Macbeth Vocabulary

Act II
Prate
Verb Thou sure and firm-set
earth, hear my steps, which
Definition: speak about
way they walk, for fear
unimportant matters rapidly
Thy very stones prate of my
and incessantly
whereabout
Synonyms: ramble, rant, And take the present horror
drivel from the time
Which now suits with it
Palpable
Adjective I see thee yet, in form as
palpable
Definition: Capable of
As this which now I draw
being perceived

Synonyms: perceptible,
discernable, tangible
Knell
Noun I go, and it is done; the bell
invites me
Definition: The sound of a
Hear it not, Duncan, for it is
bell rung slowly to
a knell
announce a death
That summons thee to
Synonyms: toll, heaven or hell
resounding, reverberation
Multitudinous
Adjective No, this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas in
Definition: too numerous to
incarnadine
be counted
Making the green ones red
Synonyms: numerous,
many, abundant
Equivocate
Verb Faith, here’s an
equivocator, that could
Definition: to use
swear in both the scales
ambiguous or unclear
against either scale; who
expressions, usually to
committed treason enough
avoid commitment or in
for God’s sake, yet could
order to mislead
not equivocate to heaven:
Synonyms: dodge, fib, O, come in, equivocator
fudge
Carouse
Verb Faith sir, we were carousing
till the second cock
Definition: to engage in a
drunken revel

Synonym: Imbibe, drink,

quaff
Provoke
Verb What three things does
drink especially provoke?
Definition: to anger,
enrage, exasperate, or vex.

Synonyms: aggervate,
enrage, irk
Unruly
Adjective The night has been unruly:
where we lay
Definition: not conforming
Our chimneys were blown
to rule
down
Synonyms: ungovernable,
lawless
Combustion
Noun Prophecying with accents
terrible
Definition: the act or
Of dire combustion and
process of burning.
confused events
Synonyms: ignition, New hatch’d to the woeful
agitation, distrubance time
Suborn
Verb They were suborn’d
Malcolm and Donalbain, the
Definition: to bribe or
king’s two sons
induce (someone)
Are stol’n away and fled,
unlawfully or secretly to
which puts upon them
perform some misdeed or to
Suspicion of the deed
commit a crime.

Synonyms: incite,
instagate
Act III
Malice
Noun Treason has done his worst’
nor steel nor poison,
Definition: the intention or
Malice domestic, foreign
desire to do evil; ill will.
levy, nothing can touch him
Synonyms: Spite, further.
Animosity, Hostility
Eminence
Noun I pray, be you. Let your
remembrance
Definition: Special honor,
Apply to Banquo; present
exceptional homage. A
him eminence.
position of prominence.

Synonyms: Prestige,
distinction.
Vizard
Noun Both with eye and tongue:
unsafe the while that we
Definition: A mask for
Must lave our honors in
disguise or protection
these flattering streams,
Synonyms: Guise, mask And make our faces vizards
camouflage. to our hearts,
Disguising what they are.
Nonpareil
Adjective. Thou art the best o’ th’
cutthroats: Yet he’s good
Definition: Having no
that did the like for Fleance,
match or equal.
if thou art the nonpareil.
Synonyms: Unequaled,
unrivaled.
Blanched
Verb When now I think you can
behold such sights, and
Definition: Making pale by
keep the natural ruby of
extracting color.
your cheeks, when mine is
Synonyms: Wan, blanched with fear.
haggard.
Avaunt
Adverb Avaunt and quit my sight!
Let the earth hide thee.
Definition: Go away!

Synonyms: Begone, leave

Beldams
Noun Have I not reason, beldams
as you are? Saucy and
Definition: A malicious
overbold.
loathsome old woman.

Synonyms: Crone, hag

Pious
Adjective How it did grieve Macbeth!
Did he not straight
Definition: having or
In pious rage the two
showing or expressing
delinquents tear
reverence for a deity.
That were the slaves of
Synonyms: Devout, drink and thralls of sleep?
righteous.