Julius Caesar Vocabulary- List 1
abridge v.
1. to shorten by omissions while retaining the basic
contents: to abridge a reference book.
2. to reduce or lessen in duration, scope, authority, etc.;
diminish; curtail: to abridge a visit; to abridge one's
freedom.
3. to deprive; cut off.
assail v.
1. to attack vigorously or violently; assault.
2. to attack with arguments, criticism, ridicule, abuse,
etc.: to assail one's opponent with slander.
3. to undertake with the purpose of mastering: He assailed his studies with new determination.
4. to impinge upon; make an impact on; beset: His mind was assailed by conflicting arguments. The light assailed
their eyes.
coffer v.
1. a box or chest, especially one for valuables.
2. coffers, a treasury; funds: The coffers of the organization were rapidly filled by the contributions.
compel v.
1. to force or drive, especially to a course of action: His disregard of the rules compels us to dismiss him.
2. to secure or bring about by force.
3. to force to submit; subdue.
dispose v.
1. to give a tendency or inclination to; incline: His temperament disposed him to argue readily with people.
2. to put in a particular or the proper order or arrangement; adjust by arranging the parts.
3. to put in a particular or suitable place: The lamp was disposed on a table nearby.
4. to make fit or ready; prepare: Your words of cheer dispose me for the task.
*(Not to be confused with the verb phrase dispose of meaning "to deal with conclusively" or "discard")
extenuate v.
1. to represent (a fault, offense, etc.) as less serious: to extenuate a crime.
2. to serve to make (a fault, offense, etc.) seem less serious.
3. to underestimate, underrate, or make light of: Do not extenuate the difficulties we are in.
inter v.
1. to place (a dead body) in a grave or tomb; bury.
mutiny n.
1. revolt or rebellion against constituted authority, especially by sailors against their officers.
2. rebellion against any authority.
v.
1. to commit the offense of mutiny; revolt against authority.
orator n.
1. a person who delivers an oration; a public speaker, especially one of great eloquence: Demosthenes was one of the
great orators of ancient Greece.
vanquish v.
1. to conquer or subdue by superior force, as in battle.
2. to defeat in any contest or conflict; be victorious over: to vanquish one's opponent in an argument.
3. to overcome or overpower: He vanquished all his fears.
Julius Caesar- Vocabulary List 2
affable adj.
1. pleasantly easy to approach and to talk to; friendly; cordial; warmly
polite: an affable and courteous gentleman.
2. showing warmth and friendliness; benign; pleasant: an affable smile.
chide v.
1. to express disapproval of; scold; reproach: The principal chided the
children for their thoughtless pranks.
2. to harass, nag, impel, or the like by chiding: She chided him into
apologizing.
verb (used without object)
3. to scold or reproach; find fault.
construe v.
1. to give the meaning or intention of; explain; interpret.
2. to deduce by inference or interpretation; infer: He construed her intentions from her gestures.
3. to translate, especially orally.
4. to analyze the syntax of; to rehearse the applicable grammatical rules of: to construe a sentence.
5. to arrange or combine (words, phrases, etc.) syntactically.
countenance n.
1. appearance, especially the look or expression of the face: a sad countenance.
2. the face; visage.
hinder v.
1. to cause delay, interruption, or difficulty in; hamper; impede: The storm hindered our progress.
2. to prevent from doing, acting, or happening; stop: to hinder a man from committing a crime.
verb (used without object)
3. to be an obstacle or impediment.
mettle n.
1. courage and fortitude: a man of mettle
obscure adj.
1. (of meaning) not clear or plain; ambiguous, vague, or uncertain: an obscure sentence in the contract.
2. not clear to the understanding; hard to perceive: obscure motivations.
3. (of language, style, a speaker, etc.) not expressing the meaning clearly or plainly.
4. indistinct to the sight or any other sense; not readily seen, heard, etc.; faint.
5. inconspicuous or unnoticeable: the obscure beginnings of a great movement.
v.
6. to conceal or conceal by confusing (the meaning of a statement, poem, etc.).
7.to make dark, dim, indistinct, etc.
portentous adj.
1. of the nature of a portent (an indication or omen of something about to happen); momentous.
2. ominously significant or indicative: a portentous defeat.
3. marvelous; amazing; prodigious.
Turn over for the last two words
spurn v.
1. to reject with disdain; scorn.
2. to treat with contempt; despise.
vex v.
1. to irritate, annoy, or provoke; His noisy neighbors often vexed him.
2. to torment; trouble; distress; plague; worry: Lack of money vexes many.
3. to discuss or debate (a subject, question, etc.) with vigor or at great length: to vex a question endlessly without
agreeing.
