Cleopatra: Chapters 10–12

by Susan Blackaby
This biography explores the ascension and reign of Cleopatra, the ancient Egyptian pharaoh.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Introduction–Chapter 3, Chapters 4–6, Chapters 7–9, Chapters 10–12, Chapters 13–15
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. comply
    act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes
    Once he reached Antioch, Mark Antony’s first order of business was to send for Cleopatra, and this time, she readily complied.
  2. despise
    look down on with disdain or disgust
    She had been despised as an underhanded and conniving witch since her days with Caesar.
    Although "despised" is used as a participial adjective here, it is usually a verb that's synonymous with "scorn" (see list for Chapters 7-9). Its Latin roots show a close connection to its modern meaning: de (down) + specere (to look).
  3. bigamy
    the offense of marrying someone while you have a spouse
    What’s more, bigamy could now be added to Mark Antony’s many shortcomings.
    "Shortcoming" has an ironic tone here, since it literally means coming short of a quantity or quality, yet Mark Antony's many shortcomings included having two wives and having too much fun.
  4. cede
    give over
    It promised to restore her lost provinces and ceded territories.
  5. thriving
    very lively and profitable
    He also let her keep Cyprus and included several thriving port cities and most of Judea’s coastline.
  6. extensive
    large in spatial extent or range or scope or quantity
    The extensive cedar, cypress, and oak groves now belonging to her would provide the raw materials that Mark Antony required.
  7. reinforcement
    additional support for an existing military operation
    He needed reinforcements. He needed money. He needed Cleopatra’s help.
  8. misgiving
    uneasiness about the fitness of an action
    Some historians believe that misgivings caused her to delay.
  9. despondent
    without or almost without hope
    He became despondent over his own failings and the loss of his troops.
  10. falter
    be or become weak, unsteady, or uncertain
    She needed to stabilize her position in order to help support Mark Antony’s faltering efforts.
  11. resolve
    the trait of being firm in purpose or belief
    Cleopatra responded to Mark Antony’s defeat with steely resolve.
    To be resolute is to be "firm in purpose or belief" and it is similar to being steely, except that "resolute" has a positive tone, while "steely" is often connected to a firmness that is cold and unfriendly. Here, "steely" is also a pun: although Cleopatra was not likely to have used a sword, she and Mark Antony were conducting a war.
  12. contradict
    deny the truth of
    Mark Antony could not very well contradict this statement without admitting that he actually had suffered a crushing defeat.
  13. exemplary
    worthy of imitation
    Octavia behaved as an exemplary Roman wife in spite of Mark Antony’s appalling conduct.
    Compare with "inimitable" in the list for Chapters 7-9. The adjectives are antonyms, and the example sentences emphasize the opposite natures of Cleopatra and Octavia. Here, "exemplary" and "appalling" describe behavior on opposite ends, but the adjectives are not direct antonyms; someone causing dismay, disappointment, or horror with his appalling conduct is not usually concerned with being watched and imitated.
  14. hostility
    a state of deep-seated ill-will
    Cleopatra’s open hostility toward King Herod and his suspicion of her ensured that the queen received a somewhat frosty reception in Judea.
  15. considerable
    large in number, amount, extent, or degree
    However, Cleopatra did not actually give up any of her considerable power.
  16. defamation
    an abusive attack on a person's character or good name
    During 33 BCE, disagreements and mistrust turned to public accusations and defamation.
  17. shrewd
    marked by practical hardheaded intelligence
    Cleopatra was a shrewd, capable, and experienced leader.
    Compare with "cunning" in the list for Chapters 7-9. In their example sentences, "cunning" is used as a noun and is modified with the negative adjective "ruthless" while "shrewd" is used as an adjective and has a positive tone that is supported by "capable" and "experienced." "Cunning" can also be an adjective that is synonymous with "shrewd" in the given definition and this one: good at tricking people to get something.
  18. consult
    have a conference in order to talk something over
    Flanked by her Roman guards, she consulted with allies and generals and made decisions.
  19. compromise
    expose or make liable to danger, suspicion, or disrepute
    If Mark Antony did not feel that his role was compromised by Cleopatra’s royal presence, his loyal supporters did.
    As a noun, "compromise" means "an accommodation in which both sides make concessions" or "a middle way between two extremes"--these definitions are suggested by the example sentence, since Mark Antony's role was compromised by a woman who was not likely to make compromises since she was born into the role of queen and had also taken on the roles of a commander and conqueror.
  20. convince
    make realize the truth or validity of something
    She not only convinced Mark Antony that she should stay, she talked him into letting her lead her own fleet.
Created on Wed Jul 30 22:13:09 EDT 2014 (updated Mon Aug 20 15:18:08 EDT 2018)

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