Romeo and Juliet -- adapted — Vocabulary
William Shakespeare
adapted by Tom Gorman
(Auto-generated)

Exemplary sample Uses ACT/SAT
12 top 1000
banishbanish → banished:forced to leave
He was banished from his own country.more
Show sample from book
The Prince has decided you will not die, But you will be banished.p.57.911 more
banish → banished:forced to leave the community
Show general definition to expel or get rid of
in various senses, including:
  • to force someone to leave a country as punishment
  • to push an idea from the mind
2 top 200
mockmock → mocked:made fun of
She was upset when he mocked her.more
Show sample from book
Does he dare Come here, covered with a party mask, To mock us at our own party?p.22.81 more
make fun of
Show general definition for mock (as in: don't mock me) make fun of (ridicule--sometimes by imitating in an exaggerated manner)

or (more rarely): just to make fun or to be ridiculous without targeting anyone as a victim
Show editor's word notes These senses of mockery come together when a comedian pokes fun at a politician by pretending to be the politician and saying ridiculous things.
4 top 2000
exileeviction from one's home country
She fled Tibet and is living in exile in India.more
Show sample from book
  The law, which might have killed you,
  Became your friend and exiled you instead.p.61.23 more
exile → exiled:forced someone to live outside of their home community
Show general definition to force someone to live outside of their homeland; or living in such a condition

or more rarely:  voluntary absence from a place someone would rather be
3 top 2000
tormenttorment → tormenting:causing great mental or physical suffering
She enjoys tormenting others.†more
Show sample from book
JULIET: Why are you tormenting me this way?p.55.12 more
torment → tormenting:causing great suffering
Show general definition to cause or to experience great mental or physical suffering
1 top 200
scornscorn → scorned:rejected
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.more
Show sample from book
  He swung it about and cut the winds, which,
  Not being hurt, hissed at him in scorn.p.9.7
disrespect
Show general definition disrespect or reject as not good enough
1 top 1000
cunningclever and deceitful
She came up with a cunning scheme to cheat him.more
Show sample from book
  You may think I am not modest,
  But trust me, gentleman, I'll be more true
  Than those who are more cunning.p.32.2
clever and deceptive
Show general definition for cunning (as in: a cunning thief) being good at achieving goals through cleverness -- and typically through deception as well (tricking others)
1 top 1000
dismalterrible
The coach will probably be replaced after such a dismal year.more
Show sample from book
I must act my dismal scene alone.p.77.6
depressing
Show general definition of terrible quality or depressing; or dark and dreary (as when bad weather blocks the sun or when it is drizzly)
1 top 1000
provokeprovoke → provoked:caused
Her remarks provoked a public outcry.more
Show sample from book
ROMEO: Will you provoke me? Then fight, boy!p.88.9
cause a reaction
Show general definition to cause a reaction — often an emotional reaction like anger, and sometimes done on purpose
1 top 1000
condemnstrongly criticize
We condemn racism wherever it is found.more
Show sample from book
What kind of advice was that?
She condemns Romeo with the
Same tongue she used to praise him!
She shall hear no more of my secrets.p.68.9
condemn → condemns:expresses strong criticism of
Show general definition for condemn (as in: She condemned their plan) express strong criticism
1 top 2000
manelong coarse hair growing around the head
It was a healthy male lion with a golden mane.more
Show sample from book
[of the fairy queen, Queen Mab]
This is the same Mab that braids the manes
Of horses in the night
And tangles your hair in bed.p.19.9
mane → manes:long coarse hair growing on the back of the neck
Show general definition long coarse hair such as that which grows around a lion's head or on the back of a horse's neck
1 top 2000
reinrein → reined in:restrained
The court reined in agency power--describing it as out of control.more
Show sample from book
[of the fairy queen, Queen Mab]
Her wagon-spokes are made of spiders' legs.
The cover is made of grasshoppers' wings.
The reins are of the smallest spider's web.p.19.5
rein → reins:a pair of straps attached to a bit in a horse's mouth and used to control it
Show general definition for rein (as in: to rein in their activities) to restrain or control; or a means of control
The meaning of rein depends upon its context. For example:
  • "keep a tight rein on the new employee," or "rein in a horse" -- to control or restrain
  • "give the new employee free rein," or "give the horse full rein" -- do not restrain
  • "the reins of government" -- means of control
  • "the reins of the horse" -- leather straps used with a bit to control a horse (You might like to think of other senses of rein as being figurative derivations from this sense.)
1 top 2000
monka male member of a religious order typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience
The Tibetan monk wore an orange robe.more
Show sample from book
I will visit Friar Lawrence in his monk's cell, His help to ask and my good fortune to tell.p.35.3
a male member of a religious order
1 top 2000
coyplayfully shy
She gave him a coy smile before looking away.more
Show sample from book
I should have been more coy, perhaps, But you overheard my true feelings, Before I was aware that you were here.p.32.2
secretive
Show general definition playfully shy or subtly flirtatious; and/or, deliberately evasive to avoid giving information or making a commitment
Show editor's word notes Writers often use coy when someone acts shy or innocent in a playful way, while being aware of the effect—like giving a coy smile.

