Beowulf Flashcards
vernacular
the form of a language that a particular group of speakers use naturally, especially in informal situations.
Verify
to prove that something exists or is true, or to make certain that something is correct
splendid
excellent, or beautiful and impressive.
mead
an alcoholic drink made from honey that was drunk in the past.
merriment.
an occasion when people laugh or have an enjoyable time together.
swamp
(an area of) very wet, soft land.
devour
to eat something eagerly and in large amounts so that nothing is left.
rid
to remove or throw away something unwanted.
feast
a special meal with very good food or a large meal for many people.
courtesy
polite behavior, or a polite action or remark.
discourtesy
behavior or an act that is not polite and does not consider other people’s feelings.
retire
to leave your job or stop working because of old age or ill health.
moor
an open area of hills covered with rough grass, especially in Britain.
grapple
to fight, especially in order to win something
wrench
to pull and twist something suddenly or violently away from its position.
Mortally
so severe that death is likely; extremely.
rejoicing
the act or feeling of showing great happiness about something
avenge
to do harm to or punish the person responsible for something bad done to you or your family or friends in order to achieve a fair situation.
dive
to jump into water, especially with your head and arms going in first, or to move down under the water.
corpse
a dead body, usually of a person.
tranquility
a peaceful, calm state, without noise, violence, worry, etc.
enrage
to cause someone to become very angry
lair
a place where a wild animal lives, often underground and hidden, or a place where a person hides.
aid
help or support.
venomous
A venomous snake, insect, etc., produces venom (= a poisonous liquid that can be put into another animal’s body by biting or stinging); full of anger or hate.
cremate
to burn a dead person’s body, usually as part of a funeral ceremony
pyre
a large pile of wood on which a dead body is burned in some parts of the world.
descent
the state or fact of being related to a particular person or group of people who lived in the past.
ethical
relating to beliefs about what is morally right and wrong.
manifestly
very obviously.
infuse
to fill someone or something with an emotion or quality
grim
worrying, without hope.
fatality
a death caused by an accident or by violence, or someone who has died in either of these ways.
saga
a long story about Scandinavian history, written in the Old Norse language in the Middle Ages, mainly in Iceland.
altruistic
showing a wish to help or bring advantages to others, even if it results in disadvantage for yourself.
retaliation
the act of hurting someone or doing something harmful to someone because they have done or said something harmful to you.
befitting
suitable or right for someone or something.
elegy
a sad poem or song, especially remembering someone who has died or something in the past.
ominous
suggesting that something unpleasant is likely to happen.
sanguinely
cheerfully optimistic, sometimes to the point of seeming complacent, oblivious, or naïve.
