British Literature Vocabulary
* If a quiz or test must be moved, it will be rescheduled for the next class
The Canterbury Tales Vocabulary
Part A- Quiz September 6
1. Amiable: (adj.) friendly and kindly
2. Avarice: (n.) excessive desire for wealth, greed
3. Benign: (adj.) kindly, mild, or harmless
4. Bequeath: (v.) leave (or give by will) usually upon death
5. Bereft: (adj.) sorrowful through loss or deprivation
6. Beseech: (v.) to ask strongly or beg for something
7. Blithe: (adj.) carefree and happy
8. Broach: (v.) bring up a topic for discussion - especially an awkward topic
9. Countenance: (n.) facial expression; or face; or composure
10. Daunt: (v.) to discourage or intimidate
Macbeth Vocabulary
Part A- Quiz November 1
1. abhor: (v.) to regard with horror or loathing; to hate deeply
2. beguile: (v.) to deceive; to charm; to enchant
3. censure: (n.)harsh criticism or disapproval
4. compunction: (n.) a feeling of deep regret (usually for some misdeed)
5. covet: (v.) to desire something belonging to another
6. credulous: (adj.) too ready to believe, easily deceived
7. diminutive: (adj.) small, smaller than most others of the same type
8. eminent: (adj.) famous, outstanding, distinguished; projecting
9. entreat: (v.) to beg, implore, ask earnestly
10. exasperated: (adj.)frustrated; annoyed
Part B-Quiz September 20
11. Defame: (v.) to hurt someone`s reputation through false statements
12. Discreet: (adj.)prudent, modest, or trustworthy with secrets
13. disdain: (v. or n.) a lack of respect -- often suggesting distaste and an
undeserved sense of superiority
14. disparage: (v.)to criticize or make seem less important -- especially in a
disrespectful or contemptuous manner
15. engender: (v.) cause -- usually a feeling (possibly a situation)
16. fastidious: (adj.) giving careful attention to detail
17. forbearance: (n.) (refraining (holding back) from acting
18. forsake: (v.) to abandon or give up on -- such as someone who needs
you, or an idea, or a place
19. mirth: (n.) fun and laughter
20. negligent: (adj.) marked by insufficient care or attention
Part C- Quiz October 4
21. obstinate: (adj.) stubbornly unyielding to the wishes of others
22. pious: (adj.) behaving in a highly moral or religious manner
23. poignant: (adj.) profoundly touching the emotions -- especially sadness
24. rebuke: (v.) criticize severely; or such criticism
25. reproach: (v. or n.) a criticism; or to express criticism
26. reprove: (v.) to express disapproval of one`s actions to them
27. Revere: (v.) regard with feelings of deep respect and admiration
28. sanguine: (adj.) confidently optimistic and cheerful
29. scanty: (adj.) small in amount -- often inadequate
30. wanton: (adj.) excessive, thoughtless indulgence -- such as waste,
cruelty, violence, and especially sexual promiscuity
Part B- Quiz November 15
11. fortitude: (n.) courage in facing difficulties
12. harbinger: (n.) one that indicates or foreshadows what is to come; a forerunner
13. impede: (v.) To get in the way of; to interfere with the movement of.
