Poetry Slam!: "Paradise Lost" by John Milton, Book I

Learn these words from the original ten-book version of Milton's epic poem, which retells the Biblical story of humanity's fall from divine favor. Read the full text here.

Here are links to our lists for the poem: Book I, Book II, Book III, Book IV, Book V,
Book VI, Book VII, Book VIII, Book IX, Book X

Here is a link to our lists for the twelve-book version of Paradise Lost.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. invoke
    request earnestly; ask for aid or protection
    I thence
    Invoke thy aid to my advent'rous Song,
    That with no middle flight intends to soar
    Above th' AONIAN Mount, while it pursues
    Things unattempted yet in Prose or Rhyme.
  2. providence
    a manifestation of God's foresightful care for his creatures
    That to the height of this great Argument
    I may assert Eternal Providence,
    And justify the ways of God to men.
  3. impious
    lacking piety or reverence for a god
    and with ambitious aim
    Against the Throne and Monarchy of God
    Rais'd impious War in Heav'n and Battle proud
    With vain attempt.
  4. perdition
    the place or state in which one suffers eternal punishment
    Him the Almighty Power
    Hurl'd headlong flaming from th' Ethereal Sky
    With hideous ruin and combustion down
    To bottomless perdition, there to dwell
    In Adamantine Chains and penal Fire
  5. deluge
    a heavy rain
    but torture without end
    Still urges, and a fiery Deluge, fed
    With ever-burning Sulphur unconsum'd
  6. leviathan
    monstrous sea creature symbolizing evil in the Old Testament
    that Sea-beast
    LEVIATHAN, which God of all his works
    Created hugest that swim th' Ocean stream
  7. enmity
    a state of deep-seated ill-will
    but in what shape they choose
    Dilated or condens't, bright or obscure,
    Can execute their airy purposes,
    And works of love or enmity fulfill.
  8. odious
    extremely repulsive or unpleasant
    A Leper once he lost and gain'd a King,
    AHAZ his sottish Conquerour, whom he drew
    God's Altar to disparage and displace
    For one of SYRIAN mode, whereon to burn
    His odious off'rings, and adore the Gods
    Whom he had vanquisht.
  9. dauntless
    invulnerable to fear or intimidation
    Dark'n'd so, yet shone
    Above them all th' Arch-Angel: but his face
    Deep scars of Thunder had entrenched, and care
    Sat on his faded cheek, but under Brows
    Of dauntless courage, and considerate Pride
    Waiting revenge
  10. puissant
    powerful
    For who can yet believe, though after loss,
    That all these puissant Legions, whose exile
    Hath emptied Heav'n, shall fail to re-ascend
    Self-rais'd, and repossess their native seat.
  11. defiance
    a hostile challenge
    highly they rag'd
    Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arms
    Clash'd on their sounding shields the din of war,
    Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heav'n.
  12. reprobate
    deviating from what is considered moral or right or proper
    And here let those
    Who boast in mortal things, and wond'ring tell
    Of BABEL, and the works of MEMPHIAN Kings,
    Learn how their greatest Monuments of Fame,
    And Strength and Art are easily outdone
    By Spirits reprobate
  13. exalt
    raise in rank, character, or status
    The hasty multitude
    Admiring enter'd, and the work some praise
    And some the Architect: his hand was known
    In Heav'n by many a Towered structure high,
    Where Scepter'd Angels held their residence,
    And sat as Princes, whom the supreme King
    Exalted to such power, and gave to rule,
    Each in his Hierarchy, the Orders bright.
  14. zenith
    the highest point of something
    from Morn
    To Noon he fell, from Noon to dewy Eve,
    A Summer's day; and with the setting Sun
    Dropt from the Zenith like a falling Star,
    On LEMNOS th' AEGAEAN Isle
  15. rout
    a disorderly crowd of people
    thus they relate,
    Erring: for he with this rebellious rout
    Fell long before
  16. pandemonium
    a state of extreme confusion and disorder
    Meanwhile the winged Heralds by command
    Of Sovereign power, with awful Ceremony
    And Trumpets sound throughout the Host proclaim
    A solemn Council forthwith to be held
    At PANDEMONIUM, the high Capital
    Of Satan and his Peers
  17. expatiate
    add details to clarify an idea
    As Bees
    In spring time, when the Sun with Taurus rides,
    Pour forth their populous youth about the Hive
    In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers
    Fly to and fro, or on the smoothed Plank,
    The suburb of their Straw-built Citadel,
    New rub'd with Balm, expatiate and confer
    Their State affairs.
  18. throng
    press tightly together or cram
    Behold a wonder! they but now who seemed
    In bigness to surpass Earth's Giant Sons
    Now less than smallest Dwarfs, in narrow room
    Throng numberless
  19. jocund
    full of or showing high-spirited merriment
    they on their mirth and dance
    Intent, with jocund Music charm his ear;
    At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds.
  20. conclave
    a confidential or secret meeting
    But far within
    And in their own dimensions like themselves
    The great Seraphic Lords and Cherubim
    In close recess and secret conclave sat
    A thousand Demi-Gods on golden seats,
    Frequent and full.
Created on Wed Aug 07 12:52:12 EDT 2013 (updated Tue Mar 26 11:00:05 EDT 2019)

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