Unit 15 VocabularyUnit 15 Vocabulary

Featuring Featuring William Shakespeare’s William Shakespeare’s

The Tragedy of The Tragedy of MacbethMacbeth

Amenity – (n.)Amenity – (n.)That which is pleasant or agreeableThat which is pleasant or agreeable

Most people enjoy the holidays as Most people enjoy the holidays as moments of moments of amenityamenity when they can when they can stop their work and spend pleasant times stop their work and spend pleasant times with family and friends.with family and friends.

SYNONYMS: convenience, meritSYNONYMS: convenience, meritANTONYMS: unpleasantness, ANTONYMS: unpleasantness,

disagreeablenessdisagreeableness

Amenities – (pl. n.)Amenities – (pl. n.)Attractive features, customs, etc.Attractive features, customs, etc.

The The amenities amenities that come with the that come with the appointment of Macbeth as King are appointment of Macbeth as King are few, as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth live few, as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth live in a tortured state after the dirty deed in a tortured state after the dirty deed is done.is done.

Aperture – (n.)Aperture – (n.)

An opening, gap, hole; orificeAn opening, gap, hole; orifice

After the earthquake, rain and cold came After the earthquake, rain and cold came through the through the apertureaperture in the wall of the in the wall of the damaged house.damaged house.

ANTONYMS: closure, blockage, occlusionANTONYMS: closure, blockage, occlusion

Aperture – (n.)Aperture – (n.)

When the witches When the witches vanished suddenly vanished suddenly into the earth after into the earth after speaking to Banquo speaking to Banquo and Macbeth, and Macbeth, Banquo commented Banquo commented about the earth’s about the earth’s aperturesapertures, , comparing this comparing this orifice of the earth orifice of the earth to bubbles.to bubbles.

Dissidence – (n.)Dissidence – (n.)

A difference of opinion; discontentA difference of opinion; discontent

When the commanding officer announced When the commanding officer announced that all leave was cancelled, there was that all leave was cancelled, there was dissidencedissidence in the ranks. in the ranks.

SYNONYMS: disagreement, dissent, SYNONYMS: disagreement, dissent, disaffectiondisaffection

ANTONYMS: agreement, harmony, concordANTONYMS: agreement, harmony, concord

Dissidence – (n.)Dissidence – (n.)Macbeth’s momentary Macbeth’s momentary

decision not to go decision not to go forward with the forward with the murder of King Duncan murder of King Duncan brought much brought much dissidencedissidence between between himself and his wife. himself and his wife. In her discontented In her discontented state, Lady Macbeth state, Lady Macbeth challenged her warrior challenged her warrior husband’s manhood.husband’s manhood.

Epicurean – (adj.)Epicurean – (adj.)

Devoted to the pursuit of pleasure; fond of Devoted to the pursuit of pleasure; fond of good food, comfort, and ease; with good food, comfort, and ease; with discriminating tastesdiscriminating tastes

The chef took an The chef took an EpicureanEpicurean delight in delight in presenting the most delicious dishes to his presenting the most delicious dishes to his demanding clientele.demanding clientele.

SYNONYMS: hedonistic, sybaritic, discriminating

ANTONYMS: ascetic, self-denying, abstemious

Epicurean – (n.)Epicurean – (n.)

A person with A person with discriminating discriminating tastestastes

As an As an EpicureanEpicurean in in her royal tastes her royal tastes and pursuits, Lady and pursuits, Lady Macbeth took evil Macbeth took evil delight in helping delight in helping her husband win her husband win the throne. the throne.

Improvident – (adj.)Improvident – (adj.)

Not thrifty; failing to plan aheadNot thrifty; failing to plan ahead

Some people are so Some people are so improvidentimprovident that that despite high incomes they struggle to make despite high incomes they struggle to make ends meet.ends meet.

SYNONYMS: prodigal, spendthrift, extravagantANTONYMS: thrifty, frugal, economical,

cautious

Improvident – (adj.)Improvident – (adj.)

Being Being improvidentimprovident was was NOT something that NOT something that could be said about could be said about Lady Macbeth in her Lady Macbeth in her pursuit of the crown. pursuit of the crown. She had the murder She had the murder all planned out for her all planned out for her husband. What she husband. What she didn’t plan ahead for didn’t plan ahead for was the guilt she was the guilt she would experience that would experience that drove her to insanity!drove her to insanity!

Iniquity- (n.)Iniquity- (n.)

Wickedness, sin; a grossly immoral actWickedness, sin; a grossly immoral act

English Puritans looked upon the court English Puritans looked upon the court that surrounded King Charles I as a den that surrounded King Charles I as a den of of iniquityiniquity..

