betrothal

1. betrothal (n) A mutual promise to marry I thought to write a song about his doomed romance, but said to save it for his betrothal to Ethelfritha. In 1548 the noble arranged her daughters betrothal. Betty was unhappy about her betrothal to Stephan, for she was in love with his brother.

2. dilemma (n) A difficult or perplexing situation or problem I think I could understand her dilemma. I want to try my new game, but I have a dilemma in that I don’t have any time. Sometimes it takes a small, focused company to solve a vexing design dilemma.

3. friar (n) A member of a Roman Catholic religious order for men At the abbey, only friars with more than a year of residency are allowed to speak to outsiders. The friar at the abbey was known for his medicinal cures. Medieval friars, taught to read by the monastery, were some of the only literate citizens.

4. joust (n) A combat in which two knights on horse back attempted to unhorse each other with blunted laces. Walter is going to the king to complain and there may be a joust between them at the next tournament. Jousting knights would hold their lances in their right hand, therefore passing on each others ' right. A favorite horseback activity at modern medieval fairs is to joust.

5. martyr (n) A person who willingly suffers death rather than renounce his/her religion Tonight I stayed awake for the holy book, for we read of all the ways martyrs have died for the glory of God. He was a martyr for the world, dying for his country. Devout people often feel the need to be a martyr, taking the arrows meant for their “flock.”

6. penance (n) payment for sin He will do penance by resigning from his cushy job and working in a slum. David paid penance for his theft by working for free until his debt was paid. She offered prayers as penance for her sins.

7. putrid (adj) in a state of foul decay or decomposition, as animal or vegetable matter; rotten. I will not be sorry to see the Christmas days end, for I have been spending excessive time caring people ale head, putrid stomach. That guy is stinking drunk. Putrid, in fact. I turned away from the putrid remains of a dead raccoon on the side of a highway Putrid

8. solar (n) A private or upper chamber in a medieval English house My father called me into the solar this morning. He was smiling. I knew it meant no good for me. The solar of a medieval castle was a private room for sleeping. Uncle kept his telescope in the solar, as it held the highest window of the castle. Medieval solar

9. soothsayer (n) A person who professes to foretell events. Dawn claimed to be a soothsayer, but we distrusted her true ability to tell the future. The fisherman trusted the soothsayer who foresaw the ocean storm and warned him to stay home. Scientists and superheroes are our modern day soothsayers and warriors, here to warn and defend. See a soothsayer.

10. wimple  Simple wimple I watched her closely during dinner, her veil and wimple were crooked and stained with crumbs and gravy. I left home without my wimple, and noticed the looks of disdain from passersby at my uncovered head. The medieval bride wore a silk wimple on her head. (n) A woman's head cloth drawn in folds about the chin, formally worn out of doors, and still in use by some nuns