A Midsummer Night's Dream Vocabulary

Question 1

-of or having to do with a wedding or a marriage (adj.)

The couple’s ______ date was yet to be determined, as they had just become engaged.

Answer 1

nuptial

Question 2

-a widow or elderly woman of wealth (n.)

Commonly at great English houses during the 19th and early 20th century, the ______ would live in a cottage once her son inherited the “big house.”

Answer 2

dowager

Question 3

-something that causes annoyance, irritation, or distress (n.)

The boy’s constant nagging caused the girl much ______; little did she know that he had a crush on her.

Answer 3

vexation

Question 4

-having a false appearance; pretending or imitating (adj.)

Due to false advertisement and misinformation, makeup is seen by parts of the public as a ______ device that women use to falsify beauty.

Answer 4

feigning

Question 5

-give up (v.)

After a long struggle with bullying, the boy _____(ed) and shot himself.

Answer 5

abjure

Question 6

-the status of a ruler or superior (n.)

Marrie Antoinette’s _______ over France was hindered by the rebellion.

Answer 6

sovereignty

Question 7

-the quality of rigid self-discipline and self-denial (n.)

The presidential nominee showed great ______, due to his unwillingness to admit that he was wrong.

Answer 7

austerity

Question 8

-to lessen the seriousness of (v.)

I attempted to _______ my friends’ fight by making fun of the circumstance.

Answer 8

extenuate

Question 9

-fascinated; held as if in a spell (v.)

The girl was ______ by the study of marine biology-it was her passion.

Answer 9

enthralled

Question 10

-an official proclamation or command issued by an authority (n.)

The palace announced the prince’s _____ about the ball that was to take place to find the mysterious girl.

Answer 10

edict

Question 11

-the face, or the appearance or expression of the face (n.)

His _____ was fierce and war-like, an appearance that had been sculpted from heartbreak and sacrifice.

Answer 11

visage

Question 12

-distressing that which causes deep sorrow or grief (adj.)

The widow’s past was _______-beginning with the death of her sister and ending with the death of her husband.

Answer 12

lamentable

Question 13

-the freedom or power to make a decision or to act (n.)

The parents’ realized that their daughter was safe to make choices at her own ______ and that she no longer needed supervision.

Answer 13

discretion

Question 14

-in love; showing love or great fondness (adj.)

The young girl was _____ for the boy, but he refused to believe it-he was dating her best friend.

Answer 14

amorous

Question 15

-children; descendants (n.)

We are all the _____ of Adam and Eve, and therefore related.

Answer 15

progeny

Question 16

-difference of opinion; violent disagreement (n.)

The husband and wife had such a strong _____ one night that they filed for divorce the following morning.

Answer 16

dissension

Question 17

-a peak of land that juts out into a body of water (n.)

The girl ran out onto the _______ of the beach as she followed a small crab.

Answer 17

promontory

Question 18

-scornful; feeling or expressing contempt (adj.)

Many male love interests in literature first appear to the lead female as being _____ but soon prove to be loyal and loving.

Answer 18

disdainful

Question 19

-concealing; pretending, especially in a false or hypocritical way (adj.)

The girl was fake and ______ about her loyalty to the people that called her a friend.

Answer 19

dissembling

Question 20

-overindulgence; an amount in excess (n.)

There has been a _____ in government spending in recent years which has led to the proposal of the Balanced Budget amendment.

Answer 20

surfeit

Question 21

-to plead; to ask earnestly (v.)

Although I ______(ed) my mom to approve of my going to the college party, she refused to say yes.

Answer 21

entreat

Question 22

-arousing disgust or hatred (adj.)

The presidential election aroused many _____ feelings throughout America.

Answer 22

odious

Question 23

-shining brightly; filled with light (adj.)

I glanced out of the window to see the _____ sun glaring above the horizon.

Answer 23

radian

Question 24

-filled with love; charmed (v.)

The girl was ________ by the boy who seemed to only just have started liking her.

Answer 24

enamored

Question 25

-to remove by cleansing, as of impurities or undesirable characteristics (v.) She _____(ed) all of her negative thoughts by leaving the people she believed were her friends.

Answer 25

purge

Question 26

-made holy or sacred (adj.) The crosses were ______ as they had been blessed with holy water.

Answer 26

consecrated

Question 27

-to scold; also, to turn back or repulse (v.) The parents _______(d) their child for sneaking out of the house.

Answer 27

rebuked

Question 28

-a remarkable deed, especially one of bravery (n.) In fairytales, the prince's _____s always earn him the heart of the princess.

Answer 28

exploit

Question 29

-hand down or pass on; leave to another (v.) My grandmother plans to ______ to me a rose tea set.

Answer 29

bequeath

Question 30

-visited temporarily (v.) The boy _______ to Europe during his gap year in between high school and college.

Answer 30

sojourned

Question 31

-a compensation or payment given in return for something else (n.) The princess's _______ to the prince for his exploits was a kiss.

Answer 31

recompense

Question 32

-a group of persons or entities united for a common purpose, especially an unlawful purpose (n.) The Civil War took place between the Union and the _______.

Answer 32

confederacy

Question 33

-united; combined (v.) The parents were extremely heartbroken that surgery would not be possible on the _____ twins.

Answer 33

conjoined

Question 34

-into pieces; apart (adv.) The boy's relationship flew ______ after he was unfaithful.

Answer 34

asunder

Question 35

-mock; show scorn for (v.) The girl ____ her friend for not being able to speak properly with her retainer.

Answer 35

flout

Question 36

-offering unnecessary and unwanted help or advice (adj.) Some students are _____ in group work, seeming to be less helpful and more bossy.

Answer 36

officious

Question 37

-friendship; peaceful relations between people, groups, or countries (n.) The two girls finally decided to come together in _____ after they both admitted their faults.

Answer 37

amity

Question 38

-explain in detail; clarify (v.) The teacher ______ed the third lesson of the chapter due to the substitute's poor lecture.

Answer 38

expound

Question 39

-bold, especially in a rude manner (adj.) Many saw the girl as _______, but really she only wanted to make friends.

Answer 39

audacious

Question 40

-made sacred or treated as sacred (adj.) After 9/11 happened, Ground Zero was ______ with a memorial.

Answer 40

hallowed