SYNONYMS: evil, crimeSYNONYMS: evil, crimeANTONYMS: probity, rectitude, ANTONYMS: probity, rectitude,

uprightnessuprightness

Iniquity- (n.)Iniquity- (n.)

Macbeth’s Macbeth’s iniquityiniquity drove him deeper drove him deeper and deeper into criminal acts until he and deeper into criminal acts until he stated that if anything entered his stated that if anything entered his mind to do, he would not consider it mind to do, he would not consider it a second time but would immediately a second time but would immediately act upon it. Soon after this evil act upon it. Soon after this evil decision was made, he began killing decision was made, he began killing innocent women and children.innocent women and children.

Inviolable- (adj.)Inviolable- (adj.)

Sacred; of such a character that it must not Sacred; of such a character that it must not be broken, injured, or profanedbe broken, injured, or profaned

Safeguarding the retirement income of Safeguarding the retirement income of millions of Americans is supposed to be an millions of Americans is supposed to be an inviolableinviolable trust of the federal government. trust of the federal government.

SYNONYMS: sacrosanct, unassailableSYNONYMS: sacrosanct, unassailable

ANTONYMS: vulnerable, assailableANTONYMS: vulnerable, assailable

Inviolable- (adj.)Inviolable- (adj.)Helping to uphold her Helping to uphold her

husband’s integrity is husband’s integrity is an an inviolable inviolable part of a part of a woman’s duty to her woman’s duty to her man. However, Lady man. However, Lady Macbeth violated this Macbeth violated this most sacred trust when most sacred trust when she used her womanly she used her womanly wiles and taunted his wiles and taunted his courage as a man to courage as a man to get her husband to get her husband to murder the king. murder the king.

Mutable- (adj.)Mutable- (adj.)

Open to or capable of change, fickleOpen to or capable of change, fickle

Most people would agree that one’s Most people would agree that one’s principles and moral values should principles and moral values should not be as not be as mutablemutable as fashion. as fashion.

SYNONYMS: changeable, variableSYNONYMS: changeable, variableANTONYMS: changeless, steadfast, ANTONYMS: changeless, steadfast,

constantconstant

Mutable- (adj.)Mutable- (adj.)

Macbeth’s character should have Macbeth’s character should have

been so intact that it would not been so intact that it would not

have been have been mutablemutable, even to his own , even to his own wife. Unfortunately, once he had wife. Unfortunately, once he had committed his first murder, the next committed his first murder, the next ones came so much easier. Macbeth ones came so much easier. Macbeth very quickly shed his integrity and very quickly shed his integrity and began eagerly pursuing the next began eagerly pursuing the next crime to cover the previous one.crime to cover the previous one.

Nascent (adj.)Nascent (adj.)

Just beginning to exist or develop; Just beginning to exist or develop; having just come into existencehaving just come into existence

Recent public opinion polls registered Recent public opinion polls registered nascent nascent opposition to the proposed tax opposition to the proposed tax increase.increase.

SYNONYMS: budding, incipient, SYNONYMS: budding, incipient, embryonicembryonic

ANTONYMS: dying, moribund, senescentANTONYMS: dying, moribund, senescent

Nascent (adj.)Nascent (adj.)

One of the clearest signs of Macbeth’s One of the clearest signs of Macbeth’s evil decline was his decision to act evil decline was his decision to act immediately upon any immediately upon any nascent nascent ideas he had, not giving them a ideas he had, not giving them a second thought. He first put these second thought. He first put these budding thoughts into action when budding thoughts into action when he had Macduff’s wife and children he had Macduff’s wife and children murdered. murdered.

Obeisance – (n.)Obeisance – (n.)A deep bow, or other A deep bow, or other

body movement body movement indicating respect or indicating respect or

submission; deference, submission; deference, homagehomage

This satirical cartoon is This satirical cartoon is not showing not showing obeisance obeisance to our President but is to our President but is referencing a point in referencing a point in

time when some believed time when some believed he showed he showed obeisanceobeisance

inappropriately.inappropriately.SYNONYMS: RESPECT, HONORSYNONYMS: RESPECT, HONORANTONYMS: DISRESPECT, IRREVERENCE, ANTONYMS: DISRESPECT, IRREVERENCE, DISREGARDDISREGARD

Obeisance – (n.)Obeisance – (n.)

The The obeisanceobeisance shown shown to King Duncan to King Duncan when he deigned to when he deigned to stay at the castle of stay at the castle of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and Lady Macbeth was not Macbeth was not genuine respect. genuine respect. The host and hostess The host and hostess were plotting their were plotting their guest’s demise!guest’s demise!

Panegyric – (n.)Panegyric – (n.)

formal or elaborate praise; a tributeformal or elaborate praise; a tribute

The speaker delivered a The speaker delivered a panegyricpanegyric in in honor of the award-winning author.honor of the award-winning author.

