ACT I - Scene III — Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words from ACT I - Scene III

aroint (interjection)

An archaic exclamation meaning "begone" or "get away." Used by the sailor's wife to dismiss the witch.

ronyon (noun)

A mangy or scabby creature; a term of abuse meaning a wretched, worthless person.

forbid (adjective)

In this context, cursed or under a spell; doomed. Not the modern sense of "prohibited."

se'nnights (noun)

Weeks. From "seven nights," the Old English way of measuring a week.

dwindle (verb)

To gradually waste away or become smaller and weaker over time.

corporal (adjective)

Having a physical body; tangible and material, as opposed to spiritual or ghostly.

fantastical (adjective)

Existing only in the imagination; unreal, illusory. In Shakespeare's usage, pertaining to fantasy or supernatural vision.

rapt (adjective)

Completely absorbed or entranced; lost in thought to the point of being unaware of one's surroundings.

soliciting (noun)

The act of urging, enticing, or tempting someone toward a course of action, often with negative connotations.

surmise (noun)

A guess or conjecture based on incomplete evidence; speculation about something uncertain.

earnest (noun)

A pledge, token, or down payment that guarantees something greater to come. Here, a foretaste of future honor.

enkindle (verb)

To arouse, inspire, or inflame with desire or ambition; literally to set on fire.

vantage (noun)

Advantage or assistance; a position or condition that gives superiority or benefit.

penthouse (noun)

In Elizabethan usage, an eyelid; from the architectural term for a sloping roof or lean-to structure that resembles a drooping lid.

insane root (noun phrase)

A plant believed to cause madness when eaten, likely hemlock or henbane. Used by Banquo to suggest they may be hallucinating.