ACT I - Prologue — Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words from ACT I - Prologue

dignity (noun)

High social rank or noble standing; here referring to the equal status and reputation of the two families.

mutiny (noun)

A civil disturbance, riot, or outbreak of public violence; broader in Elizabethan usage than the modern sense of rebellion against authority.

civil (adjective)

Used with a double meaning: relating to citizens or civic life, and also meaning civilized or well-mannered, creating a paradox when paired with bloodshed.

fatal (adjective)

Destined by fate; fated to bring death or disaster. Carries the dual meaning of both deadly and decreed by destiny.

loins (noun)

The lower part of the body associated with reproduction; used here metaphorically to mean offspring or descendants.

star-cross’d (adjective)

Ill-fated or doomed by the stars; thwarted by unfavorable astrological influences. A compound adjective coined by Shakespeare.

misadventur’d (adjective)

Unfortunate or unlucky; marked by misfortune or ill luck.

overthrows (noun)

Downfalls or destructions; the ruin or defeat of the lovers, used as a noun meaning calamities.

death-mark’d (adjective)

Marked for death; stamped or branded by death from the very beginning, suggesting a fate sealed before it unfolds.

naught (pronoun)

Nothing; no thing at all. An archaic form still used in some dialects.

traffic (noun)

Business, dealings, or proceedings; here meaning the events and action that will take place on stage during the performance.

toil (noun)

Hard, laborious work or effort; here referring to the actors’ effort and dedication in performing the play.