Beowulf Vocabulary List Books 1-15

Question 1

Lineage (n.)

Answer 1

ancestry; upper class

While they waited, a distinguished-looking chieftan questioned the soldiers about their lineage (34).

Question 2

dexterous (adj.)

Answer 2

skillful with hands; clever

Then in his glittering corselet of chainmail, the work of a dexterous smith, Beowulf spoke up (36).

Question 3

gorging (v.)

Answer 3

overeating or over drinking; consuming something in large quantities

The killers did not have the pleasure of gorging themselves upon me for their dinner on the sea-floor (40).

Question 4

marauder (n.)

Answer 4

raider; prowler

For Hygelac’s mighty kinsmen was watching to see how the marauder would set about his murderous business (44).

Question 5

din (n).

Answer 5

commotion; noise

A stupendous din went up (45).

Question 6

miscreant (n.)

Answer 6

criminal; troublemaker

These stout-hearted fighting men did not realize that no earthly blade or sword of the finest metal can touch the miscreant, who had laid a spell on every kind of edged weapon (45).

Question 7

wantonly (adv,)

Answer 7

cruelly; viciously; without care

It was now that Grendel, the enemy of God who had wantonly committed numberless atrocities against the human race (45).

Question 8

resolute (adj.)

Answer 8

determined

It was thus that the resolute, cool-hearted man who come from a distant land purged Hrothgar’s hall and defended it from attack (46).

Question 9

purged (v.)

Answer 9

vacated; eliminated

It was thus that the resolute, cool-hearted man who come from a distant land purged Hrothgar’s hall and defended it from attack (46).

Question 10

prodigious (adj.)

Answer 10

enormous in size or strength

But, as it turned out, his sword drove through the prodigious Worm with such force that the blade stuck in the rock opposite and the dragon was annihilated (47).

Question 11

audaciously (adv.)

Answer 11

boldly; daringly

When we audaciously took on the might of the unknown we fought and discharged out task with the greatest goodwill (49).

Question 12

moors (n.)

Answer 12

high lands with rough grass and bushes

The grim demon was called Grendel, a notorious ranger of the borderlands, who inhabited the fastness of moors and fens (29).

Question 13

moored (v.)

Answer 13

secured a ship at dock

The great ship, moored, rode quietly at anchor (34).

Question 14

progenies (n.)

Answer 14

offspring

From Cain were hatched all evil progenies (29).

Question 15

glutted (adj.)

Answer 15

full of; loaded with

Then, glutted with slaughter, he went home to his lair exulting over his spoil (29).

Question 16

lamentation (n.)

Answer 16

grief; mourning

A great cry went up in the morning; lamentation followed the revels (30).

Question 17

unremitting (adj.)

Answer 17

constant; nonstop

The struggle was too harsh, evil, and unremitting (30).

Question 18

enmity (n.)

Answer 18

hatred; ill will

Soon it was easy to find a man who looked for sleeping quarters farther off, or for a bed in the outbuildings, once the glaring evidence of the enmity of Heorot’s latest henchman became manifest (30).

Question 19

stalwart (adj.)

Answer 19

courageous; loyal

Well-born, stalwart, and the strongest of living men; a man was a hero among the Geats (31).

Question 20

formidable (adj.)

Answer 20

challenging

But I have never anywhere seen a more formidable champion than that armed man in you midst (32).

Question 21

tribulation *adj.)

Answer 21

misery; suffering

Otherwise must put up with tribulation so long as his great heart stands upon its eminence (33).

Question 22

corselet (n.)

Answer 22

upper body armor; chainmail; foundation garmet (girdle)

Each tough hand-linked coat of mail sparkled, and the shimmering ringlets of iron clinked in their corselet (34).