| Inundate | v. to cover with water, to flood, to overflow, to overwhelm; inundation n. an overflow, a floodAct IV, scene i (n.) “Now, sir, her father counts it dangerousThat she do give her sorrow so much sway,And in his wisdom hastes our marriageTo stop the inundation of her tears…” |
| Pensive | adj. deeply thoughtful, meditative, reflective Act IV, scene i “My leisure serves me, pensive daughter, now.” |
| Resolute | adj. characterized by a decided purpose, staunch, steadfast, determined; resolution n. a formal expression of opinion or intentionAct IV, scene i (n.) “If in thy wisdom thou canst give no help, Do thou but call my resolution wiseAnd with this knife I’ll help it presently.” |
| Treachery | n. violation of faith; betrayal of trust, treason, disloyalty; treacherous adj. faithless, disloyal, treasonousAct IV, scene I (adj.)”God join’d my heart and Romeo’s, thou our hands;And ere this hand, by thee to Romeo’s seal’d,Shall be the label to another deed,Or my true heart with treacherous revoltTurn to another, this shall slay them both.” |
| Supple | adj. Easily bent, elastic, pliable, resilient Act IV, scene i “Take thou this vial, being then in bed,And this distilled liquor drink thou off…”To paly ashes, thy eyes’ windows fallLike death when he shuts up the day of life;Each part, depriv’d of supple government…” |
| Stark | adj. harsh, grim or desolate, extremely simple or sever, drearyAct IV, scene i (continued from last quotation)”…Shall, stiff and stark and cold, appear like death;And in this borrowed likeness of shrunk deathThou shalt continue two-and-forty hoursAnd then awake as from a pleasant sleep.” |
| Prostration | n. a stretching out due to lacking vitality and being completely overcome; prostrate adj. completely overcome, falling down in submission Act IV, scene ii”…To you and your behests, and am enjoin’dBy holy Lawrence to fall prostrate hereTo beg your pardon.” |
| Lament | v. to mourn or to express sorrow in a demonstrative manner, to bemoan, to bewail; lamentable adj. mournful or sorrowful Act IV, scene v (adj.)”O lamentable day!” |
| Melancholy | adj. depression of spirits, soberly thoughtful, pensive, despondentAct IV, scene v”All things that we ordained festivalTurn from their office to black funeral—Our instruments to melancholy bells…” |
| Dirge | n. funeral hymm, lament, a slow mournful musical compositionAct IV, scene v (continued from last quotation)”…Our wedding cheer to a sad burial feast;Our solemn hymns to sullen dirges change; Our bridal flowers serve for a buried corse;And all things change them to the contrary.” |
Romeo and Juliet Act IV Vocabulary
November 24, 2019