Humanities › Literature 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' Vocabulary Share Flipboard Email Print Literature Classic Literature Study Guides Authors & Texts Top Picks Lists Terms Best Sellers Plays & Drama Poetry Quotations Shakespeare Short Stories Children's Books By Lily Rockefeller Lily Rockefeller Literature Expert Master of Studies, University of Oxford Bachelor of Arts, Brown University Lily Rockefeller is a writer who covers literature for ThoughtCo. She holds a master's in German Literature from the University of Oxford. Learn about our Editorial Process Published on April 23, 2019 Shakespeare’s language has been baffling and intriguing scholars practically since he started writing. He known for his poetic turn-of-phrase and rich imagery. In plays like A Midsummer Night's Dream, vocabulary can be especially confusing because of this innovative and opulent style. What's more, Shakespeare is even known to have made up words, many of which are still used today. Even if it can be difficult to understand, Shakespeare’s complex language is what makes A Midsummer Night's Dream such a celebrated work, and getting the hang of the vocabulary makes reading the play extremely rewarding. 01 of 23 Abjure Definition: to swear off or abstain from, especially with an oath or with solemnity Example: "Theseus: Either to die the death or to abjure / For ever the society of men..." (I, i) 02 of 23 Amity Definition: friendship, goodwill Example: "Oberon: Now thou and I are new in amity, / And will to-morrow midnight solemnly / Dance in Duke Theseus' house triumphantly." (IV, i) 03 of 23 Anoint Definition: to apply, often of an oil or juice Example: "Oberon: anoint his eyes; / But do it when the next thing he espies / May be the lady..." (II, i) 04 of 23 Base Definition: being of low value, also of short height Example: "Helena: Things base and vile, folding no quantity, / Love can transpose to form and dignity..." (II, i) 05 of 23 Beseech Definition: to beg Example: "Hermia: But I beseech your grace that I may know / The worst that may befall me in this case, / If I refuse to wed Demetrius." (I, i) 06 of 23 Changeling Definition: an infant secretly switched with another at birth, or here, a fairy child Example: "Oberon: I do but beg a little changeling boy, / To be my henchman." (II, i) 07 of 23 Concord Definition: peace, harmony Example: "Theseus: How comes this gentle concord in the world, / That hatred is so far from jealousy?" (IV, i) 08 of 23 Condole Definition: to express sympathy Example: "Bottom: I will move storms, I will condole in some / measure…" (I, ii) 09 of 23 Dissembling Definition: distorting of the truth Example: "Helena: What wicked and dissembling glass of mine / Made me compare with Hermia's sphery eyne?" (II, ii) 10 of 23 Dulcet Definition: sweet, pleasing to the senses Example: "Oberon: And heard a mermaid on a dolphin's back / Uttering such dulcet and harmonious breath..." (II, i) 11 of 23 Edict Definition: A proclamation, decree Example: "Hermia: If then true lovers have been ever cross'd,/ It stands as an edict in destiny..." (I, i) 12 of 23 Entice Definition: to attract, to lure Example: "Demetrius: Do I entice you? do I speak you fair?" (II, i) 13 of 23 Expound Definition: to state, or to explain in careful detail Example: "Bottom: Man is but an ass if he go about to expound this dream" (IV, i) 14 of 23 Fawn Definition: to show affection, often in a way that may demean the fawner Example: "Helena: I am your spaniel; and, Demetrius, / The more you beat me, I will fawn on you..." (II, i) 15 of 23 Livery Definition: the distinctive clothing of a certain profession, a uniform Example: "Theseus: You can endure the livery of a nun, / For aye to be in shady cloister mew'd..." (I, i) 16 of 23 Nuptial Definition: having to do with a wedding Example: "Theseus: Now, fair Hippolyta, our nuptial hour draws on apace…" (I, i) 17 of 23 Odorous Definition: having a notable odor or smell, often a good one Example: "Titania: An odorous chaplet of sweet summer buds / Is, as in mockery, set..." (II, i) 18 of 23 Perforce Definition: by physical force (not often used today, but often in Shakespeare) Example: "Puck: But she perforce withholds the loved boy, / Crowns him with flowers and makes him all her joy..." (II, i) 19 of 23 Progeny Definition: children, or outcome Example: "Titania: And this same progeny of evils comes / From our debate, from our dissension; / We are their parents and original." (II, i) 20 of 23 Revels Definition: a wild celebration Example: "Titania: If you will patiently dance in our round / And see our moonlight revels, go with us..." (II, i) 21 of 23 Surfeit Definition: a surplus, an overabundant supply Example: "Lysander: For as a surfeit of the sweetest things / The deepest loathing to the stomach brings." (II, ii) 22 of 23 Tempest Definition: a violent storm Example: "Hermia: Belike for want of rain, which I could well / Beteem them from the tempest of my eyes..." (I, i) 23 of 23 Visage Definition: the face or appearance of someone Example: "Lysander: To-morrow night, when Phoebe doth behold / Her silver visage in the watery glass…" (I, i) Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Rockefeller, Lily. "'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' Vocabulary." ThoughtCo, Jan. 29, 2020, thoughtco.com/midsummer-nights-dream-vocabulary-4628368. Rockefeller, Lily. (2020, January 29). 'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' Vocabulary. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/midsummer-nights-dream-vocabulary-4628368 Rockefeller, Lily. "'A Midsummer Night’s Dream' Vocabulary." 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