4. to disturb by motion; stir up; toss about.
5. to afflict with physical pain.
Vocabulary- The Tragedy of Julius Caesar (list 3)
augment- v.
1. to make larger; enlarge in size, number, strength, or extent;
increase: His salary is augmented by a small inheritance.
beseech- v.
1. to implore urgently: They besought him to go at once.
2. to beg eagerly for; solicit.
3. to make urgent appeal: Earnestly did I beseech, but to no avail.
cur- n.
1. a mongrel dog, especially a worthless or unfriendly one.
2. a mean, cowardly person.
entrails- n.
1. the internal parts of the trunk of an animal body.
2. the intestines.
3. the internal parts of anything: the entrails of a machine.
expound- v.
1. to set forth or state in detail: to expound theories.
2. to explain; interpret.
3. to make a detailed statement (often followed by on ).
insurrection- n.
1. an act or instance of rising in revolt, rebellion, or resistance against civil authority or an established government.
malice- n.
1. desire to inflict injury, harm, or suffering on another, either because of a hostile impulse or out of deep-seated
meanness: the malice and spite of a lifelong enemy.
prostrate- v.
1. to cast (oneself) face down on the ground in humility, submission, or adoration.
2. to lay flat, as on the ground.
3. to throw down level with the ground.
4. to overthrow, overcome, or reduce to helplessness.
5. to reduce to physical weakness or exhaustion.
adj.
6. lying flat or at full length, as on the ground.
7. lying face down on the ground, as in token of humility, submission, or adoration.
8. overthrown, overcome, or helpless: a country left prostrate by natural disasters.
9. physically weak or exhausted.
10. submissive.
Turn over for the last two words
quarrel- n.
1. an angry dispute or altercation; a disagreement marked by a temporary or permanent break in friendly relations.
2. a cause of dispute, complaint, or hostile feeling: She has no quarrel with her present salary.
v.
3. to disagree angrily; squabble; wrangle.
4. to end a friendship as a result of a disagreement.
5. to make a complaint; find fault.
semblance- n.
1. outward aspect or appearance.
2. an assumed or unreal appearance; show.
3. the slightest appearance or trace.
4. a likeness, image, or copy.
5. a spectral appearance; apparition.
Vocabulary- The Tragedy of Julius Caesar (list 4)
1. carrion n.
1. dead and putrefying flesh.
2. rottenness; anything vile.
2. ensign n.
1. a flag or banner, as a military or naval standard used to indicate
nationality.
2. a badge of office or authority, as heraldic arms.
3. a sign, token, or emblem: the dove, an ensign of peace.
4. U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. the lowest commissioned officer, ranking
next below a lieutenant, junior grade, and equal to a second lieutenant in
the Army.
3. legion n.
1. a division of the Roman army, usually comprising 3000 to 6000 soldiers.
2. a military or semimilitary unit.
3. any large group of armed men.
4. any great number of persons or things; multitude.
adj.
5. very great in number: The holy man's faithful followers were legion.
4. parley n.
1. a discussion or conference.
2. an informal conference between enemies under a truce, especially to discuss terms, conditions of surrender, etc.
v.
3. to hold an informal conference with an enemy under a truce, as between active hostilities.
4. to speak, talk, or confer.
5. pulpit n.
1. a platform or raised structure in a church, from which the sermon is delivered or the service is conducted.
6. strife n.
1. vigorous or bitter conflict, discord, or antagonism: to be at strife.
2. a quarrel, struggle, or clash: armed strife.
3. competition or rivalry: the strife of the marketplace.
7. testament n.
1. a will, especially one that relates to the disposition of one's personal property.
2. either of the two major portions of the Bible: the Mosaic or old covenant or dispensation, or the Christian or new
covenant or dispensation.
3. ( initial capital letter ) the new testament, as distinct from the Old Testament.
4. ( initial capital letter ) a copy of the New Testament.
5. a covenant, especially between God and humans.
Turn over for the last three words
8. valor n.
1. boldness or determination in facing great danger, especially in battle; heroic courage; bravery: a medal for valor.
9. vile adj.
1. wretchedly bad: a vile humor.
2. highly offensive, unpleasant, or objectionable: vile slander.
3. repulsive or disgusting, as to the senses or feelings: a vile odor.
4. morally debased, depraved, or despicable: vile deeds.
5. foul; filthy: vile language.
10. wrangle v.
1. to argue or dispute, especially in a noisy or angry manner.
2. to tend or round up (cattle, horses, or other livestock).
3. to obtain, often by contrivance or scheming; wangle: He wrangled a job through a friend.