent head of a state, especially a king or queen; self-governing and not ruled by any other state; having supreme authority or powerThe 4th of July marks the anniversary of our country’s sovereignty |
| augment | to add to something in order to make it larger or more substantial, or to grow in this way |
| equivocate | to speak vaguely or ambiguously, especially in order to mislead |
| sacrilegious | grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacred |
| perturbation | an unhappy and worried mental state |
| entreaty | an attempt to persuade someone to do something |
English Vocab Macbeth
August 31, 2019