The Pardoner's Tale — Vocabulary
Geoffrey Chaucer
edited by Purves
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Exemplary sample	Uses	ACT/SAT
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devisecome up with (invent or create) She plans to devise something to launch water balloons.more Show sample from book As shameful death as hearte can devise Come to these judges and their advoca's.†1 more 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
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assentconsent or agreement The patient gave her assent to the surgery, even though she was nervous about it.more Show sample from book Wherefore I rede,* that cut** among us all advise lots We draw, and let see where the cut will fall: And he that hath the cut, with hearte blithe Shall run unto the town, and that full swithe, *quickly And bring us bread and wine full privily: And two of us shall keepe subtilly This treasure well: and if he will not tarry, When it is night, we will this treasure carry, By one assent, where as us thinketh best.†1 more to express agreement -- especially with a statement or proposal to do something Show general definition to express agreement -- especially with a statement or proposal to do something
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abominableexceptionally bad She described the abominable treatment of prisoners.more Show sample from book Great swearing is a thing abominable, And false swearing is more reprovable.†1 more exceptionally bad or detestable Show general definition exceptionally bad or intensely disliked
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repentto feel regret for having done wrong and to firmly decide to be a better person in the future Prisoners who repent are more likely to be released on parole.more Show sample from book But though myself be guilty in that sin, Yet can I maken other folk to twin* *depart From avarice, and sore them repent.†1 more to express or feel regret for having done wrong
	2
forswearforswear → forsworn:renounced or disavowed The group has forsworn terrorism in favor of negotiating an end to the conflict.more Show sample from book This fruit comes of the bicched bones two, two cursed bones (dice) Forswearing, ire, falseness, and homicide.†1 more forswear → forswearing:to decide to stop doing something; OR to renounce or disavow something Show general definition for forswear (as in: forswear my country of birth) to decide to stop doing something; or to renounce or disavow something
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mirthfun and laughter The room filled with mirth as the friends shared stories and laughed late into the night.more Show sample from book burst, broken Thou bel ami,* thou Pardoner," he said, good friend "Tell us some mirth of japes* right anon." *jokes "It shall be done," quoth he, "by Saint Ronion.†1 more
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scornscorn → scorned:rejected Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.more Show sample from book Look eke how to the King Demetrius The King of Parthes, as the book saith us, Sent him a pair of dice of gold in scorn, For he had used hazard therebeforn: For which he held his glory and renown At no value or reputatioun.† disrespect or reject as not good enough Show general definition disrespect or reject as not good enough
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adversaryopponent She is his greatest adversary.more Show sample from book He hath a thousand slain this pestilence; And, master, ere you come in his presence, Me thinketh that it were full necessary For to beware of such an adversary; Be ready for to meet him evermore.† Show general definition an opponent
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habitathabitat → habitats:the type of environment in which an organism or group normally lives They are endangered due to destruction of their rainforest habitats.more Show sample from book "By Sainte Mary," said the tavernere, "The child saith sooth, for he hath slain this year, Hence ov'r a mile, within a great village, Both man and woman, child, and hind, and page; I trow his habitation be there; To be advised* great wisdom it were, watchful, on one's guard Ere that he did a man a dishonour."†
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quellsuppress or stop The government declared a state of emergency in an attempt to quell political unrest.more Show sample from book And forth he went, no longer would he tarry, Into the town to an apothecary, And prayed him that he him woulde sell Some poison, that he might his rattes quell, kill his rats And eke there was a polecat in his haw,* farm-yard, hedge <27> That, as he said, his eapons had y-slaw: slain And fain he would him wreak, if that he might, *revenge Of vermin that destroyed him by night.† suppress or stop completely Show general definition suppress or stop completely
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deceivemislead The plan was to deceive the Germans into believing the main attack would take place further north.more Show sample from book Lo, Sires, thus I preach; And Jesus Christ, that is our soules' leech,* *healer So grante you his pardon to receive; For that is best, I will not deceive.† lie or mislead Show general definition to lie to or mislead someone -- occasionally to lie to oneself by denying reality
