Macbeth Words part 1 Flashcards
hurly-burly
fighting, confusion
ere
before
heath
wilderness
I come
the Witches address their familiar spirits (‘demons’): demons who helped with their evil work and usually took the form of animals.
Graymalkin
grey cat
Paddock
toad
Alarum
trumpet call to battle or to warn of danger
within
off stage
plight
unfortunate condition
newest state
latest situation
sergeant
soldier who, at the time, could be the equivalent of a captain
hardy
brave
fought … capture
rescued me from capture
broil
battle
choke their art
when two swimmers try to cling to each other, they stop each other from swimming and both drown
for to that
to that end
kerns
lightly armed soldiers who often used a sword or bow and arrows
galloglasses
heavily armed soldiers often carrying a heavy battle axe
Fortune
fickle luck
Valour’s minion
bravery’s favourite
carved out his passage
sliced his way
unseamed him
ripped him open
nave to th’chaps
navel to the jaws
‘gins his reflection
begins to fade
direful
dreadful, terrible
Mark
pay attention
skipping
leaping in fright
trust their heels
run away
surveying vantage
seeing an opportunity
furbished
polished, cleaned
say sooth
speak the truth
cracks
cannon shots
doubly redoubled
eightfold blows
reeking
streaming with blood
memorise another Golgotha
re-enact a slaughter like Christ’s crucifixion
smack
taste, savour
Thane
head of a clan in Scotland
looks
is visible
flout
mock, jeer
Bellona
Roman goddess of war
bridegroom
Macbeth, who had become married to the cause of war
lapped in proof
clad in armour
self-comparisons
similar actions
Point against point
sword to sword
Curbing
restraining, constraining
lavish
unrestrained or impetuous
composition
a peace treaty
deign
permit
Saint Colm’s Inch
Isle of Incholm
dollars
English word for the German thaler, a large silver coin
bosom interest
heartfelt concerns
present
immediate
former title
Thane of Cawdor
quoth
said
Aroint thee
clear off
rump-fed
well-fed, selfish, indulgent
runnion
general term of abuse, especially for a woman
Aleppo
Trading city in northern Syria which was part of the Turkish Empire
Tiger
in 1606, an English ship called the Tiger finally arrived home after a disastrous voyage lasting 567 days
sieve
sailing in sieves was thought to be a common practice among witches
wind
witches were imagined to control the wind
very ports they blow
winds prevent ships from entering every port
quarters
geographical directions
card
compass
penthouse lid
eyelid
forbid
cursed
sennights
weeks
nine times nine
81 weeks
peak and pine
waste away
bark
small ship
pilot
guide who steers ships to harbour
weird sisters
in Anglo-Saxon mythology ‘Wyrd’ (Fate) was a goddess who controlled destiny
Posters
speedy travellers
Thrice to thine … to mine
three times in your direction and in mine
nine
an action is repeated three times for each Witch
charm
spell
woundup
placed in readiness
foul and fair
the weather is bad, but the outcome of the battle is good
aught
anything
choppy
chapped and cracked by the weather
start
flinch or make a nervous gesture
fantastical
imaginary
present grace
immediate favour
noble having
new titles of nobility
rapt
spellbound, entranced
seeds of time
future
get
be father of
Finel
Macbeth’s father
Stands no … belief
in unbelievable
intelligence
news, information
charge
command, order
corporal
physical
on
of
the insane root
hemlock, henbane of deadly nightshade
selfsame tune
identical meaning
reads
understands
stout
brave, valiant
Nothing afeard
not afraid
post with post
many messages
earnest
promise, pledge
addition
new title
Who
he who
heavy judgement
death sentence
line
reinforce
vantage
additional amount of soldiers, weapons, money
wrack
ruin or overthrow
capital
mortal or meriting death
The greatest
the larger part of the prphecy
behind
in the past
home
fully or to the end
enkindle
inflame with desire
instruments of darkness
devils (the Witches)
Win us … consequence
tell us the truth about small matters that have grave consequences
Cousins
kinsmen
soliciting
promising of pleasure
unfix my hair
make my hair stand on end
seated
fixed in position
use
ordinary course of state
Present fears … imaginings
real dangers are less frightening than those I can imagine
function
activity or movement
surmise
imaginings
strange
unfamiliar
cleave
cling
