Dramatis Personae — Vocabulary

Vocabulary Words from Dramatis Personae

Dramatis Personae (noun)

A Latin term meaning "persons of the drama"; the list of characters in a play, typically printed at the beginning of the text.

kinsman (noun)

A male blood relative or family member; in Elizabethan usage, it could also denote a close political or social ally.

variance (noun)

A state of conflict, disagreement, or hostility between parties.

Count (noun)

A European noble title ranking below a marquess and above a viscount; the equivalent of an English earl.

Franciscan (noun)

A member of the religious order founded by St. Francis of Assisi in 1209, known for vows of poverty, charity, and service.

Friar (noun)

A member of a mendicant religious order who lives by begging and preaching, distinct from monks who live in monasteries.

Apothecary (noun)

A person who prepared and sold medicines; the historical equivalent of a pharmacist, often operating outside official guilds.

Chorus (noun)

In Elizabethan drama, a single actor or group that speaks directly to the audience to provide narration, commentary, or exposition between scenes.

Maskers (noun)

People wearing masks or disguises, especially participants in a masquerade or masked ball—a popular entertainment in Renaissance Italy and Elizabethan England.

Torchbearers (noun)

Attendants who carried torches to light the way during nighttime events or processions, before the advent of street lighting.