| argosies”Your mind is tossing on the ocean; there, where your argosies, with portly sail, like signiors and rich burghers on the flood, or, as it were, the pageants of the sea, do overpeer the petty traffickers, that curt’sy to them, do them reverence, as they fly by them with their woven wings.” (1.1.8-14) | a large merchant shipMany argosies passed by me as I was sailing the ocean. |
| signiors”Your mind is tossing on the ocean; there, where your argosies, with portly sail, like signiors and rich burghers on the flood, or, as it were, the pageants of the sea, do overpeer the petty traffickers, that curt’sy to them, do them reverence, as they fly by them with their woven wings.” (1.1.8-14) | an Italian man usually of rank or gentilityThe signior was considered higher class than the rest of the people he worked with. |
| ague”My wind, cooling my broth, would blow me to an ague, when I thought what a hard a wind too great might do at sea.” (1.1.23-25) | a fit of shiveringThe constant snow days and low temperatures in New York led me to an ague which was uncontrollable. |
| ventures”Believe me, no; I thank my fortune for it, my ventures are not in one bottom trusted, nor to one place; nor is my whole estate upon the fortune of this present year: therefore my merchandise makes me not sad.” (1.1.42-46) | Something, such as money or cargo, at hazard in a risky enterpriseThe possibility of my ventures getting lost kept me up all night. Something so worthy should be kept in a trusted safe place. |
| kinsman”Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman, Gratiano, and Lorenzo: Fare you well; we leave you now with better company.” (1.1.59-61) | a male relativeMy most loyal kinsman guarded my jewels and life savings in his household. |
| mirth”With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come; and let my liver rather heat with wine, than my heart cool with mortifying groans.” (1.1.84-86) | gladness and merriment usually accompanied by laughterAfter a long miserable day, I decided to see a comedy and fulfill myself with mirth. |
| grandsire”Why should a man whose blood is warm within sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster?” (1.1.87-88) | a grandfather or any aged manMy grandsire explained how he had met my grandmother after walking out of work one day and instantly fell in love with her. |
| alabaster”Why should a man whose blood is warm within sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster?” (1.1.87-88) | a white or delicately tinted fine-grained gypsum.My grandmothers white hair and smooth skin reminded me of an alabaster. |
| peevish”There are a sort of men, whose visages do cream and mantle like a standing pond; and do a wilful stillness entertain, with purpose to be dress’d in an opinion of wisdom, gravity, profound conciet; as who should say, I am Sir Oracle, and, when I ope my lips, let no dog bark!” (1.1.92-98) | cross, complaining, irritableThe peevish man easily got irritated by the littlest things which caused the people surrounding him discomfort. |
| exhortation”Come, good Lorenzo: Fare ye well, awhile: I’ll end my exhortation after dinner.” (1.1.107-108) | a communication intended to urge or persuade the recipients to take some actionI attempted to have an exhortation with my mother explaining why I should be able to go to a party. |
| prodigal”Wherein my time, something too prodigal, hath left me gag’d.” (1.1.134-135) | spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagantThe prodigal woman became bankrupt after spending all her money on unnecessary items. |
| wilful”I owe you much; and, like a wilful youth that which I owe is lost: but if you please to choot another arrow that self way which you did shoot the first, I do not doubt, as I will aim, or to find both, or bring your latter hazard back again, and thankfully rest debtor for the first.” (1.1.151-157) | done on purpose, or intent on having one’s own wayThe wilful student persuaded the teacher to postpone the test and would not quit until he got his own way. |
| commodity”Thou know’st that all my fortunes are at sea; neither have I money, nor commodity” (1.1.182-183) | an item of trade or commerce, esp. as distinguished from a serviceAntonios’ money and commodity were lost at sea and was left with nothing. |
| surfeit”You would be, sweet madam, if your miseries were in the same abundance as your good fortunes are; and yet, for aught I see, they are as sick that surfeit with too much, as they that starve with nothing.” (1.2.3-6) | An excessive amount of somethingThe buffet had a surfeit of food and drinks available. |
| superfluity”It is so mean happiness, therefore, to be seated in the mean: superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, but competency lives longer.” (1.2.6-8) | an unnecessarily or excessively large amount or number of somethingThe supermarket had a superfluity amount of milk which led to a large amount going to waste. |
| requite”If he would despise me I would forgive him; for if he love me to madness I shall never requite him.” (1.2.56-58) | make repayment for or return somethingI refuse to requite the bow I burrowed from my friend. |
| surety”I think that the Frenchman became his surety, and sealed under for another.” (1.2.72-73) | The condition of being sure, especially of oneselfI had surety that I had passed my test after studying for hours. |
| vilely”Very vilely in the morning, when he is sober; and most vilely in the afternoon, when he is drunk: when he is best, he is a little worse than a man, and when he is worst, he is a little better than a beast” (2.2.76-79) | repulsive or disgusting, as to the senses or feelingsYou could smell the vilely dog from miles away. The dog was as filthy as a trash can. |
| parcel”I am glad this parcel of wooers are so reasonable; for there is not one among them but I dote on his very absence, and I pray God grant them a fair departure.” (2.2.97-99) | a company, collection, or group of persons, animals, or thingsThe parcel of foreigners walking in seemed endless, one after one walked in after the other. |
| imputation”Have you heard any imputation to the contrary?” (2.3.13) | the attribution to a source or causeMy teacher included an imputation to the homework assignment to help us understand what we had to do. |
Merchant of Venice
July 7, 2019