Le Morte d’Arthur: Vocabulary
A vocabulary list defines words used in Le Morte d’Arthur.
GREAT BOOKS I: Phase 5
Vocabulary - Le Morte D’Arthur Mr. Reed
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| abbess | the head of a convent (abbey); the female counterpart to an abbot |
| abbey | a monastery or convent; a place for religious solitude |
| ABHOR | to regard with horror; to abominate; to shun |
| abide | to wait patiently for; to tolerate |
| ABODE | (n) a dwelling place, a home; (v) the past tense of abide |
| ABROAD | OUT OF ONE’S OWN COUNTRY; ON THE MOVE; WIDELY |
| absolution | formal forgiveness of sin by a priest; the sacrament of penance |
| abstinence | denial of the appetites; voluntarily going without certain foods or sex |
| ACQUIESCE | to consent or comply passively or without protest |
| adieu | farewell [literally, “to God”] |
| ADJUDICATE | to hear and settle a legal dispute |
| ANNEX | (v) to add or join to; (n) a building added to another |
| ANTECHAMBER | a smaller room serving as an entry to a larger room |
| appurtenances | gear; any clothing, tools, or instruments used for a specific purpose |
| arbor | a shady garden or orchard |
| ARDENT | warmly passionate; devotedly enthusiastic; zealous |
| ARDUOUS | demanding great care, effort, or labor; strenuous; testing endurance |
| ascertain | to find out; to make certain and definite |
| assent | (v) to express agreement; (n) agreement; acquiescence |
| assignation | an appointment for a meeting between lovers; a rendezvous; a tryst |
| AUDACIOUS | fearlessly daring, bold; arrogantly insolent |
| avert | to turn away; to ward off or prevent |
| bark | a small boat |
| baron | a nobleman of the lowest rank |
| barony | the lands of a baron |
| BAY | reddish-brown |
| BEHOLDEN | obliged; indebted [usually used with to] |
| BESEECH | to request sincerely; to beg for |
| betrothed | engaged |
| bevy | a group or an assemblage [used especially of larks and quails] |
| BIER | a stand on which a corpse, or a coffin containing a corpse, is placed to lie in state or to be carried to the grave |
| bivouac | a temporary camp made by soldiers on the field |
| brachet | a hunting dog |
| brandish | to wave or wield menacingly [usually said of a weapon] |
| CALUMNY | a false statement deliberately made to injure someone; a slander |
| carnage | massive slaughter, as in a war; a massacre |
| CAVALIER | (n) a knight; (adj) haughty or arrogant; carefree |
| CENSURE | (n) an expression of disapproval; (v) to express severe criticism |
| CHAGRIN | a feeling of embarrassment caused by failure or disappointment |
| charger | a horse trained for battle; a large, shallow dish |
| chaste | morally pure; abstaining from unlawful sexual intercourse; celibate |
| CHEMISE | a woman’s loose, shirt-like undergarment |
| CHICANERY | deception by trickery |
| CHRISTEN | to baptize into the Christian faith [usually involves giving a new name] |
| CHRONICLE | (n) an historical record of events; (v) to write down such a record |
| CHURL | a medieval English peasant; a rude, boorish person |
| cloister | a place devoted to religious solitude; a convent or monastery |
| COLLUSION | a secret agreement for a deceitful purpose |
| CONSTERNATION | sudden confusion, amazement, or frustration |
| CONTEMPTUOUS | scornful, disdainful, despising |
| CONTRIVE | to plan with cleverness or ingenuity; to plot with an evil intention |
| copse | a thicket of small trees or shrubs |
| COUNTENANCE | (n) the face or facial features; (v) to approve of by remaining silent |
| countermand | to cancel or reverse an order |
| courier | a messenger on a diplomatic mission |
| courser | a swift horse |
| courtier | an attendant of noble birth in a royal court |
| covenant | a binding agreement; a contract |
| crypt | an underground chamber used as a burial place beneath a church |
| CULPABLE | responsible for wrong or error; blameworthy |
| CULPRIT | a person guilty of a fault or crime |
| DEFAULT | (n) failure to fulfill an obligation; (v) to fail to take part in |
| demesne | lands retained by a nobleman for his own use |
| DEPRAVED | morally corrupt; perverted |
| device | a symbol or motto on a knight’s shield |
| DIRGE | a funeral hymn or lament |
| discern | to perceive (something obscure or concealed); to detect |
| DISCOMFIT | to defeat in battle, to vanquish; to thwart the plans of, to frustrate |
| DISPERSE | to scatter in various directions |
| DISPOSITION | one’s typical manner of emotional response; temperament |
| DISSENT | (v) to think or feel differently, to disagree; (n) a difference of opinion |
| dolorous | sorrowful, sad; painful |
| DOMINION | control over something; realm, domain |
