Hamlet Act 1 Vocabulary

liegeman — n , pl -men1. (formerly) the subject of a sovereign or feudal lord; vassal2. a loyal follower
apparition a ghost or ghostly figure; an unexplained or unusual appearance
assail launch an attack or assault on
harrow to disturb keenly or painfully; distress the mind, feelings, etc., of.
usurp 1. to seize and hold (a position, office, power, etc.) by force or without legal right: The pretender tried to usurp the throne.2. to use without authority or right; employ wrongfully: The magazine usurped copyrighted material.
avouch 1. to make frank acknowledgment or affirmation of; declare or assert with positiveness.2. to assume responsibility for; vouch for; guarantee.3. to admit; confess.
martial warlike
bode to be an omen of or to predict
portentous 1. of the nature of a portent; momentous.2. ominously significant or indicative: a portentous defeat.3. marvelous; amazing; prodigious.
mote small particle
palmy glorious, prosperous, flourishing
tenant someone who pays rent to use land or a building or a car that is owned by someone else
precurse Omen, prediction
harbinger a herald, an omen, or someone who goes in front of nobles to secure accommodations.
malicious intending to hurt or harm another; spiteful
auspicious tending to favor or bring good luck
dirge a song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person
dole (v.) to give out in small amounts; (n.) money, food, or other necessities given as charity; a small portion
suspiration an utterance made by exhaling audibly
filial relating to or characteristic of or befitting an offspring
impious lacking piety or reverence for a god
jocund full of or showing high-spirited merriment
dexterity skill, adroitness
truncheon a short stout club used primarily by policemen
countenance Appearance, facial expression
perchance perhaps; possibly
requite make repayment for or return something
besmirch charge falsely or with malicious intent
circumscribe restrict or confine
credent trusting
chary characterized by great cautious and wariness
prodigal a recklessly extravagant consumer
libertine unrestrained by convention or morality
dalliance trifling or flirting
importune beg persistently and urgently
wassail celebrate noisily, often indulging in drinking
draught cup of drink
traduce slander
cerement burial garment in which a corpse is wrapped
ponderous having great mass and weight and unwieldiness
leperous adj.infectious, corrupting, poisoness
distillment the process of purifying a liquid by boiling it and condensing its vapors
matin Morning
sinew muscular strength
pernicious working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way
arrant thoroughgoing, out-and-out; shameless, blatant
ambiguous having more than one possible meaning