Vocabulary List

Canterbury Tales

Refined behavior; elegance.

“For courtliness she had a special zest,/ And she would wipe her upper lip so clean / That not a trace of grease was to be seen…” (ln. 136-138)

Courtliness (n.)

Pam: Oscar, Toby, and I are founding members of the Finer Things Club. We meet once a month to discuss books and art, celebrate culture in a very civilized way. Sometimes the debate can get heated, but we're always

respectful. There is no paper, no plastic, and no work talk allowed. It's very exclusive.

Standing out above others; high-ranking; prominent

“For in so eminent a man as he / It was not fitting with the dignity / Of his position, dealing with a scum / of wretched lepers…” (ln. 247-249)

Eminent (adj.)

“Honey Badger don’t care…”

A disease or disorder; ailment

“The cause of every malady you’d got / He knew, and whether dry, cold, moist, or hot; / He knew their seat, their humor and condition.” (ln. 429-431)

Malady (n.)

Careful with money; thrifty

“Debt-free (unless of course the Peer were mad) / Or be as frugal as he might desire,” (ln. 600-601)

Frugal (adj.)

A show of contempt; scorn.

“And please don’t treat my notion with disdain.” (ln. 809)

Disdain (n.)

An excessive desire for wealth; greed

“The curse of avarice and cupidity / Is all my sermon, for it frees the pelf.” (ln. 16-17)

Avarice (n.)

An excessive desire for wealth or possessions.

“But that is not my principal intent. / Covetousness is both the root and stuff / Of all I preach.” (ln. 28-30)

Covetousness (n.)

A discussion or conference.

“As soon as he had gone the first sat down / And thus began a parley with the other;” (ln. 205-206)

Parley (n.)

Parley?

Jack Sparrow: Parleley, parlelellyleloooo, par le nee, partner, par... snip, parsley... Ragetti: Parley? Jack Sparrow: That's the one. Parley. Parley. Pintel: Parley? Damn to the depths whatever man what thought of "Parley". Jack Sparrow: That would be the French.

To walk in a slow and leisurely manner; stroll.

“Back to join his comrades sauntered he.” (ln. 279)

Saunter (v.)

“Come on, Muriel…”

Suffering; great distress.

“And when I’ve finished telling you my tale / Of tribulation in the married life…” (ln. 10-11)

Tribulation (n.)

A law.

“(It seems that then the statues took that view)” (ln. 69)

Statute (n.)

To leave in a will; give as an inheritance.

“Though they bequeath their whole establishment / By which we claim to be of high descent.” (ln. 295-296)

Bequeath (v.)

To disable or permanently wound.

“Save temporal things, and these may hurt and maim.” (ln. 308)

Maim (v.)

Superior skill; great ability.

“’Seldom arises by these slender branches / Prowess of men, for it is God, no less…” (ln. 304-305)

Prowess (n.)

To criticize.

“Do not rebuke my poverty again.” (ln. 382)

Rebuke (v.)