A Glossary of Common Shakespearean Words
Reading Shakespeare and snagging on words that don’t quite make sense? Here are 353 archaic and Early Modern English words defined in plain modern English — from anon and prithee to the 35 “false friends” like wherefore (means “why,” not “where”) and still (means “always”) whose meaning has quietly shifted over four centuries.
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A
- a
- he; sometimes a weakened form of 'he' e.g., 'a would' = 'he would'
- abhor
- to loathe; to shrink from with disgust
- abide
- to wait; to endure; to remain see also tarry
- aboard
- onto or on a ship
- abroad
- out of the house; out and about false friend — often means 'outdoors,' not 'in a foreign land'
- adieu
- goodbye; farewell see also farewell
- afeard
- afraid; frightened see also affright
- affright
- to frighten; terror see also afeard
- aglet
- a small metal tag or spangle on a lace
- alarum
- a call to arms; the noise of battle
- amain
- at full speed; with all one's might
- amerce
- to punish, usually with a fine
- an
- if often 'an if' = 'if'; a common conditional see also and
- an't
- if it; 'an't please you' = 'if it please you' see also an
- and
- if often 'and' or 'an' = 'if' in conditionals see also an
- apace
- quickly; at a rapid pace
- apparel
- clothing; dress
- apparent
- clear; obvious; also 'heir apparent'
- argosy
- a large merchant ship or fleet
- aroint
- begone!; away! a command to depart, as 'aroint thee, witch'
- assay
- to attempt or test; an attempt
- attend
- to wait upon; to listen to; to accompany false friend — often means 'serve' or 'await,' not 'be present'
- aught
- anything; anything at all see also naught
B
- beadle
- a minor parish officer who punished petty offenders
- begone
- go away!; depart! see also avaunt, hence, get thee gone
- beguile
- to deceive; to charm; to pass time pleasantly
- beldam
- an old woman; a grandmother; a hag
- beshrew
- a mild curse; 'a plague on' 'beshrew me' = 'curse me,' often playful
- bethink
- to consider; to call to mind 'bethink thee' = 'think it over'
- betimes
- early; in good time; soon
- betwixt
- between see also twixt
- bewray
- to reveal or betray; to expose not the same as 'betray' in scale; means 'disclose'
- blithe
- cheerful; carefree; merry
- bodkin
- a small dagger; also a long pin or needle
- boot
- profit; use; advantage 'to boot' = 'in addition' see also bootless
- bootless
- useless; futile; without gain false friend — nothing to do with boots; 'boot' meant profit see also boot
- bosom
- the heart; one's innermost feelings or confidence
- brave
- fine; splendid; excellent false friend — often means 'handsome/grand,' not 'courageous'
- buckler
- a small round shield; to shield or defend
- by and by
- soon; shortly; before long false friend — meant 'right away,' not 'eventually' see also anon
C
- caitiff
- a wretch; a base or cowardly person
- canker
- a spreading sore or worm; something that corrupts
- carrion
- rotting flesh; used as an insult for a vile person
- cerements
- burial wrappings; a shroud
- chapman
- a peddler or merchant
- cheer
- mood; disposition; countenance 'be of good cheer' = 'take heart'
- chide
- to scold; to rebuke; to quarrel see also rail
- choler
- anger; irritability one of the four bodily humors; means 'wrath'
- chuck
- a term of endearment; darling affectionate, like 'chick' or 'dear'
- clepe
- to call or name 'ycleped' = 'named/called'
- closet
- a small private room; a study false friend — not a wardrobe
- clout
- a piece of cloth; a rag; the center of a target
- cog
- to cheat or deceive, especially with dice
- coil
- turmoil; fuss; commotion 'this mortal coil' = the trouble of earthly life
- colours
- a flag or banner; military standard
- comfit
- a sugared sweet or candy
- commend
- to entrust; to convey greetings; to praise 'commend me to' = 'send my regards to'
