Shakespeare Vocabulary List #1 1. abatement (n): the act or process of becoming less. Example: The abatement of the weeds was successful after they sprayed the lawn with fertilizer. 2.purged (v): made clean; got rid of. Example: The doctor purged the patient of cancer by treating her with chemotherapy. 3.pestilence (n): disease, plague, or epidemic. Example: The bubonic plague was a pestilence across Europe. 4.ample (adj.): plenty; enough to satisfy a need. Example: There was an ample supply of food to feed the family.

5.brine (n): water containing a lot of salt. Example: The brine from her tears streaked her face. 6.acquaintance (n): knowledge gained by personal experience with the subject. Example: The teacher had some acquaintance with the subject of Shakespeare. 7.prattle (v): to babble, to speak meaninglessly similar to childish chattering. Example: I became so bored listening to my friend prattle on about her new boyfriend. 8.mute (n): a person who cannot or does not speak. Example: The orphan was a mute who never said a word to anyone. 9.ducats (n): a former European gold coin. Example: The foolish gentleman spent all of his ducats on stockings.

10. prodigal (n): one who spends or gives lavishly and foolishly. Example: The prodigal son returned home to live with his mother after spending all of his money in Las Vegas. 11. scoundrel (n): a rascal, one with an untrustworthy reputation. Example: The scoundrel took the mans money claiming to have sold him the London Bridge. 12. shrew (n): a bad-tempered, scolding woman. Example: The old shrew kicked her husband for having left the toilet seat up. 13.prudent (adj.) wise; uses good judgment. Example: The prudent shopper bought in bulk to save money.

14.accost (v): to approach and/or speak to in an aggressive, challenging way. Example: The mans plan was to accost women exiting the market to ask them for money. 15.malignancy (n): the quality of being bad, evil, and aggressive. Example: The drug dealer was a malignancy in the impoverished neighborhood.