SYNONYMS: tribute, encomium, SYNONYMS: tribute, encomium, testimonialtestimonial

ANTONYMS: diatribe, tirade, philippicANTONYMS: diatribe, tirade, philippic

Panegyric – (n.)Panegyric – (n.)

Macbeth’s Macbeth’s panegyricpanegyric to Banquo when to Banquo when Banquo’s ghost had Banquo’s ghost had “not failed the “not failed the feast,” were feast,” were probably words of probably words of tribute in hopes that tribute in hopes that the ghost would the ghost would leave the banquet leave the banquet table and stop table and stop haunting him.haunting him.

Pillory – (n.) Pillory – (n.) A device for publicly A device for publicly

punishing offenders; punishing offenders; a means for exposing a means for exposing one to public one to public contempt or ridiculecontempt or ridicule

The The pillory pillory was placed was placed in the center of town in the center of town so that everyone so that everyone could view the could view the shameful outlaws. shameful outlaws.

Pillory – (v.)Pillory – (v.)

To expose to To expose to public public contempt or contempt or ridiculeridicule

ANTONYMS: ANTONYMS: praise, extol, praise, extol, laud, acclaimlaud, acclaim

Macduff threatened Macduff threatened to to pillorypillory Macbeth Macbeth if he allowed him to if he allowed him to live in their final live in their final fight. Macduff told fight. Macduff told Macbeth that he Macbeth that he would be the would be the shameful attraction shameful attraction for all to come and for all to come and gaze upon. gaze upon.

Pittance – (n.)Pittance – (n.)

A woefully meager allowance, wage, A woefully meager allowance, wage, or portion.or portion.

In comparison to the overwhelming In comparison to the overwhelming need for food and medicine, the need for food and medicine, the shipment was a mere shipment was a mere pittancepittance..

SYNONYMS: Modicum, TrifleSYNONYMS: Modicum, TrifleANTONYMS: FortuneANTONYMS: Fortune

Pittance – (n.)Pittance – (n.)

Macbeth viewed Macbeth viewed his newly his newly bestowed title as bestowed title as Thane of Cawdor Thane of Cawdor as a mere as a mere pittancepittance in in comparison to comparison to becoming King.becoming King.

Presage – (v.)Presage – (v.)

To foreshadow or point to a future To foreshadow or point to a future event; to predictevent; to predict

The skirmishes at the border The skirmishes at the border presagedpresaged a war. a war.

SYNONYMS: augur, portend, foretellSYNONYMS: augur, portend, foretell

Presage – (v.)Presage – (v.)The witches The witches presagedpresaged that Macbeth that Macbeth

would be Thane of Cawdor and King would be Thane of Cawdor and King and that Banquo would be the father and that Banquo would be the father of Kings. While Banquo himself of Kings. While Banquo himself would be lesser than Macbeth, his would be lesser than Macbeth, his

legacy would be much legacy would be much

richer, according to the richer, according to the

witches’ prediction.witches’ prediction.

Presage – (n.)Presage – (n.)

A warning or indication of the futureA warning or indication of the future

The fall in stock prices and retail sales The fall in stock prices and retail sales may be a may be a presagepresage of hard economic of hard economic times to come.times to come.

SYNONYMS: prediction, foretellingSYNONYMS: prediction, foretelling

Presage – (n.)Presage – (n.)

The witches’ The witches’ presagepresage was either an was either an accurate foretelling, accurate foretelling, or Macbeth’s tragic or Macbeth’s tragic flaw to be ambitious flaw to be ambitious to the point of taking to the point of taking matters into his own matters into his own hands won him the hands won him the temporary titles. temporary titles.

Progeny – (n.)Progeny – (n.)

Descendants, offspring, children, followers, Descendants, offspring, children, followers, disciplesdisciples

The Bill of Rights guarantees certain civil The Bill of Rights guarantees certain civil rights and protections to ourselves and our rights and protections to ourselves and our progenyprogeny..

SYNONYMS: issue, posteritySYNONYMS: issue, posterity

ANTONYMS: ancestors, forebears, ANTONYMS: ancestors, forebears, antecedentsantecedents

Progeny – (n.)Progeny – (n.)The part of the prophecy The part of the prophecy

that infuriated that infuriated Macbeth was the fact Macbeth was the fact that he would have no that he would have no progenyprogeny to take the to take the throne after him. In throne after him. In fact, he stated that he fact, he stated that he had sold his soul (or had sold his soul (or his “jewel”) for his “jewel”) for Banquo’s descendants, Banquo’s descendants, a revelation that led to a revelation that led to his murder of Banquo.his murder of Banquo.

