Poetry Vocab Flashcards
fair (adj.)
1) very pleasing to the eye
2) pale or light-colored hair or skin
-The adjective fair, has several different meanings.If the weather is fair, it’s a gorgeous day out. There are other meanings, too: If the rides at the fair were fair, then they were just so-so.
eternal (adj.)
eternity (n.)
continuing forever or indefinitely
-If something lasts forever or even if it just feels like it’s going to last forever, you could call it eternal, which means that it goes on and on and will never change or end.
complexion (n.)
texture and appearance of the skin of the face; the coloring of a person’s face
-Complexion refers to the color of a person’s skin, especially the face. If you have light skin, for example, you might be said to have a fair or pale complexion.
belie (v.)
to misrepresent / represent falsely; to be in contradiction with
-To belie means to contradict. If you are 93 but look like you are 53, then your young looks belie your age.
beseech (v.)
ask for or request earnestly
-If you’re begging for something but you want to sound formal and a little old-fashioned, say “I beseech you!” It really captures how urgent and desperate you are, yet perhaps saves a shred of your dignity.
base (adj.)
morally low or mean-spirited; having or showing an ignoble lack of honor or morality; not adhering to ethical or moral principles
- Yelling at or pushing the umpire is considered base (“mean-spirited”) behavior.
twilight (n.)
1) the time of day immediately following sunset
2) a condition of decline following successes
-The time just after sunset, when the light is half-faded, but the world is not yet totally dark, is twilight. If you are between two states, like asleep and awake, that can also be called a twilight moment.
rare (adj.)
especially good, remarkable, or superlative
-If an event is rare, it doesn’t happen often. But if an object is rare, there aren’t many of its kind. Obviously, finding a rare gem is a rare occasion.
wherefore (n.)
why / for what reason; the cause or intention underlying an action or situation
-Even though you might think wherefore means “where,” it really means the “why” behind something.
virtue (n.)
virtuous (adj.)
1) a particular moral excellence
2) the quality of doing what is right
3) any admirable quality or attribute
-Virtue is the quality of being morally good. If you’re writing a screenplay and you want it to be a real tearjerker, make sure your hero is full of virtue.
zest (n.)
zesty (adj.)
1) vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment
2) a tart, spicy quality
-Zest is a kind of zeal or enthusiasm. If you’ve got a zest for something, you put your whole heart and soul into it.
bear (v.)
support or hold in a certain manner
-To bear is to carry or endure, whether by physical or mental force
scorn (n., v.)
1) lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
2) open disrespect for a person or thing
3) to look down on with disdain
4) to reject with contempt
-You might scorn a politician who spends $100,000 on travel while claiming to work hard promoting middle-class values.
hail (v.)
1) greet enthusiastically or joyfully
2) praise loudly and forcefully (ex. “All hail the mighty king!)
3) call for (ex. a cab)
4) be a native of (ex. to “hail from” somewhere)
-If a presidential candidate has an idea for fixing the nation’s woes, many people will hail that idea.
ere (conj., prep.)
before or sooner than
- If you were in a medieval fantasy world, you might say, “Finish your quest ere the sun sets!”—which just means “Finish your quest before the sun sets!”
