Act+V+Vocabulary

Part 1: Using Prior Knowledge and Contextual Clues

Below are the sentences in which the vocabulary words appear in the text. Read the sentence. Use any clues you can find in the sentence combined with your prior knowledge, and try to figure out the meaning of the **bolded** words.

1. Where is our usual manager of **mirth**?

MIRTH means:

2. And in the modesty of fearful duty I read as much from the rattling tongue Of saucy and **audacious**eloquence.

AUDACIOUS means:

3. He bravely **broached** his boiling bloody breast.

BROACHED means:

4. And Thisby, **tarrying** in mulberry shade; His dagger drew and died.

TARRYING means:

5. Not so, my lord, for his **valor** cannot carry his discretion, and the fox carries the goose.

VALOR means:

6. It appears, by his small light of discretion, that he is in the **wane**.

WANE means:

7. This palpable-gross play hath well **beguiled** The heavy gait of night.

BEGUILED means:

8. Now the wasted brands do glow; Whilst the screech owl, screeching loud, Puts the wretch that lies in woe In remembrance of a **shroud**.

SHROUD means:

9. Now it is the time of night That the graves, all gaping wide; Every one lets forth his **sprite** In the churchway paths to glide.

SPRITE means:

Part 2: Determining the Meaning. You have tried to figure out the meanings of the vocabulary words for Act V. Now match the vocabulary words to their dictionary definitions. If there are words for which you cannot figure out the meaning by contextual clues and process of elimination, look them up in a dictionary.


 * 1. mirth || A. a period of decline or decrease ||
 * 2. audacious || B. a cloth used to wrap a body for burial ||
 * 3. broached || C. gladness and gaiety, especially when expressed by laughter ||
 * 4. tarrying || D. bold, insolent, spirited, or original ||
 * 5. valor || E. deluded; cheated; diverted ||
 * 6. wane || F. pierced in order to draw off liquid ||
 * 7. beguiled || G. a specter or ghost; a soul ||
 * 8. shroud || H. remaining or staying temporarily ||
 * 9. sprite || I. courage and boldness, as in battle; bravery ||