Promulgate – (v.)Promulgate – (v.) To proclaim or issue officially; to make To proclaim or issue officially; to make

known far and wideknown far and wide

The School Board The School Board promulgated promulgated a new a new approach to education that emphasized approach to education that emphasized phonics.phonics.

SYNONYM: AnnounceSYNONYM: Announce

ANTONYMS: withdraw, retract, abrogate, ANTONYMS: withdraw, retract, abrogate, nullifynullify

Promulgate – (v.)Promulgate – (v.)

In the end, after Macbeth has been defeated In the end, after Macbeth has been defeated

by Macduff and the throne has been rightfullyby Macduff and the throne has been rightfully

bestowed back to Malcolm, King Malcolm ofbestowed back to Malcolm, King Malcolm of

Scotland Scotland promulgatespromulgates that for the first time that for the first time ever,ever,

he is bequeathing the title of Earl on all whohe is bequeathing the title of Earl on all who

helped defeat this tyrant, Macbeth. He also helped defeat this tyrant, Macbeth. He also

announces that everyone is invited to his announces that everyone is invited to his

coronation at Scone.coronation at Scone.

Rectitude – (n.)Rectitude – (n.)

Uprightness, righteousness, Uprightness, righteousness, correctnesscorrectness

The mayor is a person of The mayor is a person of unquestionable unquestionable rectituderectitude..

SYNONYMS: probity, integritySYNONYMS: probity, integrity

ANTONYMS: iniquity, heinousnessANTONYMS: iniquity, heinousness

Rectitude – (n.)Rectitude – (n.)

Macduff is distinguished in the drama as Macduff is distinguished in the drama as a man of a man of rectitude,rectitude, one who loves his one who loves his country and rushes to seek England’s country and rushes to seek England’s assistance. In the end, good conquers assistance. In the end, good conquers evil, as Macduff the Upright defeats evil, as Macduff the Upright defeats Macbeth the Evil Tyrant!Macbeth the Evil Tyrant!

GoodGood WINS!WINS!

Restive – (adj.)Restive – (adj.)

Restless, hard to manage, balkyRestless, hard to manage, balky

The The restiverestive horse had not been taken horse had not been taken out of the stable for days.out of the stable for days.

SYNONYMS: uneasy, fidgety, SYNONYMS: uneasy, fidgety, recalcitrantrecalcitrant

ANTONYMS: serene, unruffled, docileANTONYMS: serene, unruffled, docile

Restive – (adj.)Restive – (adj.)

The night that King Duncan is The night that King Duncan is murdered, his horses became so murdered, his horses became so restiverestive and out of control that they and out of control that they went wild, eating one another.went wild, eating one another.

Seraphic – (adj.)Seraphic – (adj.)

Angelic, heavenly, celestialAngelic, heavenly, celestial

The artist painted the children with The artist painted the children with seraphicseraphic smiles to suggest their smiles to suggest their innocence.innocence.

SYNONYM: cherubicSYNONYM: cherubic

ANTONYMS: devilish, impishANTONYMS: devilish, impish

Seraphic – (adj.)Seraphic – (adj.)

There is nothing angelic in the entire There is nothing angelic in the entire tragedy of Macbeth except for tragedy of Macbeth except for Macduff’s Macduff’s seraphicseraphic, innocent , innocent children who are ruthlessly murdered children who are ruthlessly murdered at Macbeth’s order.at Macbeth’s order.

Subsist – (v.)Subsist – (v.)

To have existence; to remain alive, To have existence; to remain alive, manage to make a living or maintain manage to make a living or maintain life; to persist or continuelife; to persist or continue

Peasants in nineteenth-century Ireland Peasants in nineteenth-century Ireland were able to were able to subsist subsist almost almost exclusively on potatoes.exclusively on potatoes.

SYNONYMS: last, survive, sustain SYNONYMS: last, survive, sustain

Subsist – (v.)Subsist – (v.)

Macbeth himself Macbeth himself could scarcely could scarcely subsistsubsist on his on his own evil, own evil, demonstrating his demonstrating his hopeless view in hopeless view in the famous the famous “Tomorrow” “Tomorrow” soliloquy.soliloquy.

““Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow”and Tomorrow”

““Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day Creeps in this petty pace from day to day

To the last syllable of recorded time, To the last syllable of recorded time, And all our yesterdays have lighted fools And all our yesterdays have lighted fools

The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle! candle!

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage That struts and frets his hour upon the stage

And then is heard no more: it is a tale And then is heard no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing.” Signifying nothing.” ~ Act V, scene v – The Tragedy of Macbeth~ Act V, scene v – The Tragedy of Macbeth

The EndThe End

But…thankfully, But…thankfully,

our life stories have HOPE!our life stories have HOPE!

Just BEWARE of those tragic flaws!Just BEWARE of those tragic flaws!