ACT V - Scene II — Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words from ACT V - Scene II

mortified (adjective)

Deadened in feeling or spirit; insensible. In this context, even a person numbed to all emotion would be roused to action by the rebels' burning desire for revenge.

file (noun)

A list or roll of names; a roster. Lennox uses it to mean he has a complete register of all the nobles in the approaching army.

unrough (adjective)

Beardless; smooth-faced. Shakespeare's coinage meaning young and untested, referring to soldiers too young to have grown facial hair.

distempered (adjective)

Disordered; diseased; deranged. Refers to something thrown out of its proper balance or temperament, here describing Macbeth's corrupted and unstable reign.

murthers (noun)

An archaic spelling of "murders." Used in Shakespeare's era as a common variant pronunciation and spelling of the word.

minutely (adverb)

Occurring every minute; constantly. Used as an adverb meaning that revolts against Macbeth are happening with relentless, moment-by-moment frequency.

upbraid (verb)

To reproach severely; to scold or criticize harshly. Here it means the constant revolts serve as a rebuke to Macbeth's betrayal of trust.

pester'd (adjective)

Tormented; plagued; troubled. In Shakespeare's usage, stronger than the modern sense of mild annoyance—it means deeply afflicted and harassed.

weal (noun)

Well-being; prosperity; the commonwealth or state. "Sickly weal" means the diseased nation, referring to Scotland suffering under Macbeth's tyranny.

sovereign (adjective)

Supreme in rank or authority; royal. Also carries a secondary meaning of "healing" (a sovereign remedy), creating a double meaning when applied to Malcolm as the rightful king who will cure Scotland.