- commonweal
- the common good; the community or state see also weal
- conceit
- a thought, idea, or imagination false friend — means 'notion,' not 'vanity'
- condition
- nature; temperament; disposition
- cony
- a rabbit; also a dupe or victim of a trick 'cony-catcher' = a con man
- cope
- to meet; to encounter; to contend with
- cormorant
- greedy; insatiable used to mean 'ravenous' after the greedy seabird
- corse
- a corpse; a dead body
- countenance
- the face; facial expression; also favor or support see also visage
- cousin
- any kinsman or relative false friend — meant any relative or close friend, not just a cousin see also coz, kinsman
- coz
- a familiar shortening of 'cousin'; a kinsman see also cousin
- crave
- to beg for; to ask earnestly; to require false friend — means 'request,' broader than intense desire
- cur
- a mongrel dog; a contemptible person
- cutpurse
- a pickpocket or thief
D
- dally
- to linger; to trifle; to flirt
- dam
- a mother usually of an animal, or contemptuous of a person
- dare
- to be bold enough; to challenge see also durst
- dear
- heartfelt; grievous; costly could mean 'dire' as well as 'beloved'
- dight
- dressed; adorned; prepared
- discourse
- conversation; talk; the power of reasoning as a verb, 'to converse'
- discover
- to reveal or uncover; to disclose false friend — means 'reveal,' not 'find for the first time'
- dispatch
- to send off quickly; to kill; to finish 'dispatch' often means 'hurry' or 'do away with'
- distemper
- illness; a disordered state of mind or body
- doff
- to take off (clothing); to remove see also don
- don
- to put on (clothing) see also doff
- dotage
- feeble-mindedness of old age; foolish affection
- drab
- a prostitute; a slovenly woman
- draught
- a drink or dose; the act of drinking
- durst
- dared past tense of 'dare' see also dare
- duteous
- dutiful; obedient
- duty
- respect; reverence owed to a superior 'do my duty' = 'pay my respects'
E
- e'en
- even; a contraction of 'even' see also e'er
- e'er
- ever; a contraction of 'ever' see also ne'er
- eftsoons
- soon afterward; again; shortly
- eke
- also; likewise an old word for 'in addition'
- eld
- old age; former times
- embrace
- to hold in the arms; to accept willingly
- enow
- enough an old form of 'enough'
- erst
- formerly; before now; once
- even
- evening as a noun; 'good even' = 'good evening' see also morrow
- eyne
- eyes an old plural of 'eye'
F
- fain
- gladly; willingly; eager 'I would fain' = 'I would gladly'
- fardel
- a bundle or burden
- fardels
- burdens; heavy loads see also fardel
- farewell
- goodbye; a parting wish of well-being see also adieu
- favour
- appearance; the face; good looks false friend — could mean 'face' or 'looks'
- fell
- cruel; fierce; deadly false friend — as an adjective means 'savage,' not 'dropped'
- fie
- an exclamation of disgust or disapproval; 'shame!' see also out upon
- fleer
- to sneer or mock; to grin scornfully
- foison
- plenty; abundance; a rich harvest
- fond
- foolish; silly; also doting false friend — usually means 'foolish,' not 'affectionate' see also nice
- forfend
- to forbid; to prevent 'heaven forfend' = 'heaven forbid'
- forsooth
- truly; indeed; in truth often mildly sarcastic or emphatic see also verily, sooth, in sooth
- forswear
- to renounce; to deny under oath; to perjure oneself
- fortnight
- two weeks; fourteen nights see also sennight
- froward
- stubborn; contrary; hard to please see also peevish
G
- gage
- a pledge or challenge, often a thrown glove
- gall
- bitterness; to injure or annoy; to chafe
- gaud
- a showy trinket; a cheap ornament
- gentle
- noble; wellborn; courteous false friend — meant 'of noble birth,' not merely 'mild'
- gramercy
- many thanks; great thanks from French 'grand merci'
- grievous
- severe; causing grief; heavy
- grizzled
- gray-haired; streaked with gray
- guerdon
- a reward or recompense
- gull
