Old Words

Words Meaning
abash cause to be embarrassed
abate become less in amount or intensity
abject of the most contemptible kind
abode a home
abyss a bottomless gulf or pit
adieu goodbye
afar at a distance
allude make an indirect reference to
amiable diffusing warmth and friendliness
animated having life or vigor or spirit
antipathy a feeling of intense dislike
apace quickly
apprehension fearful expectation or anticipation
articulate express or state clearly
aurora the dawn
austere of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor
banshee a female spirit who wails to warn of impending death
beget produce (a child)
behold see
beseech ask urgently and fervently
besmirch smear so as to make dirty or stained
betoken be a warning of
betroth give to in marriage
blithe happy
brine a strong solution of salt and water used for pickling
clamor utter or proclaim insistently and noisily
condescend behave in a patronizing manner
confound be confusing or perplexing to
conjecture to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds
conjure summon into action or bring into existence
countenance the appearance conveyed by a person's face
despondent without or almost without hope
doleful filled with or evoking sadness
eccentric conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual
ere before
erstwhile belonging to some prior time
ether the clear sky
exquisite delicately beautiful
forsooth an archaic word originally meaning `in truth' but now usually used to express
disbelief
forswear formally reject or disavow a formerly held belief
fortnight a period of fourteen consecutive days
fulminate explode violently
furtive secret and sly or sordid
genial diffusing warmth and friendliness
grotesque distorted and unnatural in shape or size
heir a person entitled by law to inherit the estate of another
hither to this place (especially toward the speaker)
imperious having or showing arrogant superiority
importune beg persistently and urgently
indolent disinclined to work or exertion
inexorable not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
ire anger
isle an island
lambent softly glowing or flickering
languid lacking spirit or liveliness
livid furiously angry
lurid glaringly vivid and graphic; marked by sensationalism
mage a magician or learned person
magnanimous noble and generous in spirit
manifest clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
manifold
many and various

melancholy a constitutional tendency to be gloomy and depressed

maxim a saying that is widely accepted on its own merits
morose showing a brooding ill humor
nymph a beautiful young woman
odious unequivocally detestable
oft many times at short intervals
palpable capable of being perceived
pensive deeply or seriously thoughtful
perplex be a mystery or bewildering to
pervade spread or diffuse through
placid free from disturbance by heavy waves
procure get by special effort
profane grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacred
profound situated at or extending to great depth
quench satisfy, as thirst
realm a kingdom
rebuke an act or expression of criticism and censure
repose freedom from activity
reproach express criticism towards
resolute firm in purpose or belief
retort a quick reply to a question or remark
serene not agitated
serpent a snake
shade a ghost
shriveled (used especially of vegetation) having lost all moisture
slay kill
sleight adroitness in using the hands
somber grave or even gloomy in character
soothsayer someone who makes predictions of the future
star-crossed ill-fated
steed a horse
stolid having or revealing little emotion or sensibility
sublime of high moral or intellectual value
superfluous more than is needed, desired, or required
swain a man who is the lover of a girl or young woman
thither to or toward that place; away from the speaker
thwart hinder or prevent, as an effort, plan, or desire
toilsome involving hard work
traverse travel across or pass over
tremulous quivering as from weakness or fear
venerate regard with feelings of respect and reverence
vestal chaste; pure
vesture clothing
vex disturb, especially by minor irritations
visage the human face
vivacious vigorous and animated
want lack or be short of
wed marry
whence from what place, source, or cause
wistful showing pensive sadness
wrathful extremely angry
yon, yonder Over there
yore of former ties or long ago
youngling a young person or animal
zephyr a soft, gentle breeze