Othello: Act 5

by William Shakespeare
Influenced by the duplicitous Iago, Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army, begins to doubt his wife's faithfulness. Read the full text here.

Here are links to our lists for the play: Act 1, Act 2, Act 3, Act 4, Act 5
15 words 6341 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. rapier
    a straight sword with a narrow blade and two edges
    Here, stand behind this bulk. Straight will he come.
    Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home.
    Quick, quick! Fear nothing. I’ll be at thy elbow.
  2. restitution
    a sum of money paid in compensation for loss or injury
    Now, whether he kill Cassio,
    Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,
    Every way makes my gain. Live Roderigo,
    He calls me to a restitution large
    Of gold and jewels that I bobbed from him
    As gifts to Desdemona.
  3. mischance
    an instance of misfortune
    ’Tis some mischance. The voice is very direful.
  4. balmy
    mild and pleasant
    O balmy breath, that dost almost persuade
    Justice to break her sword!
  5. portent
    a sign of something about to happen
    That death’s unnatural that kills for loving.
    Alas, why gnaw you so your nether lip?
    Some bloody passion shakes your very frame.
    These are portents, but yet I hope, I hope
    They do not point on me.
  6. perjury
    criminal offense of making false statements under oath
    Sweet soul, take heed, take heed of perjury.
    Thou art on thy deathbed.
  7. pernicious
    exceedingly harmful
    If he say so, may his pernicious soul
    Rot half a grain a day! He lies to th’ heart!
    She was too fond of her most filthy bargain.
  8. amorous
    inclined toward or displaying love
    Cassio confessed it,
    And she did gratify his amorous works
    With that recognizance and pledge of love
    Which I first gave her.
  9. bode
    indicate by signs
    What did thy song bode, lady?
  10. perforce
    by necessity
    If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear;
    Thou hast no weapon and perforce must suffer.
  11. interim
    the time between one event, process, or period and another
    Now here’s another discontented paper
    Found in his pocket, too; and this it seems
    Roderigo meant t’ have sent this damnèd villain,
    But that, belike, Iago in the interim
    Came in and satisfied him.
  12. upbraid
    express criticism towards
    There is besides, in Roderigo’s letter,
    How he upbraids Iago, that he made him
    Brave me upon the watch, whereon it came
    That I was cast.
  13. extenuate
    lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or degree of
    I pray you in your letters,
    When you shall these unlucky deeds relate,
    Speak of me as I am. Nothing extenuate,
    Nor set down aught in malice.
  14. malignant
    showing malicious ill will and a desire to hurt
    Set you down this.
    And say besides, that in Aleppo once,
    Where a malignant and a turbanned Turk
    Beat a Venetian and traduced the state,
    I took by th’ throat the circumcisèd dog,
    And smote him, thus. [He stabs himself.]
  15. traduce
    speak unfavorably about
    Set you down this.
    And say besides, that in Aleppo once,
    Where a malignant and a turbanned Turk
    Beat a Venetian and traduced the state,
    I took by th’ throat the circumcisèd dog,
    And smote him, thus. [He stabs himself.]
Created on Thu Feb 21 22:16:24 EST 2013 (updated Tue Aug 12 12:49:56 EDT 2025)

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