Canterbury tales Vocab

Caterwaul

(of a cat) make a shrill howling or wailing noise.: "the caterwauling of a pair of bobcats" "a caterwauling guitar".

Wan

(of a person's complexion or appearance) pale and giving the impression of illness or exhaustion.: "she was looking wan and bleary-eyed".

Fallow

(of farmland) plowed and harrowed but left unsown for a period in order to restore its fertility as part of a crop rotation or to avoid surplus production.

Abate

(of something perceived as hostile, threatening, or negative) become less intense or widespread.

Fornicate

(of two people not married to each other) have sexual intercourse..

Vouchsafe

Opposite of Gainsay, give or grant (something) to (someone) in a gracious or condescending manner.

Edifice

a building, especially a large, imposing one..

Vestment

a chasuble or other robe worn by the clergy or choristers during services..

Pall

a cloth spread over a coffin, hearse, or tomb.. "Bombing cast a pall over boston."

Panoply

a complete or impressive collection of things.: "a deliciously inventive panoply of insults".

Pestilence

a fatal epidemic disease, especially bubonic plague..

Amity

a friendly relationship.: "international amity and goodwill".

Precept

a general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought.: "moral precepts" "the legal precept of being innocent until proven guilty" "children learn far more by example than by precept"

Retinue

a group of advisers, assistants, or others accompanying an important person..

Disquisition

a long or elaborate essay or discussion on a particular subject.: "nothing can kill a radio show quicker than a disquisition on intertextual analysis".

Surplice

a loose white linen vestment varying from hip-length to calf-length, worn over a cassock by clergy, acolytes, and choristers at Christian church services..

Tumult

a loud, confused noise, especially one caused by a large mass of people.: "a tumult of shouting and screaming broke out".

Paramour

a lover, especially the illicit partner of a married person..

Visage

a person's face, with reference to the form or proportions of the features.: "an elegant, angular visage".

Mien

a person's look or manner, especially one of a particular kind indicating their character or mood.

Behest

a person's orders or command.: "they had assembled at his behest" "the slaughter of the male children at the behest of Herod".

Stratagem

a plan or scheme, especially one used to outwit an opponent or achieve an end.: "a series of devious stratagems".

Conclave

a private meeting.

Effigy

a sculpture or model of a person.: "coins bearing the effigy of Maria Theresa of Austria".

Truncheon

a short, thick stick carried as a weapon by a police officer..

Clarion

a shrill, narrow-tubed war trumpet; loud and clear

Sepulchre

a small room or monument, cut in rock or built of stone, in which a dead person is laid or buried.. Tomb

Dolour

a state of great sorrow or distress.: "they squatted, hunched in their habitual dolor".

Albeit

although.: "he was making progress, albeit rather slowly".

Churl

an impolite and mean-spirited person..

Astrolabe

an instrument formerly used to make astronomical measurements, typically of the altitudes of celestial bodies, and in navigation for calculating latitude, before the development of the sextant. In its basic form it consists of a disk with the edge marked in degrees and a pivoted pointer..

Herald

an official messenger bringing news..

Salve

an ointment used to promote healing of the skin or as protection..

Importune

ask (someone) pressingly and persistently for or to do something.: "if he were alive now, I should importune him with my questions".

Rancour

bitterness or resentfulness, especially when long-standing.: "he spoke without rancor".

Engender

cause or give rise to (a feeling, situation, or condition).: "the issue engendered continuing controversy".

Hew

chop or cut (something, especially wood) with an ax, pick, or other tool.

Obeisance

deferential respect.: "they paid obeisance to the prince".

Eschew

deliberately avoid using; abstain from.: "he appealed to the crowd to eschew violence".

Deign

do something that one considers to be beneath one's dignity.: "she did not deign to answer the maid's question".

Malign

evil in nature or effect; malevolent.: "she had a strong and malign influence".

Temerity

excessive confidence or boldness; audacity.: "no one had the temerity to question his conclusions".

Victual

food or provisions

Obsequies

funeral rites.

Benign

gentle; kindly.: "her face was calm and benign" "his benign but firm manner".

Asperity

harshness of tone or manner.: "he pointed this out with some asperity".

Vainglorious

having or showing too much pride in your abilities or achievements

Iniquity

immoral or grossly unfair behavior.

Lineage

lineal descent from an ancestor; ancestry or pedigree..

Recompense

make amends to (someone) for loss or harm suffered; compensate.: "offenders should recompense their victims" "he was recompensed for the wasted time".

Requite

make appropriate return for (a favor, service, or wrongdoing).: "they are quick to requite a kindness".

Caul

mark of speciall

Clemency

mercy; leniency

Felonious

of, relating to, or involved in crime.

Inter

place (a corpse) in a grave or tomb, typically with funeral rites.: "he was interred with the military honors due to him".

Unharried

relaxed, leisurely

Encumber

restrict or burden (someone or something) in such a way that free action or movement is difficult.

Prowess

skill or expertise in a particular activity or field.: "his prowess as a fisherman".

Propagate

spread and promote (an idea, theory, etc.) widely.: "the French propagated the idea that the English were violent and gluttonous drunkards".

Prostration

state of being really exhausted

Beatitude

supreme blessedness.

Sloe

the color of like a black blue flower

Carrion

the decaying flesh of dead animals..

Cuckold

the husband of an adulteress, often regarded as an object of derision..

Dotard / dotage

the period of life in which a person is old and weak.: "you could live here and look after me in my dotage".

Impudence

the quality of being impudent; impertinence.

Duress

threats, violence, constraints, or other action brought to bear on someone to do something against their will or better judgment.: "confessions extracted under duress".

Unwonted

unaccustomed or unusual.: "there was an unwonted gaiety in her manner".

Adamantine

unbreakable.

Maidenhead

virginity..

Saunter

walk in a slow, relaxed manner, without hurry or effort.: "Adam sauntered into the room".