Merchant of Venice Final Terms

prodigal

a person who spends money recklessly

thwart

to prevent (someone) from accomplishing something

sufferance

patient tolerance/endurance

the rack

most painful form of medieval torture; wooden frame that stretched out victim until a crack is heard or limbs are broken or bones are dislocated

amity

friendship

begot

to cause; produce as an effect

engender

to produce, cause, or give rise to

gaudy

bright and showy, but lacking in good taste

infidel

non-believer (of religion)

entreat

plead; ask earnestly

gratis

without charge or payment; free

husbandry

management of domestic affairs

obdurate

stubborn; unyielding

malice

desire to do evil, ill-will

epitaph

an inscription in memory of a dead person, usually on a tombstone

beseech

to implore urgently

temporal

worldly; secular

mitigate

to moderate in force or intensity

perjury

false testimony under oath

precedent

an earlier, similar event (that serves as an example)

mercenary

motivated solely by a desire for monetary or material gain

shrew

an offensive term for a woman who is regarded as quarrelsome

paltry

lacking importance or worth; trivial

mar

to cause harm to; spoil or impair

cuckold

a man married to an unfaithful wife