| eloquence | persuasive and fluent speech; the ability to persuade with words |
| ELUDE | to avoid or escape by cunning or cleverness |
| ENTRAILS | the internal organs, especially the intestines |
| entreaty | a sincere request; a plea |
| envoy | a diplomatic messenger or representative of the government |
| ephemeral | lasting only for a brief time, short-lived |
| EQUANIMITY | calmness; even-temperedness |
| ERMINE | a valuable white fur [derived from the weasel family] |
| errant | roving in search of adventure |
| ethereal | highly refined, delicate; exquisite |
| evensong | a vesper service; evening itself |
| EXCOMMUNICATION | the formal cutting off a believer from the sacraments of the Church |
| EXTORT | to obtain (money or information) by intimidation; to blackmail |
| extreme UNCTION | the sacrament of anointing and praying for one in danger of death |
| FEIGN | to give a false appearance; to pretend for deceitful purposes |
| fidelity | faithfulness [to a spouse or a cause] |
| fiend | an evil spirit; a demon |
| FOLIAGE | the leaves of growing plants |
| formidable | arousing fear, dread, or alarm; difficult to defeat |
| FORTNIGHT | a period of fourteen days and nights |
| FRANKINCENSE | an aromatic incense burned to symbolize deity |
| frugal | avoiding unnecessary spending; thrifty |
| gallows | a structure of two upright beams supporting a crossbeam from which a noose is suspended and used for execution by hanging |
| GARRISON | a military post; the troops stationed there |
| GAUNTLET | a severe trial; an ordeal |
| girdle | a belt or sash worn at the waist |
| glade | an open space in a forest |
| griffin | a mythic beast with face and head of an eagle and body of a lion |
| GRIM | unrelenting, rigid, stern |
| grimace | a sharp contortion of the face expressive of pain or disgust |
| GUILE | treacherous cunning or craftiness; a trick |
| haggard | appearing worn and exhausted from suffering or deprivation |
| hart | a male deer; especially a red deer over five years old |
| hauberk | a long tunic made of chain mail |
| hemp | a plant that produces a tough fiber |
| heretic | one who disagrees with the official teachings of the church |
| HERETICAL | characterized by disagreement between a person and the Church |
| hermit | a person who withdraws from society to live a solitary life, a recluse |
| hind | a female red deer |
| homage | honor or respect publicly acknowledged |
| icon | a representation of a holy figure |
| IGNOMINIOUS | characterized by shame or disgrace; despicable |
| IMPETUOUS | characterized by sudden energy or emotion; impulsive or brash |
| IMPLACABLE | incapable of being appeased; inexorable |
| INCARNATE | having human form [typically said of something spiritual or abstract] |
| INCOGNITO | anonymity; going about anonymously |
| incumbent | required; obligatory |
| INDICT | to charge officially with a crime |
| indignant | filled with anger aroused by injustice, meanness, or unworthiness |
| INDIGO | dark blue or grayish blue |
| INDOMITABLE | incapable of being overcome; unconquerable |
| infidel | one who is an unbeliever [said of non-Christians and non-Muslims] |
| INTERCEDE | to plead on another’s behalf; to act as a mediator for another |
| INVECTIVE | an abusive or insulting expression in words |
| inveigle | to lead astray by deceitful flattery |
| joust | a combat with lances between two mounted knights [also called tilting] |
| KNAVE | a male servant; a man with no principles |
| LACKEY | a servant or footman who wears a special uniform; a servile follower |
| LAMENTATION | a deep expression of grief |
| LANGUISHING | becoming weak; slow or lingering |
| lecherous | excessively interested in sexuality; lasciviousness |
| LEVY | to impose or collect a tax; to draft into military service |
| liege | one’s sovereign lord [in the feudal system] |
| loath | unwilling; reluctant |
| LOUT | an awkward, stupid fellow |
| maidenhead | maidenhood; virginity |
| flexible armor composed of small overlapping metal rings or scales | |
| malady | a disease, disorder, or ailment |
| MALICE | evil intention; the desire to harm others |
| manor | a nobleman’s main residence or house |
| mantle | a loose, sleeveless coat |
| mare | a female horse |
| mass | the celebration of holy communion; a Roman Catholic service |
| matins | the first religious service of the day |
| MEEK | showing patience and humility |
| melee | confused, hand-to-hand fighting in a pitched battle; a violent free-for-all |
| mete | to distribute by measure; to allot |
| minster | a monastery church |
| miscreant | an evildoer or villain; an infidel or heretic |
