Macbeth Vocabulary Act 3

GRAVE (adjective)serious or solemn: a grave person; grave thoughts.

The nation's music lovers' breakfast was momentarily interrupted by this grave crisis.

JOCUND (adjective)full of or showing high-spirited merriment

The physiognomy of Alfred—ordinarily so grave, thoughtful, and dejected—was now mirthful, jocund, and hilarious.

CLOISTER (verb)To seclude or isolate from the world. To withdraw.

They said he cloistered himself in his hotel room and prayed.

Tyrant (Noun)A cruel and oppressive dictator

Corporate tyrants are laying off employees the minute the value of their own stock options threatens to decrease by a penny

WAYWARD (adjective)

turned away (perverted) from what is the expected norm; resistant to guidance or discipline

Wayward houses, boats and downed power lines had been dislodged from streets.New York Times Dec 11, 2012

Blanch (verb)To Turn Pale White; turn pale, as if in fear

Neilson blanched a little and reiterated that Kobe wanted to come back.The Guardian Jul 28, 2012

Naught (noun)A quantity of no importance; complete failure.

Even some of the uprising’s staunchest supporters are beginning to fear that Syria’s sufferings — lost lives, fraying social fabric, destroyed heritage — are for naught.New York Times Nov 8, 2012

Posterity (noun)For future generations

He was totally right about posterity only being good in small doses.BBC Sep 10, 2012