ACT II - Scene III — Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words from ACT II - Scene III

equivocator (noun)

A person who uses ambiguous language to conceal the truth or avoid committing to a clear statement; historically linked to the Jesuit defense of misleading speech under oath.

sacrilegious (adjective)

Involving violation or contemptuous treatment of something regarded as sacred; here, describing the murder of a divinely anointed king.

counterfeit (noun)

An imitation or copy intended to deceive; in this context, sleep is called death’s counterfeit because it mimics death’s appearance.

parley (noun)

A conference or discussion, especially between enemies or opposing sides; originally a military term for a truce to hold negotiations.

combustion (noun)

Violent disorder or tumult; literally the act of burning, used here figuratively to describe impending chaos and destruction.

temperate (adjective)

Showing moderation and self-restraint; calm and composed, especially in difficult circumstances.

expedition (noun)

Promptness or speed of action; here used in its less common sense meaning the urgency or swiftness of an emotion.

refrain (verb)

To hold oneself back from doing something; to restrain or resist an impulse.

consort (verb)

To associate or keep company with someone, especially with the implication of complicity or shared interest.

scruples (noun)

Feelings of doubt or hesitation about the morality or propriety of a course of action; moral qualms.

Gorgon (noun)

In Greek mythology, one of three sisters (including Medusa) whose appearance was so horrifying it turned onlookers to stone; used here as a metaphor for the shocking sight of Duncan’s murdered body.

lees (noun)

The sediment or dregs that settle at the bottom of a container of wine; figuratively, the worthless remainder after the best part has been taken.

murtherous (adjective)

An archaic spelling of murderous; inclined to or involving murder. Shakespeare uses this form throughout the play.