| A | B |
|---|
| idle- Go home you idle wretches! Go home! Do you think today's a holiday | not working or active |
| impudent- Marullus: You fool—what’s your trade? Cobbler: Please don’t snap at me, sir! But should you snap, I can mend you! Marullus: What do you mean by that? “Mend me,” you impudent fellow? | rude; cheeky |
| slander- Cassius: If I were anybody’s fool, or if I cheapened my friendship by offering it to everyone, or if you think I fawn over men, then slander them afterward, or that I’m everybody’s friend when I’m out drinking, then regard me as a dangerous man. | to say negative things about someone behind his/her back |
| condescends- Cassius: …I saved the tired Caesar from the waves of the Tiber. And this same man is now become a god, whereas Cassius is a wretched nobody, who must bow if Caesar condescends to nod to him. | to behave as if one is conscious of descending from a superior position, rank, or dignity |
| perceptive- Caesar: Yet if I were given to fear, there’s no man I would more avoid than that skinny Cassius. He reads too much. He’s very perceptive and good at analyzing motives. | having or showing keenness of insight, understanding, or intuition |
| illuminate- Cassius: What trash is Rome, what rubbish and what garbage, when its only purpose is to provide the kindling to illuminate so worthless an object as Caesar! | to brighten with light; to decorate |
| prestige- Casca: Oh, Brutus is very popular with the people. What would seem wrong if we did it will magically become right and virtuous, with his backing. Cassius: Brutus’s prestige, and why we badly need him, you have rightly judged. | reputation or influence arising from success, achievement, rank, or other favorable attributes |
| ambitious- Brutus: Everyone knows that humility is the means whereby the ambitious man climbs to the top. He uses it as a ladder, and on the way up he recognizes its usefulness. | eagerly desirous of achieving or obtaining success, power, wealth, a specific goal, etc |
| affability- Brutus: Oh, conspiracy! Are you too ashamed to show your dangerous looks even at night, when evil comes into its own? So where in daytime will you find a cavern dark enough to hide your monstrous face? Don’t even look for one, conspiracy! Hide behind smiles and affability. | pleasantness; friendliness |
| dissuade- Cassius: Possibly the phenomena we’ve been seeing lately, the unusual terrors of tonight, and the influence of his fortune-tellers will dissuade him from going to the Capitol today. | persuade not to do something |
| disclose- Portia: Tell me your secrets: I won’t disclose them. | to make known; reveal |
| pompously- Calpurnia: What do you intend, Caesar? Are you thinking of going out? You shall not stir out of your house today. Caesar (pompously): Caesar shall go forth. Things that threaten me do so behind my back. When I turn around, they disappear. | characterized by a display of dignity or importance |
| convey- Caesar: You came just in time to convey my greetings to the senators, and to tell them that I will not come today. | to communicate or transport |
| imminent- Caesar: Last night Calpurnia dreamed she saw my stature, and it was like a fountain with a hundred spouts, all running pure blood. And many noble Romans came smiling to bathe their hands in it. These she takes to be warnings and omens of imminent evils. On her knees, she has begged me to stay at home today. | likely to occur at any moment |
| discretion- Decius: My apologies, Caesar. It’s my dear, dear concern for your career that makes me speak out of turn. My love overrides my discretion. | decorum; knowledge of how one should behave |
| ambiguously- Popilius (ambiguously): I hope today’s venture will succeed. Cassius (startled): What venture, Popilius? Popilius (not to be drawn): Goodbye to you. | open to or having several possible meanings or interpretations |
| reproaching- Caesar: (reproaching him): What, Brutus? | to censure or upbraid; to find fault with a person |
| concede- Cassius (kneeling): Your pardon, Caesar; Caesar, grant your pardon. Cassius falls to your feet to beg for Publius Cimber’s reprieve. Caesar: I could easily concede if I were made like you. If I could get my way by asking favors, I too would be moved by prayers. But I am as unchanging as the North Star, that has no equal in the firmament for permanence and constancy. | yield to pressure |
| condemned- Antony: I don’t know gentlemen, what you intend: who else must die, who else is ripe for bleeding. If it is I, no time is more appropriate than Caesar’s hour of death […] I beg you, if I am condemned, to indulge yourselves now, while your hands are reeking and steaming with blood. | to express an unfavorable judgment on; to pronounce to be guilty |
| belittled- Brutus: The case for Caesar’s death is on record in the Capitol. His achievements are not belittled, nor are his offenses, for which he was killed, stressed. | to regard or portray as less important |
| infuriate- Antony: I must not read it. It’s better that you do not know how Caesar loved you. You aren’t made of wood, you aren’t stones: you are men! And being men, hearing Caesar’s will, will incense you. It will infuriate you. | to make furious; enrage |
| compel- All: The will! The testament! 2nd Pleb: They were villains! Murderers! The will! Read the will! Antony: You will compel me to read the will, then? (The crowd roars its approval) | to force |
| insignificant- Antony (looking after him scornfully): He’s an insignificant nobody of a man; running errands suits him. | unimportant |
| incompetent- Brutus: Your master, either through a change of heart or because he has incompetent officers, has given me considerable cause to wish that several things had never happened. But if he’s here in person, I’ll be given a proper explanation. | lacking qualification or ability |
| hypocrisy- Brutus: You have described a once-keen friend who’s cooling off. When love begins to wane and die, Lucilius, you’ll always find it resorts to strained politeness. There’s no hypocrisy in plain and simple relationships. | a pretense of having a virtuous character, beliefs, principles, etc., that one does not really possess |
| denounced- Cassius: This is how you wronged me. You have condemned and publicly denounced Lucius Pella for taking bribes here from the Sardians. | condemn |
| shortcomings- Cassius: Brutus has broken my heart. A friend should tolerate his friend’s shortcomings. Brutus makes mine greater than they are. | failures; flaws |
| disposition- Brutus (joining in the fun): Off you go, fellow! Cheeky fellow—depart! Cassius (making a point): Bear with him, Brutus. It’s his disposition! Brutus: I’ll recognize his oddities when he masters his craft! | characteristic attitude |
| devastating-Brutus: Portia is dead. Cassius: Oh, what a devastating and grievous loss! | overwhelming; horrific |
| reciprocates- Brutus: Don’t let’s talk about Portia any more. Give me a bowl of wine. I’ll drown all my resentment, Cassius. Cassius: My heart reciprocates. Lucius, fill the cup till the wine overflows | - to feel in return |
