Othello Act II VocabularyOthello Act II Vocabulary

tempesttempest

N- literal or metaphorical stormN- literal or metaphorical stormAt the beginning of Act II, a tempest At the beginning of Act II, a tempest

has affected the battle at sea, so has affected the battle at sea, so ships might be lostships might be lost

Tempestuous – adj. they have a Tempestuous – adj. they have a tempestuous relationship; they’re tempestuous relationship; they’re always violently fighting and then always violently fighting and then making upmaking up

discerndiscern

V – to see, perceive (visual, mostly)V – to see, perceive (visual, mostly)Because of the tempest, many Because of the tempest, many

characters in Cyprus could not characters in Cyprus could not discern discern the ships coming ashorethe ships coming ashore

I could not I could not discerndiscern your meaning your meaning because you were being deliberately because you were being deliberately vague.vague.

relishrelish

Vb – to really Vb – to really reallyreally enjoy something; enjoy something; to savorto savor

Iago relishes the destruction of Iago relishes the destruction of others’ lives; he likes it too muchothers’ lives; he likes it too much

chidechide

vb- to tease, scold, often in a playful vb- to tease, scold, often in a playful manner. The past tense is “chid” in manner. The past tense is “chid” in Shakespeare’s time.Shakespeare’s time.

assayassay

Vb – to try/attempt to do somethingVb – to try/attempt to do something““Come, assay, how wouldst thou Come, assay, how wouldst thou

praise me?” praise me?” I shall assay to do my bestI shall assay to do my best

cofferscoffers

N – chests for stowing valuables; N – chests for stowing valuables; they often look like trunks or they often look like trunks or treasure chests. The term is also treasure chests. The term is also used for storing your wealth in used for storing your wealth in monetary terms: “coffers of gold”monetary terms: “coffers of gold”

malicemalice

What’s the Greek/Latin root?What’s the Greek/Latin root?N – hatred, evil intentN – hatred, evil intentWhat’s the adjective form?What’s the adjective form?Malicious!Malicious!

carousecarouse

Vb – celebrating wildly with drink and Vb – celebrating wildly with drink and songsong

On the night of his birthday, he hit On the night of his birthday, he hit the karaoke bars to carouse until the karaoke bars to carouse until dawn.dawn.

In In OthelloOthello, there was much carousing , there was much carousing after the defeat of the Turkish fleet; after the defeat of the Turkish fleet; even Iago led everyone in song.even Iago led everyone in song.

nuptialnuptial

N- the marriage/weddingN- the marriage/weddingPre-nuptial agreement, remember?Pre-nuptial agreement, remember?

pritheeprithee

A word you use before asking a A word you use before asking a question. It’s short for “I pray thee.”question. It’s short for “I pray thee.”

Prithee, wither goest thou at this ill Prithee, wither goest thou at this ill watch of the night?watch of the night?

hathhath

VB. HAS!! VB. HAS!!

follyfolly

N – foolishness; stupidity; a mistakeN – foolishness; stupidity; a mistakeHe hath given into folly and He hath given into folly and

should’ve considered the should’ve considered the consequences of his unwise actions.consequences of his unwise actions.

wightwight

N – a person. It’s old-fashioned N – a person. It’s old-fashioned slang. Kind of like dude or bloke. It slang. Kind of like dude or bloke. It could mean a girl too.could mean a girl too.

knaveknave

N – N – an evil, malicious personan evil, malicious person who who does knavish deeds. This isn’t like a does knavish deeds. This isn’t like a rogue. Han Solo is a rogue; he’s cool rogue. Han Solo is a rogue; he’s cool and dangerous (he shot Greedo first, and dangerous (he shot Greedo first, after all), but you are supposed to after all), but you are supposed to like him. A knave is like him. A knave is not not someone someone you sympathize with.you sympathize with.

cholercholer

N- anger; ireN- anger; ire““his choler is up.”his choler is up.”This goes back to the four humors This goes back to the four humors

and medieval thinking. Choleric IS a and medieval thinking. Choleric IS a term used today, tho’ the origin is term used today, tho’ the origin is not believed in anymore.not believed in anymore.

importuneimportune

Vb – like beseech; to ask for Vb – like beseech; to ask for something, like a favor. Beseech is a something, like a favor. Beseech is a bit more desperate. It’s perhaps like bit more desperate. It’s perhaps like “implore.”“implore.”

enfetteredenfettered

To answer this one, you have to To answer this one, you have to know what “fetters” are…know what “fetters” are…

Adj – literally or metaphorically Adj – literally or metaphorically chained upchained up

infirmityinfirmity

Do you know the Latin root? What Do you know the Latin root? What word sounds like this in Spanish?word sounds like this in Spanish?

N – an illness. To be infirm is to be N – an illness. To be infirm is to be sick. The nurse’s office used to be sick. The nurse’s office used to be called an infirmarycalled an infirmary

ParleyParley

N and V – to speak, talk, or the talk N and V – to speak, talk, or the talk itselfitself

I’m not sure if the I’m not sure if the Pirates of the Pirates of the CaribbeanCaribbean use of the term is use of the term is accurateaccurate

garbgarb

N – attire, clothing, costumeN – attire, clothing, costume““garbed in” means dressed in. It’s garbed in” means dressed in. It’s

old-fashioned.old-fashioned.