- a dupe or fool; to trick or deceive see also cozen
- gyves
- shackles; fetters for the legs
H
- halcyon
- calm; peaceful; happy 'halcyon days' = a period of calm
- halt
- to limp; lame as a verb/adjective means 'walk lamely'
- hart
- an adult male deer; a stag often puns on 'heart'
- heavy
- sorrowful; sad; weighed down false friend — often means 'grieving,' not physically heavy
- hence
- from here; away; from now 'get hence' = 'go away'; 'a week hence' = 'a week from now' see also thence, whence, hither
- hie thee
- hurry; go quickly a command to hasten see also hie
- hight
- named; called an old passive: 'he hight' = 'he was called'
- hind
- a farm servant; a rustic; also a female deer
- ho
- an exclamation to attract attention; 'hey!' see also what ho
- holla
- a shout to attract attention; 'stop!' or 'hello!' see also what ho
- holp
- helped old past tense of 'help'
- honest
- chaste; virtuous; respectable false friend — of a woman often meant 'chaste'
- humour
- mood; temperament; whim tied to the four bodily fluids thought to govern mood
- husbandry
- thrift; careful management; farming
I
- imbrue
- to stain, especially with blood
- import
- to signify; to be of importance; meaning 'it imports' = 'it matters'
- incontinent
- immediately; at once false friend — meant 'right away,' not a medical term
J
- jade
- a worn-out or bad-tempered horse; a disreputable woman
- jointure
- property settled on a wife for her widowhood
K
- kind
- nature; natural character; species false friend — often means 'nature/kinship,' not 'gentle' see also kindly
- kindly
- natural; according to one's nature could mean 'naturally,' not just 'gently' see also kind
- kine
- cattle; cows an old plural of 'cow'
- knell
- the slow ringing of a bell for a death or funeral
L
- la
- an exclamation for emphasis; 'indeed!' 'look!'
- lade
- to load; to burden
- leman
- a lover or sweetheart; a mistress
- lief
- gladly; willingly 'I had as lief' = 'I would just as gladly' see also fain
- liege
- a lord or sovereign to whom loyalty is owed
- livery
- a servant's uniform; distinctive clothing
- loath
- unwilling; reluctant see also fain
- lusty
- vigorous; lively; full of health false friend — meant 'energetic,' not always sexual
M
- maid
- an unmarried girl; a virgin; a female servant see also wench
- main
- the open sea; the chief part; great strength
- mammering
- hesitating; wavering; stammering
- marchpance
- marzipan; a sweet almond paste
- marry
- indeed; why; to be sure a mild oath from 'by Mary'; not the verb 'to wed' see also forsooth
- marry come up
- an expression of indignant surprise like 'well, how dare you!' see also marry
- maugre
- in spite of; despite
- meed
- a reward; a deserved recompense see also guerdon
- meet
- fitting; suitable; proper false friend — as an adjective means 'appropriate'
- mere
- absolute; complete; utter false friend — meant 'total,' not 'only a little' see also merely
- merely
- completely; entirely; wholly false friend — meant 'utterly,' not 'only' see also mere
- meseems
- it seems to me see also methinks
- mete
- to measure out; to allot
- methinks
- it seems to me; I think 'me' = 'to me'; 'thinks' = 'seems' see also meseems
- mickle
- much; great; a large amount
- minion
- a favorite; a darling; also a hussy could be affectionate or contemptuous
- mishap
- an unlucky accident; misfortune see also hap
- moiety
- a half; a portion or share
- mountebank
- a quack; a con artist selling fake cures
- murrain
- a plague or disease, especially of cattle 'a murrain on you' = 'a plague on you'
N
O
- o'er
- over; a contraction of 'over' see also o'erthrow
- o'erthrow
- to overthrow; to defeat; to ruin see also o'er
- oft
- often; frequently see also ofttimes
- ofttimes
- often; many times see also oft
- or ever
- before; before ever 'or ere' also means 'before' see also ere
- orison
- a prayer
- ostler
