Volpone — Vocabulary
Ben Jonson
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
	26	top 2000
patronpatron → patrons:customers The café was filled with patrons enjoying coffee and studying for exams.more Show sample from book now his patron's dead25 more supporter Show general definition for patron (as in: a patron of the arts) a regular customer; or someone who gives money or support to an organization, cause, or person
	6	top 500
perpetualcontinuing forever A perpetual flame burns beside the grave of John F. Kennedy.more Show sample from book VOLP: Oh, Rid me of this my torture, quickly, there; My madam, with the everlasting voice: The bells, in time of pestilence, ne'er made Like noise, or were in that perpetual motion!†5 more continuing forever without change; OR occurring so frequently it seems constant Show general definition continuing forever without change; or occurring so frequently it seems constant
	7	top 2000
impudentimproperly bold or disrespectful She is an impudent girl given to insulting strangers.†more Show sample from book Since you provoke me with your impudence, And laughter of your light land-syren here, Your Sporus, your hermaphrodite— PER: What's here?†6 more Show general definition improperly bold or disrespectful -- especially toward someone who is older or considered to be of higher status
	6	top 1000
feignedpretended to She feigned sleep.more Show sample from book Feels not his gout, nor palsy; feigns himself Younger by scores of years, flatters his age With confident belying it, hopes he may, With charms, like Aeson, have his youth restored: And with these thoughts so battens, as if fate Would be as easily cheated on, as he, And all turns air!†5 more feigned → feigns:pretends (makes a pretense of) Show general definition pretended -- usually pretending to feel something
	6	top 1000
loathreluctant or unwilling She is loath to admit a mistake.more Show sample from book MOS: And then they do it by experiment; For which the law not only doth absolve them, But gives them great reward: and he is loth To hire his death, so.†5 more loath → loth:reluctant or unwilling to do something Show general definition reluctant or unwilling to do something Show editor's word notes Word Confusion: Do not confuse loath with loathe which sounds very similar or the same. Loath is typically used as an adjective while loathe is a verb that means "to dislike greatly".
	5	top 500
scarcityshortage There is a scarcity of work in the region.more Show sample from book MOS: Without a partner, sir; confirm'd this morning: The wax is warm yet, and the ink scarce dry Upon the parchment.†4 more scarcity → scarce:in short supply OR barely or hardly (by a small margin) Show general definition shortage (having an amount that is less than desired)
	7
professprofess → professed:claimed (insincerely) She professed innocence but later admitted her guilt.more Show sample from book You seem To be a gentleman, of ingenuous race:—I not profess it, but my fate hath been To be, where I have been consulted with, In this high kind, touching some great men's sons, Persons of blood, and honour.†6 more claim Show general definition to claim or declare -- often insincerely
	4	top 200
malicemalice → malicious:evil; or made with the intent to make others suffer I am not interested in hearing malicious gossip.more Show sample from book LADY P: I hope you have not the malice to remember A gentlewoman's passion.†3 more the desire to hurt others or see them suffer Show general definition the intention or desire to see others suffer
	4	top 500
devisecome up with (invent or create) She plans to devise something to launch water balloons.more Show sample from book I will buy some slave Whom I will kill, and bind thee to him, alive; And at my window hang you forth: devising Some monstrous crime, which I, in capital letters, Will eat into thy flesh with aquafortis, And burning corsives, on this stubborn breast.†3 more devise → devising:coming up with (inventing or creating) Show general definition for devise (as in: devise a plan) to come up with a way of doing something -- typically a creative idea or plan
	4	top 1000
melancholyvery sad She's been in a melancholy mood since her dog died.more Show sample from book Go home, and use the poor sir Pol, your knight, well, For fear I tell some riddles; go, be melancholy.†3 more a sad feeling or manner Show general definition a sad feeling or manner -- sometimes thoughtfully sad
	5	top 2000
deludedelude → deluded:with a false belief She is a sincere but deluded idealist.more Show sample from book MOS: You shall live, Still, to delude these harpies.†4 more deceive (convince to have a false belief) Show general definition deceive (convince to have a false belief)
	5	top 2000
acquaintcause to know better You should acquaint yourself with the new computer program.more Show sample from book LADY P: Made you acquainted, what an ample dowry The knowledge of these things would be unto you, Able, alone, to get you noble husbands At your return: and you thus to neglect it!†4 more acquaint → acquainted:familiar with OR a friend or associate Show general definition to cause to know; or to cause to be familiar with
	2	top 100
varybe different Your mileage may vary.more Show sample from book NAN: 'Cause here the delight of each sex thou canst vary?†1 more differ; or change Show general definition to be different, or to change Show editor's word notes Vary is often used to describe small differences or changes--especially about things of the same type. It would be more common to say "The weight of full-grown elephants varies depending upon diet and other factors," than to say "The weight of elephants varies from that of mice."
	2	top 500
reveredeeply respect and admire Many fans revere Michael Jordan as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.more Show sample from book How he should worship'd be, and reverenced;1 more revere → reverenced:regarded with feelings of deep respect and admiration Show general definition regard with feelings of deep respect and admiration -- sometimes with a mixture of wonder and awe or fear
	18
advocatea lawyer for the military She is a U.S. Army judge advocate.more Show sample from book the great and learned advocate17 more lawyer Show general definition for advocate (as in: an advocate in court) a lawyer or officer of the court in some jurisdictions in Europe, colonial America, and the military
	5	top 2000
forbearancetolerance She won the children over with patience and forbearance.more Show sample from book Forbear, foul ravisher,4 more forbearance → forbear:refrain (hold back) from acting Show general definition patient tolerance or self-control; or holding back from taking action or enforcing a right Show editor's word notes Today, the word, forbearance, is most commonly seen in the field of law to indicate that a legal right, claim or privilege is not being enforced.
	3	top 500
censurecensure → censured:formally criticized They censured him for bringing dishonor upon the Senate.more Show sample from book You are unequal to me, and however, Your sentence may be righteous, yet you are not That, ere you know me, thus proceed in censure: St. Mark bear witness 'gainst you, 'tis inhuman.†2 more harsh or formal criticism Show general definition harsh criticism; or formal criticism from an organization -- such as the U.S. Senate
	3	top 2000
dissemblebe deceptive about After the primaries, she will dissemble her past statements to appear more moderate in her beliefs.more Show sample from book —Perhaps he doth dissemble!†2 more hide or disguise the truth without outright lying Show general definition hide or disguise the truth without outright lying
	3
dowrymoney or property given by a woman's family to the husband at marriage She was given her inheritance in the form of a dowry.more Show sample from book Get you a cittern, lady Vanity, And be a dealer with the virtuous man; Make one: I'll but protest myself a cuckold, And save your dowry.†2 more in some societies, money or property given by a woman's family to the husband at… Show general definition in some societies, money or property given by a woman's family to the husband at marriage or less formally: money or property a bride brings to a marriage
	2	top 2000
avariceexcessive desire for wealth We can try both to minimize greed and avarice and to channel them into directions beneficial to society.more Show sample from book What a rare punishment Is avarice to itself!†1 more Show general definition excessive desire for wealth Show editor's word notes Like "greed", but implies greed specifically for money. The early Christian Church counted avarice as one of the "seven deadly sins."