Hamlet vocabulary words and definitions

Hamlet Act Two Vocabulary Chart

Directions: In the context clue column, write down the context clue for the vocabulary word from the sentence. In the definition from context column, write your best idea of what the word means based on the context clue. In the last column, write the dictionary definition.

Vocabulary

Word

Context Structure

Context Clues

Definition from Context

Dictionary Definition

Wanton

“What forgeries you please. Marry, none so rank as may dishonor him. Take heed of that.

But, sir, such wanton, wild, and usual slips As are companions noted and most known

To youth and liberty” (Line 22)

Incontinency

“You must not put another scandal on him

That he is open to incontinency.

That’s not my meaning. But breathe his faults so quaintly

That they may seem the taints of liberty,

The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind,

A savageness in unreclaimèd blood,

Of general assault.” (Line 30)

Sullies

“You, laying these slight sullies on my son

As ’twere a thing a little soiled i' th' working—

Mark you, your party in converse, him you would sound... “ (line 40)

Brothel

““I saw him enter such a house of sale”—

Videlicet a brothel, or so forth.” (line 60)

Windlasses

“And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,

With windlasses and with assays of bias,

By indirections find directions out.

So by my former lecture and advice

Shall you my son. You have me, have you not?” (Line 65)

Doublet

“My lord, as I was sewing in my closet,

Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced;

No hat upon his head; his stockings fouled” (line 78)

Beshrew

“I had not quoted him. I feared he did but trifle

And meant to wreck thee. But beshrew my jealousy!” (line 113)

Discretion

“As it is common for the younger sort

To lack discretion. Come, go we to the king.

This must be known, which, being kept close, might move

More grief to hide than hate to utter love.

Come.” (line 117)

Vouchsafe

“And since so neighbored to his youth and 'havior,

That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court

Some little time so by your companies” (line 13)

Entreaty

“Both your majesties

Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,

Put your dread pleasures more into command

Than to entreaty.” (line 29)

Impotence

“Whereat grieved—

That so his sickness, age, and impotence

Was falsely borne in hand—sends out arrests

On Fortinbras, which he, in brief, obeys,

Receives rebuke from Norway” (line 66)

Dominions

“With an entreaty, herein further shown,

That it might please you to give quiet pass

Through your dominions for this enterprise,

On such regards of safety and allowance

As therein are set down” (line 78)

Expostulate

“This business is well ended.

My liege and madam, to expostulate

What majesty should be, what duty is,

Why day is day, night night, and time is time,

Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time.

Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit” (line 86)

Brevity

“Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time.

Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit” (line 86)

Soliciting

“This in obedience hath my daughter shown me,

And more above, hath his solicitings,

As they fell out by time, by means, and place,

All given to mine ear.” (line 118)

Prescripts

“And then I prescripts gave her, that she should lock herself from his resort,

Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.

Which done, she took the fruits of my advice” (line 142)

Declension

“Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,

Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension,

Into the madness wherein now he raves

And all we mourn for” (line 149)

Arras

“Be you and I behind an arras then,

Mark the encounter.” (line 163)

Pregnant

“ How pregnant sometimes his replies are.” (line 206)

Contrive

“ I will leave him and suddenly contrive the means of meeting between him and my