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Full Glossary for King Lear

alteration change (of mind).

answer any act in response or retaliation.

apprehension capture or arrest.

arbitrement an absolute and final decision.

attaint to prove guilty.

avouched asserted; affirmed.

ballow a short, thick stick or club.

bandy to give and take; specifically, to exchange (words) in an angry or argumentative manner.

bans curses.

belike quite likely; probably.

bemadding maddening.

bend 1 to turn or direct. 2 to cause to have a fixed purpose; determine; aim.

bending overhanging; prominent.

bending to turn or direct.

benison a blessing; benediction.

besort to be suitable to.

blood parental heritage; family line; lineage.

bourn a limit; boundary; a domain.

braz'd 1 made of, or coated with, brass or a brasslike substance. 2 made hard like brass.

briefness sudden action; a short duration or length.

cadent falling.

carbonado to cut gashes in; slash; hack.

cataracts floodgate (of heaven).

century a military unit, originally made up of 100 men.

character style of printing or handwriting.

clipp'd inaccurate through omission.

cock a small boat propelled by oars, esp. one used as a ship's tender.

conceit a flight of imagination; fancy.

convenient appropriate; suitable.

cope to meet, encounter, or have to do (with).

cowish timid; cowardly.

coxcomb a cap topped with a notched strip of red cloth like a cock's comb, formerly worn by jesters.

cullionly low, contemptible.

curious highly detailed, as in workmanship; elaborate.


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