The word can also describe being deliberately evasive or withholding information, as in a coy answer that dodges the real question or a coy response that modestly downplays an accomplishment.

In many cases, the person is both playful and withholding at once, as when teasing someone with coy hints about a surprise without revealing what it is.
1 top 2000
wretchedmiserable
The children were taken into protective custody due to their wretched living conditions.more
Show sample from book
I have worked to find her a good match.
Now we have found a noble gentleman,
Good-looking, young, and honorable.
And this wretched, whining fool says "No."p.67.5
Show general definition very bad
in various senses, including:
  • unfortunate or miserable -- as in "wretched prisoners sleeping on the cold floor"
  • of poor quality -- as in "wretched roads"
  • morally bad -- as in "The wretched woman stole his wallet."
2
feuda bitter, long-standing fight
Perhaps the most famous American family feud was between the Hatfields and McCoys.more
Show sample from book
Two families in Verona, Italy, equally respected, Have been feuding for many years.p.5.21 more
feud → feuding:fighting or quarreling
Show general definition bitter hostile argument between two parties -- typically long-standing between families or tribes with occasional incidents of violence
Show editor's word notes Sometimes the term blood feud is used to reference a feud between families.
1 top 2000
prosperprosper → prospering:doing well
She is prospering at school.more
Show sample from book
Live, prosper, and farewell, good fellow.p.87.9
grow stronger or do well
Show general definition to do well or to grow stronger
1
chastea virgin
Despite the societal pressure to engage in premarital relations, Bella remained chaste until her wedding night.more
Show sample from book
BENVOLIO: Then she has sworn that she will live chaste?p.11.3
without sexual intercourse
Show general definition for chaste (as in: remained chaste) not having sex; or not involving sexual desire
Show editor's word notes The exact meaning of not having sex depends upon context. It can mean<ul><li>to be a virgin (never have sex)</li><li>to be sexually inactive currently or for a long time</li><li>to not have sex outside of marriage</li></ul>
1
ficklequick to change
I can't imagine depending upon the fickle wind to sail around the world.more
Show sample from book
They are nothing but fantasy, Thin as the air, more fickle than the wind.p.20.2
unreliable (changing quickly)
Show general definition quick to change

(such as a person quick to change their mind, or the weather in a region where it changes suddenly)
4
CupidRoman mythology:  god of love; a small, winged boy whose arrows make those struck fall in love
She must have been struck by one of Cupid's arrows.†more
Show sample from book
Stabbed in the eye with Rosaline's looks, Shot through the ear with a love song, Pierced in the heart with Cupid's arrow.p.39.33 more
Show general definition Roman mythology:  god of love; a small, winged boy whose arrows make those struck fall in love
1
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
Let this be my daughter's wedding dowry.p.96.4
in some societies, money or property given by a woman's family to the husband at marriage
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