Dramatis Personae — Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words from Dramatis Personae

Thane (noun)

A Scottish feudal lord who holds land from the king in return for military service; equivalent to a baron in the English peerage system.

Dramatis Personae (noun)

A Latin term meaning "persons of the drama"; the list of characters in a play, traditionally printed before the text begins.

Murtherers (noun)

An archaic Elizabethan spelling of "murderers"; hired assassins who carry out killings on another person's orders.

Gentlewoman (noun)

A woman of good social standing who serves as a personal attendant or companion to a noblewoman.

Earl (noun)

A rank of English nobility, ranking above a viscount and below a marquess; in Scotland the equivalent title was "mormaer" before English influence.

Attendant (noun)

A personal servant or aide who waits upon a person of higher rank, carrying out their orders and tending to daily needs.

Apparitions (noun)

Supernatural visions or ghostly figures; in Macbeth, prophetic spirits conjured by the witches to deliver riddling warnings.

Porter (noun)

A gatekeeper or doorkeeper of a castle or large house, responsible for controlling entry. The Porter in Macbeth provides dark comic relief.

Sergeant (noun)

A military officer of middling rank who reports to higher-ranking commanders; in Shakespeare's usage, a soldier who serves as a messenger or witness.

Hecate (noun (proper))

In Greek mythology, a goddess associated with witchcraft, crossroads, and the moon. Shakespeare casts her as the queen and commander of the Three Witches.