Alexander's Feast, or the Power of Music

Alexander's Feast, or the Power of Music Glossary

deity

god or goddess

valiant

possessing or acting with bravery or boldness

sovereign

ruler

imperial

of, relating to, befitting, or suggestive of an empire or an emperor

sate

to be satisfied completely

belied

(past tense of belie) to present an appearance not in agreement with

sublime

of outstanding spiritual, intellectual, or moral worth

awful

inspiring awe

myrtles

(plural of myrtle) a common evergreen bushy shrub of southern Europe with oval to lance-shaped shiny leaves, fragrant white or rosy flowers, and black berries

quire

archaic spelling of choir

spires

(plural of spire) the upper tapering part of something (such as a tree or antler)

prest

(archaic spelling of pressed, past tense of press) to push or strain forward, as through a crowd or against obstacles or hindrances; to push one's way, advance with force or eagerness; to hasten on

ravish'd

(archaic spelling of ravished) overcome with emotion (such as joy or delight)

vaulted

built in the form of a vault; arched

hautboys

(plural of hautboy) a woodwind musical instrument; an oboe

routed

(past tense of rout) to defeat decisively or disastrously

Lydian

the designation of one of the modes in ancient Greek music, characterized as soft and effeminate

flambeau

a flaming torch

weltering

(present participle of welter) to roll or twist the body; to turn or tumble about; to lie and roll about; to writhe, to wriggle

bellows

an instrument consisting of an air chamber with flexible sides or end, a means of compressing it, an inlet valve, and a constricted outlet that is used to create a stream of air, as for producing a draught for a fire or for sounding organ pipes