14. knell: (n.) a sound made by a bell, often rung slowly for a death or funeral
15. laudable: (adj.) worthy of praise
16. malevolent: (adj.) having intent to harm others
17. malicious: (adj.) having intent to harm others
18. oblivious: (adj.) forgetful; unaware
19. obscure: (adj.) relatively unknown or unclear (v.) to conceal or make
indistinct
20. pernicious: (adj.) extremely harmful; deadly, fatal
Vocabulary Test October 11, 2013
Part C- Quiz December 13
21. perturbation: (n) mental disquiet, disturbance, or agitation
22. pretense: (n.) an appearance or action intended to deceive
23. quell: (v.) to ease; to calm down
24. reconcile: (v.) to restore to friendship; to settle; to resign (oneself)
25. remorse: (n.) deep and painful regret for one's past misdeeds; pangs of
conscience
26. resolute: (adj.) determined; firm
27. sacrilege: (n.) improper or disrespectful treatment of something held sacred
28. tedious: (adj.) long and tiresome
29. treacherous: (adj.) likely to betray; seemingly safe but actually dangerous
30. usurp: (v.) to seize and hold a position by force or without right
Vocabulary Test December 20, 2013
Romantic Novel Vocabulary
Part A- Quiz January 17
1. accord: (n.) agreement, harmony
2. acquiesce: (v.) to accept without protest; to agree or submit
3. ameliorate: (v.) to improve, make better, correct a flaw or
shortcoming
4. benevolent: (adj.) kindly, charitable
5. capricious: (adj). inclined to change one's mind impulsively; erratic;
unpredictable
6. conciliatory: (adj.) - agreeable, friendly
7. condescending: (adj) possessing an attitude of superiority,
patronizing
8. conjecture: (n. or adj.) a guess, often one based on inadequate or
faulty evidence
9. contrary: (adj.) inclined to oppose and be stubborn, opposite
10. descend: (v.) to move to a lower place from a higher one; to come
or be handed down from the past
Part B- Quiz January 31
11. Desolate: (adj.) deserted, lifeless
12. disposition: (n.) a person's usual mood; temperament; a regular
tendency or inclination
13. earnest: (adj.) sincere; serious, honest
14. endeavor: (v.or n.)A serious or strenuous attempt to accomplish
something
15. endure: (v.) to carry on through despite hardships; to put up with
16. incredulous: (adj.) disbelieving, skeptical
17. inquire: v. To ask information about.
18. lethargic: (adj.) unnaturally sleepy, dull, slow moving, indifferent
19. melancholy: (adj.) sad, gloomy, unhappy; (n.) sadness, gloominess
20. obliged: (v.) forced; made to do something because of conscience or
obligation
Part C-Quiz February 14
21. prudent: (adj.) cautious, careful, showing good sense
22. recollect: (v.) To remember; to recall
23. render: (v.) cause to become
24. resolve: (v.) to decide; to bring into focus
25. satiate: (v.) to satisfy completely; to fill to excess
26. solemn: (adj) serious; grave
27. sufficient: (adj.) enough
28. summon: (v.) To call forth; to gather.
29. tranquil: (adj.)calm, serene, peaceful
30. wretched: (adj.) miserable, pathetic
Vocabulary Test February 21, 2014
The Importance of Being Earnest Vocabulary
Part A- Quiz March 7
1. arduous: (adj.) difficult to accomplish
2. candid: (adj.) frank, sincere; impartial; unposed
3. capacious: (adj.) capable of holding much; spacious or roomy
4. condolence: (n.) an expression of sympathy
5. consternation: (n.) dismay, confusion
6. contempt: (n.) a manner that is generally disrespectful and contemptuous
7. eccentric: (adj. or n.)irregular; odd; unconventional; whimsical; bizarre
8. effrontery: (n.) rudeness without any sense of shame; shameless boldness;
presumptuousness; nerve; cheek
9. equanimity: (n.) calmness, composure, refusal to panic
10. gravity: (n.) seriousness
Part B- Quiz March 21
11. heresy: (n.) an opinion different from accepted belief; the denial of an idea
that is generally held sacred
12. hypocrisy: (n.) the pretense of having virtues or beliefs that one does not
really have
13. impetuous: (adj) rash, impulsive, acting without thinking
14. indifferent: (adj.) having no interest or concern; showing no bias or
prejudice
15. indignant: (adj.) filled with resentment or anger over something unjust,
unworthy, or mean
16. induce: (v.) to cause, bring about; to persuade
17. interment: (n.) the act or ceremony of burying someone
18. loathe: (v.) to feel intense dislike or hatred; to detest
19. mercenary: (adj.) acting or working for self-gain only
20. misanthrope: (n.) a person who hates or despises people
Part C- Quiz April 4
21. ostentatious: (adj.) marked by conspicuous or pretentious display, showy
22. philanthropy: (n.) The attempt to improve the well-being of those in need
by donating money or aid; charity
23. quixotic: (adj.) idealistic, impractical
24. refute: (v.) to prove incorrect
25. resignation: (n) reluctant acceptance of a bad situation
26. sententious: (adj.) self-righteous, characterized by moralizing; given to
use of maxims or adages; saying much in few words, pithy
27. speculate: (v) contemplate; make a guess or educated guess about
28. supercilious: (adj.) proud and contemptuous; showing scorn because of a
feeling of superiority
29. utilitarian: (adj.) stressing practical use over other values
30. vacillate: (v.) to swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to
another; to waver weakly in mind or will
Vocabulary Test April 11, 2013