Twelfth Night Vocab

Allay (verb, 1.3.31) – to subdue or reduce in intensity or severity; alleviate; to make quiet; calm.He attempted to allay the child’s hunger by feeding them apple chunks and -to his horror and dismay- ended up asphyxiating them instead.
Distaff (noun, 1.3.100)1) (a) a staff for holding the flax, tow, or wool in spinning; (b) woman’s work or domain2) the female branch or side of the family.My father likes to tell others that my innate ability to solve logical problems came from his side of the family, when really I inherited it from the distaff side.
Surfeit (noun, 1.1.2) – an amount that is too much or more than needed; a surplus.At the event there was a surfeit of volunteers and as a result, some of them were without things to do.
Abjure (verb, 1.2.41) – to reject (something) formally.He abjured their belief on immigration as he thought his own belief was better.
Eunuch (noun, 1.2.59) – a man who has had his sexual organs removed; an entertainer.We cannot have a baby since my husband is an eunuch.The eunuch entertainers the royal family with his performances.
Troth (noun, 1.3.4) – loyal or pledged faithfulness; one’s pledged word.I made a troth to myself that I would not procrastinate anymore.
Beauteous (adjective, 1.2.51) – beautiful.The beauteous, colorful butterflies brought our boon to the beach.
Coistrel (noun, 1.3.40) – a scoundrel; knave (a dishonest man)The coistrel lied and fled before the fight had even begun.
Cuckold (noun, 1.5.29) – a man whose wife has sex with someone else : a man’s whose wife commits adultery.It would really be bad to be a cuckold in the future, since it could lead to a lot of money being wasted on divorces and property distribution.
Lechery (noun, 1.5.33) – sexually desiring someone to the point where it becomes really weird, offensive, and excessive.Romeo was a great example of lechery, as is proven when he sits on the streets, staring up at Juliet’s window like a creep.
Syllogism (noun, 1.5.47) – drawing a conclusion based on two propositions assumed as true.The fool sees his syllogism as a perfectly logical conclusion, but Olivia disagrees.
Gaskins (noun, 1.5.24) – breeches.Maria tells the fool his gaskins will fall down.
Usurp (verb, 1.5.184) – to take or steal something by force, often power or control.Macbeth was able to usurp power by carefully picking off his enemies and anyone who stood in his way.
Swabber (noun, 1.5.201) – a sailor who washes (“swabs”) the deck of a ship.The swabber was told by the ensign to wash the decks of the ship.
Lenten (adjective, 1.5. 9) – weak, poor (good enough only for Lent, a time of fasting).Your answer is lenten, and holds no substance towards your argument.
Resolute (adjective, 1.5. 21) – very determined : having or showing a lot of determination.Your boss complimented you and said you do your job in a resolute way.
Lethargy (noun, 1.5.123) – A lack of energy or lack of interest in doing things.Sir Toby’s lethargy was caused by his excessive drinking.
Catechize (verb, 1.5.60) – to question systematically or searchingly.Her father, trying to figure out if she had a boyfriend, catechized her.
Quinapalus (noun, 1.5.33) – The Mrs. Harris of “authorities in citations.” If anyone wishes to clench an argument by some quotation, let him cite this ponderous collection.In order to defend her weak argument, Mary quoted Quinapalus as her source in hopes that John would think it as true.
Misprision (noun, 1.5.53) – contempt or scorn.The privileged girls glanced at the homeless man with misprision.
Mellifluous (adjective, 2.3.57) – having a smooth, flowing sound.The man delivered his speech mellifluously, portraying his point clearly and eloquently.
Blazon (verb, 1.5.298) – to display prominently or vividly.The man wore his finest clothes in a blazon manner.
Leman (noun, 2.3.25) – a lover or sweetheart.The woman met her leman in at their favorite restaurant.
Equinoctial (adjective, 2.3.24) – relating to an equinox or to a state or the time of equal day and night; relating to the regions or climate on or near the equator; relating to the time when the sun passes an equinoctial point.The equinoctial regions were warmer than other places.
Dulcet (adjective, 2.3.57) – pleasant to hear.I heard dulcet music and continued to listen to the pleasant sounds.
Retention (noun, 2.4.106)1) the act of keeping someone or something2) the act of keeping extra liquid, heat, etc., inside the body3) the ability to keep somethingThey don’t pay attention to anything. In one ear and out the other. So much for retention.
Doublet (noun) 1) a close-fitting outer garment, with or without sleeves and sometimes having a short skirt, worn by men in the Renaissance.2) an undergarment, quilted and reinforced with mail, worn beneath armor.Benjamin dressed in his nicest doublet for the joust later that evening.
Consanguineous (adjective, 2.3.59) – of the same blood or origin/descended from the same ancestor.The consanguineous tribes always remained close to one and other, having each others backs.
Strain (verb, 1.1.7) – to draw tight or taut, especially to the utmost tension; stretch to the full.As he tied his shoes, he had to strain the laces as they were very old and way too small for his big feet.
Accost (verb, 1.3.17) – to approach and speak to (someone) often in an angry, aggressive, or unwanted way.The lifeguard accosted me for running near the pool.