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persevereto keep working at something despite difficulties We will persevere through these difficult times. Better days are ahead.†more Show sample from book Seneca saith a good word, doubteless: He saith he can no difference find Betwixt a man that is out of his mind, And a man whiche that is drunkelew:* a drunkard <11> But that woodness, y-fallen in a shrew,* madness one evil-tempered Persevereth longer than drunkenness.† persevere* → persevereth:keeps working at something despite difficulties Show context notes Today, the suffix "-th" is replaced by "-s", so that where they said "She persevereth" in older English, today we say "She perseveres." Show general definition to keep working at something -- especially despite difficulties
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wanewane → waned:gradually decreased When the headlines moved on to other topics, public interest waned and only the companies being regulated paid attention to what was happening.more Show sample from book *dear Lo, how I wane, flesh, and blood, and skin; Alas!† gradually decrease in strength, intensity, size, or importance Show general definition gradually decrease in strength, intensity, size, or importance -- especially the part of the moon that is visible
	1
unwittingunwitting → unwittingly:without knowledge or intent She unwittingly bought and sold stolen merchandise.more Show sample from book <9> Lo, how that drunken Lot unkindely* *unnaturally Lay by his daughters two unwittingly, So drunk he was he knew not what he wrought.† Show general definition without knowledge or intent
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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 And ware* you from the sin of avarice. [*keep]3 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."
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omnipotentall powerful When I was young, I believed in the myth of omnipotent science, technology and logic.more Show sample from book But hearken, lordings, one word, I you pray, That all the sovreign actes, dare I say, Of victories in the Old Testament, Through very God that is omnipotent, Were done in abstinence and in prayere: Look in the Bible, and there ye may it lear.† Show general definition all powerful Show editor's word notes note: "omni" means "all". It is often said that God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent (all powerful, all knowing, and all present; i.e., present everywhere)
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reprovereprove → reproves:criticizes She's the kind of boss who reproves in private and praises in public.more Show sample from book Great swearing is a thing abominable, And false swearing is more reprovable. reprove → reprovable:worthy of criticism Show context notes The suffix "-able" means able to be. This is the same pattern you see in words like breakable, understandable, and comfortable. Show general definition express disapproval or criticism -- typically in a mild manner & sometimes even in a friendly manner
	1
annexannex → annexed:took territory to make it part of a larger territory The county annexed the rural community where we live.more Show sample from book ** dainty fruit-girls Singers with harpes, baudes, waferers,** revellers cake-sellers Which be the very devil's officers, To kindle and blow the fire of lechery, That is annexed unto gluttony.† annex* → annexed:took territory Show general definition for annex (as in: annexed the community) to take territory and make it part of a larger territory -- such as a city making land outside of it a part of the city
	1
pestilencewidespread disease The Black Death was a pestilence that killed an estimated 30% of the European population in the 14th century.more Show sample from book He hath a thousand slain this pestilence; And, master, ere you come in his presence, Me thinketh that it were full necessary For to beware of such an adversary; Be ready for to meet him evermore.† widespread disease (usually severe)… Show general definition widespread disease (usually severe); or any severely harmful or evil influence that is hard to get rid of
	1
manslaughterunintentional killing of a person The girl who sent texts to her boyfriend encouraging him to kill himself was charged with involuntary manslaughter.more Show sample from book * forbid gambling Hazard is very mother of leasings,* lies And of deceit, and cursed forswearings: Blasphem' of Christ, manslaughter, and waste also Of chattel and of time; and furthermo' property It is repreve, and contrar' of honour, *reproach For to be held a common hazardour.† Show general definition unintentional killing of a person Show editor's word notes Manslaughter can be involuntary (as when a drunk driver accidentally kills someone), or voluntary (as when there was no plan to kill someone, but then the person kills in the heat of passion).