| MOOR | a broad tract of open land, often high but poorly drained |
| ODIOUS | arousing hatred; offensive |
| OMINOUS | pertaining to an evil omen; foreboding |
| ordain | to predestine; to prearrange |
| orison | a prayer |
| pagan | a person who is not a Christian, Muslim, or Jew; a heathen |
| PAGE | a boy attending a knight as the first stage in training for knighthood |
| palfrey | a woman’s saddle horse |
| paramour | a lover of either sex, especially in an adulterous affair |
| PARLEY | a conference between enemies concerning terms of truce |
| parole | conditional release; word of honor; a promise |
| pavilion | an ornate tent |
| penance | a deep and sincere feeling of regret for wrongdoing or sin; the prayers and actions that serve as outward signs of such a feeling |
| PERFIDIOUS | deliberately treacherous |
| PLAINTIFF | the party who institutes a suit in court |
| pommel | the knob on the hilt of a sword |
| portcullis | a sliding grill of iron or wood suspended in the gateway of a castle |
| porter | a gatekeeper |
| postern | a small rear gate in a castle |
| POTENTATE | one who has the power and position to rule over others; a monarch |
| PRECEDENT | an act or instance that may be used as an example |
| PRECLUDE | to make impossible; to prevent |
| prink | to adorn in a showy manner; to primp |
| priory | a convent; a monastery ruled by a mother superior |
| PROFFER | to offer |
| prostrate | (v) to bow down or kneel in humility or adoration; (adj) lying face down |
| prowess | superior skill, ability, strength, courage, or daring - especially in battle |
| prudent | wise in handling practical matters; having common sense |
| PUCE | deep red to grayish purple |
| quarry | an object of pursuit |
| rally | to rouse or revive |
| rebuff | (n) a blunt refusal, a snub; (v) to refuse or to snub |
| REBUKE | to criticize sharply; to reprimand |
| recluse | one who withdraws from the world to live in solitude; a hermit |
| recreant | (adj) cowardly; (n) a faithless or disloyal person |
| REDRESS | to set right; to rectify |
| redoubtable | awesome; fearsome; worthy of respect |
| REMORSE | bitter regret for a misdeed |
| RENOWN | the condition of being widely honored; fame |
| repast | a meal |
| repose | (n) peace of mind |
| reproof | the act of scolding or of finding fault |
| requiem | a mass for the dead |
| respite | a temporary postponement of something disagreeable; a resting |
| retainer | one who serves a noble household but ranks higher than a servant |
| RETINUE | the retainers accompanying a noble person |
| rout | (n) a disorderly retreat; (v) to cause to retreat in such a manner |
| SABLE | a very dark fur; the color black in heraldry |
| sacrament | any one of the seven rites of the Roman Catholic Church |
| sanctity | sacredness |
| sanctuary | a sacred place; a safe place of refuge |
| scabbard | a sheath or container for a sword |
| scion | a descendant or heir |
| scurrilous | foul-mouthed; characterized by foul language |
| seneschal | the nobleman in charge of a royal household [often a chief advisor] |
| shrive | to confess one’s sins to a priest and do penance |
| siege | the surrounding and blockading of a town or castle |
| sovereign | (n) the king or queen; (adj) having supreme rank or power |
| sovereignty | royal rank, authority, or power |
| squire | a young nobleman attending a knight and ranked just below a knight |
| STANCH | to stop the flow of blood |
| staunch | firm and steadfast |
| STEWARD | one who manages another’s property |
| stigma | a mark of disgrace |
| succor | assistance or help in time of need |
| suzerain | a feudal lord |
| swoon | (v) to faint; (n) a fainting spell |
| temerity | foolish boldness, recklessness; rashness |
| thwart | to prevent from taking place; to block |
| token | something that symbolizes an emotion, cause, or loyalty |
| tournament | a jousting match during which several knights tilted at one another |
| travail | agony or anguish; strenuous exertion |
| tryst | an agreement between lovers to meet; their meeting place |
| unseemly | not in good taste |
| usurp | to seize by force; to take over |
| WITTINGLY | knowingly |
| valor | courage and boldness in battle |
| vassal | a person who holds land from a feudal lord and receives protection in return for homage and allegiance |
| vehement | intensely emotional or passionate; ardent; emphatic |
| venison | the meat of a deer |
| verve | energy and enthusiasm |
| vindicate | to clear of blame or suspicion |
| vouchsafe | to grant or bestow a privilege or favor in a condescending manner |
| waylay | to ambush |
| yeoman | an attendant or servant in a noble household |