BEOWULF VOCABULARY: A Glossary prepared by your teacher



BEOWULF VOCABULARY

Global Literature I, Spring 2009

Log # 1: The Prologue

|scourge (n) | a source of great suffering or harm |

|rampage (n) | violent, frenzied behavior |

|foundling (n) | an orphan |

|flourish (v) | to grow, do well |

|waxed (v) | got larger |

|whale-road (n) | the sea |

|steadfast (adj) | strong and steady |

|bade (v) | told |

|revered (v) | worshiped |

|ring-whorled prow (n) | the front of a ship decorated with interlaced rings |

|furbished (adj) | polished |

|tackle (n) | equipment |

|bountifully (adv) | generously |

|bewailing (adj) | moaning |

|weathered (v) | withstood |

|salvaged (adj) | saved from destruction |

|held sway (v) | had power |

|wallstead (n) | the mead hall |

|renege (v) | to go back on a promise |

|dole (v) | give |

|abide (v) | remain |

|rampant (adj) | out of control |

Logs # 2 and 3

|harrow (v) |torment |

|din (n) |loud noise |

|girdled (adj) |encircled |

|gleaming (adj) |shining |

|quicken (v) |come alive |

|maraud (v) |destroy |

|heath (n) |deserted field common to England where very little grows |

|desolate (adj) |without hope |

|fen (n) |a marsh, swamp |

|dwelt (v) |lived |

|exact (v) |take |

|anathema (adj) |opposite |

|insensible (adj) |without feeling, unaware |

|havoc (n) |chaos |

|lair (n) |a place where an animal lives, usually underground |

|blundering (v) |making mistakes, moving awkwardly |

|wassail (n) | celebration |

|storied (adj) | full of history |

|stricken (adj) | harmed, wounded |

|aghast (adj) | speechless, frightened, shocked |

|respite (n) | rest |

|malignant (adj) | evil |

|remorse (n) | guilt, sorrow |

|lay (n) | a song or poem, common in Old English, usually about heroes |

|beset (v) | attacked |

|ravage (v) | to destroy |

|rabid (adj) | crazy, dangerous |

|atrocious (adj) | disgusting, horrifying |

|pagan (n, adj) | non-Christian |

|heathen (n, adj) | non-Christian, unbeliever |

|forfeit (v) | give up |

Log # 4

|woe (n) | sorrow |

|affliction (n) | pain, illness |

|canny (adj) | careful, smart, knowing |

|gangplank (n) | part of a ship that leads from the deck to the ground |

|churn (v) | stir |

|vessels (n) | ships |

|looming (adj) | hanging over dangerously |

|headlands (n) | the part of the coastland that juts out to sea beyond the mainland |

|vaulted (adj) | arched high overhead |

|moored (adj) | anchored on land |

|thresh (v) | to beat |

|hull (n) | the sides of a ship |

|sentries (n) | guards |

|interlopers (n) | intruders |

|word-hoard (n) |vocabulary, speech |

|monger (v) | sell |

|proffer (v) | sell/offer |

|turmoil (n) | unrest |

Log # 5 (lines 356-490)

|resolute (adj) |decisive |

|formidable (adj) |intimidating, inspiring fear or awe |

|thane (n) |a knight |

|recompense (v, n) |pay back |

|hearth (n) |the front of a fireplace |

|plight (n) |suffering, fate |

|reckless (adj) |without care |

|renounce (v) |give up |

|glut (n) |feed oneself, pig out |

|gorged (adj) |full to bursting |

|gloating (adj) |mocking in triumph |

|moor-nest (n) |the “nest” in the moors (swampy wetlands) where Grendel lives |

|wreak (v) |caused |

|wane (v) |to get smaller, lessen |

|whet (v) |sharpen |

|dwindle (v) |to get smaller |

|relish (v) |to enjoy |

Log # 6 Feast at Heorot (lines 491-661)

|bearing (n) |the way you carry yourself |

|stalwart (adj) |strong, sturdy |

|vie (v) |to fight |

|bout (n) |an episode |

|wallow (v) |indulge in |

|pinion (v) |hold (pin) down |

|swathe (v) |cover, as with cloth |

|lurk (v) |hide in the darkness |

|buffet (v) |hit |

|kith (n) |acquaintances, friends |

|scarf (v) |eat quickly |

|stealthy (adj) |under cover |

|murk (n) |darkness |

|mettle (n) |composition, strength |

|wield (v) |to hold, carry |

|bolster (v) |to prop up |

|slack (adj) |loose |

|shadow-bourne (adj) |carried along by the shadows |

|bane (n) |downfall |

|spurn (v) |turn away from |

|tread (v) |walk |

|baleful (adj) |full of sorrow |

|ravening (adj) |destructive |

|maul (v) |destroy |

|bone-lappings (n) |the parts of the body, ligaments, that hold the bone to muscle |

|venture (v) |dare |

|forestall (v) |put off |

|quail (v) |shrink back in fear |

|recoil (v) |same as quail |

|stockade (n) |a place where weapons are kept |

|onslaught (n) |attack |

|catastrophe (n) |disaster |

|hell-serf (n) |a “serf” (servant) of Hell |

|manacle (v, n) |chain |

|sinews (n) |see bone-lappings |

|ignominious (adj) |full of sin |

|skulk (v) |to lurk, move in shadows, hide |

Log # 10 Victory celebration in Heorot (lines 836 on)

|refurbish (v) |re-supply, make whole again |

|thronging (adj) |crowding into or around |

|unscathed (adj) |unharmed |

|ordain (v) |to decree |

|relish (v, n) |to enjoy; enthusiasm |

|standard (n) |flag |

|sumptuous (adj) |luxurious |

|carnage (n) |gore |

|fore (n) |front |

|renown (n) |fame |

|bounty (n) |generosity |

The following page includes vocabulary words from the latter parts of Beowulf. You should learn them on your own.

|Grendel’s Mother (lines 1383-1650) |(cont.) |

| |Pillage |

|anguish |Harrower |

|avenger |Avail |

|bestowed |Plea |

|boded |Reinstated |

|brooded |Writhing |

|bulwark |Gloaming |

|crags |Vessel: cup |

|dam, hell-dam |Hurtled |

|depredations |Vile |

|discern |Sky-winger |

|elated |Brunt |

|fettle |Virulent |

|flailing |Thwarted |

|hefted |Ordinance |

|hewed |Rased |

|honed |Smithy |

|lavish |Linden |

|lurked |Sky-plague |

|marauders |Scant |

|misbegotten |Purged |

|plunder |Outgrappled |

|racked |Earth-fort |

|razes |Molten |

|redress |Cave-guard |

|retaliated |Warshirt |

|sage |Hale |

|sallied |Wafting |

|shunned |Outlandish |

|sounded |Writhed |

|surge |Convulsed |

|uncanny |Keen-edged |

|whetted |Enameled |

| |Hard-pressed |

|Beowulf’s Rule in Geatland and the Fight with the Dragon |Spasm |

| |Billowed |

|Reverted |Spewed |

|Warden |Infallible |

|Prowl |Furled |

|Barrow |Brandished |

|Trove |Bequeathed |

|Wiles |Reek |

|Broached |Lapped |

|Wrath |Boss |

|Cache |Reap |

|Ware |Quelled |

|Sheen |Swabbed |

|Hasped |Languishing |

|War-mask |Howe |

|Mustered |Flagon |

|Timber |Pyre |

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