Beowulf Vocabulary

Shrouds

Definition: A length of cloth you put over a dead body

Gaped

Definition: stared with the mouth open, as in wonder or surprise

Afflictions

Definition: things that cause pain or suffering ; pain, illness

Taut

Definition: tightly stretched/drawn

Gorge

Definition: to eat or swallow greedily until bursting

Brood

1) Definition: A family of offspring or young 2) Connotation: Negative, demeaning -("Grendel in days long gone they named him, folk of the land; his father they knew not, nor any brood that was born to him of treacherous spirits.")

Pilgrimage

1) Definition: A journey to a sacred place or with a lofty purpose

Sinews

1) Definition: Bands of tissues, or tendons, that connect muscle and bone. 2) Connotation: Scientific/Neutral -("And the bleeding sinews deep in his shoulder snapped, muscle and bone split and broke")

Murky

1) Definition: Cloudy or gloomy; lacking in clarity and precision; cloudy with things that settle at the bottom of liquids 2) Connotation: Negative -("The footprints led along the woodland, widely seen, a path o'er the plain, where she passed, and trod the murky moor; ")

Moors

1) Definition: Muslim Inhabitants ; can be applied to unbaptized children ( non Christians )

Reparation

1) Definition: Payment or action done to make amends for a wrong or an injury 2) Connotation: neutral -("no one waited for reparation from his plundering claws")

Moored

1) Definition: To Come into or dock at a structure on the shore of a harbor or on the bank of a river/canal 2) Connotation: Very secure and assuring -("Grendel thence death-sick his den in the dark moor sought")

Purge

1) Definition: rid of impurities by cleaning or purifying 2) Connotation: harsh toned, neutral -("O Warriors'-shield, now I've wandered far, -- that I alone with my liegemen here, this hardy band, may Heorot purge!")

Plunder

1) Definition: steal goods; take as spoils 2) Connotation: more formal, neutral -("So the barrow was plundered, borne off was booty.")

Quench

1) Definition: to put out, extinguish, end

Infamous

1) Definition: very wicked; disgraceful, shameful reputation

Sentinels

1) definition: Guards who watch over someone or a person that stands as if theyre watching

Sprawled

1) definition: Produce (usually associated with producing many young)

Spawned

1) definition: to be born ; Usually, referring to the production of young by fish, amphibians, or other water dwelling creatures 2) connotation: negative, referring to murky/dirty - ("He was spawned in that slime, conceived by a pair of those monsters born of Cain...")