Repose | Definition: rest, sleep; quietness, ease; peace, calmnessIn Context: “Restrain in me the cursed thoughts that nature gives way to repose” (II.i.10-11) {Banquo speaking to Fleance} |
Palpable | Definition: capable of being perceived; especially capable of being handled or touched or feltIn Context: “I see thee yet, in form as palpable as this which now I draw. [He draws his dagger]” (II,i,52-53) {Macbeth describing the floating dagger} |
Quenched | Definition: satisfy (thirst)In Context: “That which hath quenched them hath given me fire” (II,ii,3) {Lady Macbeth speaking about the drink given to the guards} |
Confound | Definition: Confuse; thwart, ruinIn Context: “The attempt and not the deed confound us” (II,ii,14-15) {Lady Macbeth speaking of whether the killing was done, and if not that perhaps the attempt to kill him would ruin them} |
Infirm | Definition: lacking firmness of will or character or purposeIn Context: “Infirm of purpose, give me the dagger” (II,ii,68-69) {Lady Macbeth chastising Macbeth on not leaving the daggers} |
Multitudinous | Definition: countless: too numerous to be counted, vastIn Context: “The multitudinous seas incarnadine” (II,ii,80) {Macbeth saying his bloodied hands will turn the vast seas blood red} |
Carousing | Definition: reveling in drinking; a merry drinking partyIn Context: “Faith,sir, we were carousing till the second cock” (II,iii,24-25) {The porter explaining that they had partied till very late} |
Lamentings | Definition: cries of sorrow and griefIn Context: “Lamentings were heard i’ th’ air, strange screams of death” (II,iii,63-64) |
Sacrilegious | Definition:blasphemous: grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacredIn Context: “Most sacrilegious murder hath broke ope the Lord’s anointed temple.” (II,iii76-77) {Macduff speaking of Duncan’s murder |
Predominance | Definition: overriding: having superior power and influenceIn Context: “Is ‘t night’s predominance or the day’s shame that darkness does the face of earth entomb” (II,iv,10-11) {The old man asking why it is so dark} |
Suborned | Definition: convinced, usually with money, to do somethingIn Context: “They were suborned” (II,iv,35) {Macduff speaking of the guards that supposedly murdered Duncan? |
Macbeth Act 2 Vocabulary
August 3, 2019