The Winter's Tale
Vocabulary

2 uses

Prepare you, lords; Summon a session, that we may arraign Our most disloyal lady; for, as she hath Been publicly accus'd, so shall she have A just and open trial.†

arraign = call before a court to answer an indictment

or:

accuse of a wrong or an inadequacy

1 use

Away with that audacious lady!

audacious = bold and daring (in this case, too bold)

1 use

O lady Fortune, stand you auspicious!

auspicious = favorable

2 uses

...and The justice of your hearts will thereto add, "Tis pity she's not honest, honourable': Praise her but for this her without-door form,— Which, on my faith, deserves high speech,—and straight The shrug, the hum or ha,—these petty brands That calumny doth use:—O, I am out, That mercy does; for calumny will sear Virtue itself:—these shrugs, these hum's, and ha's, When you have said 'she's goodly,' come between, Ere you can say 'she's honest': but be it known, From him that has most...†

calumny = false accusation against a person

1 use

In my just censure, in my true opinion!

censure = criticism

1 use

he whose ignorant credulity will not come up to th' truth:

credulity = gullibility (being too willing to believe)

1 use

For life, I prize it As I weigh grief, which I would spare: for honour, 'tis a derivative from me to mine, And only that I stand for.†

derivative = something developed from something else

1 use

If thou mayest discern by that which is left of him what he is, fetch me to the sight of him.

discern = to see something that is not obvious

2 uses

—Weep I cannot, But my heart bleeds: and most accurs'd am I To be by oath enjoin'd to this.†

enjoin'd = to command someone to do (or not do) something

22 uses

[Exeunt QUEEN and Ladies, with Guards.]

exeunt = stage direction:  characters exit from stage

1 use

It is an heretic that makes the fire,

heretic = someone with opinions or actions most people consider immoral

1 use

in this time of lethargy, I picked and cut most of their festival purses;

lethargy = a state with a lack of energy

7 uses

And I wish, my liege, You had only in your silent judgment tried it, Without more overture.†

liege = a feudal lord entitled to allegiance and service

or:

a person who owes allegiance and service to a feudal lord

7 uses

Let no man mock me,

mock = make fun of

2 uses

I will bring these two moles, these blind ones, aboard him: if he think it fit to shore them again, and that the complaint they have to the king concerns him nothing, let him call me rogue for being so far officious; for I am proof against that title, and what shame else belongs to't.†

officious = intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner

1 use

his piety

piety = highly moral belief or behavior

1 use

It is a bawdy planet, that will strike where 'tis predominant;

predominant = most powerful

1 use

1 use

the reverence of...

reverence = respect

1 use

This is a creature,
Would she begin a sect, might quench the zeal
Of all professors else; make proselytes
Of who she but bid follow.

zeal = active interest and enthusiasm