Time … roughest day
what will be, will be
favour
intelligence
wrought
disturbed, afitated
registered … leaf
Macbeth uses the image of a notebook that will help him remember what he owes Ross Angus
chanced
happened
The interim having weighed it
after time for thought
free
plain-speaking
Flourish
fanfare of trumpets
in commission
responsible
repentance
regret
Became
dignified
studied
rehearsed (an image from the theatre)
owed
possessed
before
beyond my power to pay you
recompense
suitable reward
That the … mine
that I could honour you appropriately
More is thy due … pay
you deserve more than anyone can pay
hither
here
enfold
embrace
Wanton … drops of sorrow
unrestrained tears
We will establish … upon
I declare as Scotland’s next king
invest
endow
Inverness
the location of Macbeth’s castle
harbinger
messenger (an officer who prepared for a king’s visit
The eye wink at the hand
to be unaware of the fatal blow
full so
supremely
commendations
praises or recommendations
peerless
beyond comparison
in the day of success
on the day of victory in battle
perfectest report
most reliable source of information
missives
messengers
the coming on of time
the future
What thou art promised
king
catch the nearest way
act without pity
illness
evil
holily
fairly, without evil
Hie
hurry
chastise
punish and remove
golden round
crown
metaphysical
supernatural
withal
as well
tidings
news
had the speed of
overtook
tending
attention, accommodation
unsex me
remove from me all feminine feelings
compunctious
compassionate
visitings of nature
natural feelings of tendencies
fell
deadly
gall
bitter poison
pall
wrap (as in a funeral pall or cloak)
dunnest
darkest
keen
sharp (also eager)
all-hail hereafter
future kingship
in the instant
now
beguile
decieve
solely sovereign sway
have the command of a king
look up clear
appear innocent
To alter … fear
a guilty face reveals itself
Hautboys
musical instruments similar to oboes
tockes
suggests that the scene takes place at night
seat
position, location
martlet
martin (a bird) or someone who was easily fooled
approve
prove
mansionry
the state of a dwelling
jutty
part of a building that projects outwards
frieze
a decorative band
coign of vantage
convenient place
pendent
hanging
procreant cradle
a nest
The love … thank as love
the love offered is sometimes a burden but is still received gratefully
God yield us
God reward me
single
weak
contend
balance, eigh
loads
fills
those of old
past honours
late dignities
recent honours
We rest your hermits
we will pray for you constantly
coursed
chased, hunted
purveyor
officer riding ahead to prepare food
holp
helped
in count
in trust
make their audit
show their accounts
Still
always
By your leave
with your permission
trammel up the consequence
be without consequences
his surcease
Duncan’s death
the be-all and the end-all
the final act
jump the life to come
risk heaven’s punishment
inventor
originator of the action
chalice
cup, goblet
faculties
powers as king
clear
innocent
his taking-off
Duncan’s murder
cherubin
angelic children
sightless couriers
the wind
no spur … th’other
I have no motivation to kill Duncan other than my own ambition
I have bought … so soon
I want to enjoy my improved reputation, not throw it away so quickly
green and pale
sickly
afeard
afraid
valour
worth or importance due to personal qualities or rank
the ornament of life
life’s highest achievement
the poor cat i’th’adage
the adage referred to is a proverb about a cat who wanted to fish bu was afraid of water
break this enterprise
suggest killing Duncan
Did then adhere
were at that time convenient
They have made themselves
now the time and place present themselves
fitness
timeliness
given suck
breastfed
had I so sworn
if I had promised
But
only
screw … sticking-place
fix your courage firmly in place so it can’t move
chamberlains
attendants, bodyguards
wassail
drinking
convince
overpower
warder
guard or keeper
fume
it was believed that the fumes from alcohol caused drunkenness
receipt
receptacle
limbeck
a device used in distilling alcohol
swinish sleep
sleeping like pigs
drenched
drunken
put upon
impose
spongy
drink-sodden
quell
slaughter, murder
mettle
spirit
received
interpreted
clamour
loud shouting or outcry
settled
unchanging
bend up
get ready
Each corporal agent
every part of me
mock the time
deceive the world
