Robert Frost: Poems Glossary

Glossary of Terms

abode

house

airy

light or delicate

alter

change

aster

a flower that blooms in the autumn

beholden

obligated

bracken

a large fern

clasp

a tight grip

coax

to influence or manipulate with gentle persuasion

consign

entrust

conspiracy

a group of people agreeing to take part in an unlawful or immoral act

copse

a group of small trees

daft

foolish or crazy

dalliance

a trifling or pointless action

dappled

spotted or speckled

daunting

intimidating

din

a series of loud noises

distraught

emotionally agitated or upset

diverged

extending in different directions

emulous

ambitious

enamel

a smooth or glossy substance

ether

a colorless liquid that serves as an anesthetic

fay

fairy

feeble

weak

fixity

stability or permanence

foot

A poetic term for a small group of syllables

harbor

to shelter or hide

idle

inactive

inconsolable

unable to be comforted

kin

family members

languor

lack of energy

linger

to delay or dawdle

loftiness

elevated in height and dignity

mar

to damage or deface

obscure

unclear or unnoticeable

orchis

orchid

perish

die

pique

attract or excite

precipitate

to cause in a violent or sudden manner

queer

odd

ravel

entangle

reckless

irresponsible

rife

common

rueful

regretful

scythe

a farm tool used for mowing

shroud

burial wrapping

sidelong

sideways

snarl

growl

spade

a tool used for digging

staid

restrained or calm

subdue

to bring under control

suffice

satisfy, especially a need

swale

a low-lying stretch of land

taciturn

silent

taut

drawn tightly

undergrowth

low-lying trees or shrubbery

verily

in reality

wages

money that is paid in exchange for daily or weekly labor

wend

to go one's way

whippoorwill

a small North American bird with white, gray, or black plumage

whither

an archaic term meaning "where"

wist

an archaic term meaning "know"

witch hazel

a small tree with flexible branches

wither

to shrivel up

zephyr

a light Spring breeze