| surfeiting (v) | overindulging, especially so much that one becomes sickened or repelled — an amount that is too much or more than you need- Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting, the appetite may sicken and so die |
| abatement (n) | the ending, lessening, reducing, or suppressing of something — to become weaker : to decrease in strength- The violence has continued without abatement- But falls into abatement and low price |
| purged (v) | to clean or clear out; get rid of; remove (purge is often used with “of,” as in “purged the air of pestilence”) — to remove people from an area, country, organization, etc., often in a violent and sudden way- High-ranking officials were purged from the company following the merger.- Methought she purged the air of pestilence |
| provident (adj) | making or indicating timely preparation for the future — careful about planning for the future and saving money for the future- more provident policy- Most provident in peril, bind himself to a strong mast that lived upon the sea |
| abjured (v) | renounced; given up — to reject- He abjured allegiance to his native country- They say she hath abjured the sight and company of men |
| shrew (n) | bad-tempered or complaining woman — an unpleasant bad-tempered woman- [to Maria] Bless you fair shrew |
| motley (n) | checkered jester’s clothing (also adj: varied in appearance or character — made up of many different people or things)- A motley group of musicians- That’s as much to say as, I wear not motley in my brain. |
| lethargy (n) | drowsiness; apathy; lack of energy or interest — a lack of energy or a lack of interest in doing things : a lethargic feeling or state- Cousin, cousin, how have you come so early by this lethargy?- I snapped out of my lethargy and began cleaning the house. |
| fortified (adj) | strengthened, often against attack (also: to fortify, v) — to make (someone or something) stronger- He took a deep breath to fortify himself before stepping onto the stage.- He’s fortified against any denial |
| feigned (adj) | pretended; simulated; faked (also: to feign, v) — to pretend to feel or be affected by (something)- She greeted him with feigned nonchalance.- It is more like to be feigned. I pray you, keep it in. |
| nonpareil (n) | something with no match or equal — someone or something that is better than any other- Elvis was the nonpareil of early American rock and roll.- Could be but recompensed though you were crowned the nonpareil of beauty |
| recompense (n) | compensation or reward given for loss, harm suffered, or effort made — something that is given to or done to thank or reward someone or to pay someone for loss or suffering- He is asking for a just/fair recompense for the work he’s done.- My master, not myself, lacks recompense. |
| malignancy (n) | evil nature- the malignancy of the tumor- The malignancy of my fate might perhaps distemper yours. |
| mellifluous (adj) | sweet or musical; pleasant to hear — having a smooth, flowing sound- mellifluous speech- A mellifluous voice, as I am true knight. |
| dulcet (adj) | sweet and soothing (related to sound) — pleasant to hear- the dulcet sounds of the piano- To hear by the nose, it is dulcet in contagion. |
| mitigation (n) | a reduction in severity (also to mitigate, v) — to make (something) less severe, harmful, or painful- Emergency funds are being provided to help mitigate the effects of the disaster.- Do you make an ale-house of my lady’s house, that you squeak out your cozier’s catches without any mitigation of remorse of voice? |
| cloyment (cloying) (n/adj) | excessively or disgustingly sweet or sentimental — too sweet, pleasant, or emotional- After a while, the softness of his voice becomes cloying- No motion of the liver, but the palate, that suffer surfeit, cloyment, and revolt |
| exalted (adj) | placed at a high or powerful level (often related to rank or status) — to raise (someone or something) to a higher level- She rose to an exalted position in the company- Besides, she uses me with more exalted respect than anyone else that follows her. |
| quenching (v) | stifling, suppressing, or extinguishing (also to satisfy) — to put out- A drink that will quench your thirst- I extend my hand to him thus, quenching my familiar smile with an austere regard of control. |
| prerogative (n) | a right or privilege exclusive to a particular individual or class — a special right or privilege that some people have- It’s a writer’s prerogative to decide the fate of her characters.- Saying “Cousin Toby my fortunes, having cast me on your niece, give me this prerogative of speech.” |
| portend (v) | be a signal of; warn of — to be a sign or warning that something usually bad or unpleasant is going to happen- The distant thunder portended a storm.- And the end-what should that alphabetical position portend? |
| cudgel (v) | to beat with a short, thick stick — to hit (someone or something) with a club- a politician who is being cudgeled in the press for his failure to support tax cuts- Ay, or I’ll cudgel him and make him cry “O”. |
Twelfth Night Acts 1 and 2 Vocabulary
July 12, 2019