- a stableman at an inn who tended horses
- out upon
- shame on; an expression of disgust 'out upon it!' = 'how disgraceful!' see also fie
- owe
- to own; to possess false friend — often meant 'to have,' not 'to be in debt'
P
- palter
- to equivocate; to speak or act deceitfully
- parlous
- perilous; dangerous; shrewd
- passing
- exceedingly; very false friend — 'passing fair' = 'extremely beautiful'
- peevish
- silly; obstinate; irritable could mean 'foolish' as well as 'cross' see also froward
- pelf
- money or wealth, viewed with contempt
- pensive
- sorrowful; deeply thoughtful; melancholy
- perchance
- perhaps; maybe; by chance see also mayhap, peradventure, haply
- perforce
- of necessity; by force; unavoidably
- physic
- medicine; a remedy; the art of healing
- plague
- a curse or affliction; to torment 'a plague on both your houses' = 'a curse on you both'
- pox
- a disease (esp. smallpox/syphilis); used as a curse 'a pox on you' = 'a curse on you'
- prate
- to chatter; to talk foolishly or at length see also prattle
- prattle
- to babble; to talk idly see also prate
- presently
- immediately; at once; right now false friend — meant 'now,' not 'soon' or 'later' see also straight, forthwith
- prevent
- to come before; to anticipate; to forestall false friend — meant 'go ahead of,' not only 'stop'
- prick
- to spur on; to mark; a point 'prick of noon' = 'exact midday'
- privy
- private; secret; aware of a secret 'privy to' = 'in on the secret of'
- proof
- tested strength; experience 'of proof' = 'proven, trustworthy'
- puissant
- powerful; mighty; strong
- puke
- a dark woolen cloth; a color between russet and black false friend — a fabric, not vomit
Q
- quaff
- to drink deeply and heartily
- quick
- alive; living false friend — 'the quick' = 'the living'; not 'fast' see also quicken
- quicken
- to come to life; to give life to
- quit
- to repay; to requite; to acquit or free 'quit you well' = 'acquit yourself well'
- quondam
- former; onetime; that once was
- quoth
- said 'quoth he' = 'said he'; only used in past tense
R
- rail
- to rant; to complain bitterly; to scold see also chide
- rapt
- carried away; entranced; absorbed
- reck
- to care; to heed 'reck not' = 'care not'
- recreant
- a coward; a traitor; disloyal
- repair
- to go; to make one's way to a place false friend — means 'travel to,' not 'fix'
- rheum
- tears; watery discharge; a cold
- rive
- to split; to tear apart; to cleave
S
- 'swounds
- an oath of surprise or anger contraction of 'God's wounds' see also zounds
- sable
- black in heraldry and poetry, 'sable' = 'black'
- sad
- serious; grave; sober false friend — often meant 'solemn,' not 'unhappy'
- sans
- without borrowed from French; 'sans teeth' = 'without teeth'
- saucy
- insolent; impudent; disrespectful stronger than modern 'cheeky'
- scurvy
- contemptible; worthless; mean a common insult: 'scurvy knave'
- seemly
- proper; decent; fitting see also meet
- sennight
- a week; seven nights see also fortnight
- shent
- scolded; blamed; disgraced
- shrift
- confession to a priest and absolution 'short shrift' = little time before punishment see also shrive
- shrive
- to hear confession and grant absolution see also shrift
- sirrah
- a term of address to an inferior or servant can be contemptuous; used to men and boys see also knave
- sith
- since; because see also sithence
- sithence
- since; since then see also sith
- slay
- to kill see also slew
- slew
- killed past tense of 'slay' see also slay
- sooth
- truth 'in sooth' = 'in truth'; a 'soothsayer' tells truth/future see also forsooth, in sooth, verily
- spleen
- impulsiveness; temper; sudden emotion seat of both anger and mirth in the old view
- sprightly
- lively; spirited; brisk
- spurn
- to reject with contempt; to kick away
- still
- always; continually; ever false friend — often meant 'constantly,' not 'yet' or 'motionless'
- straight
- immediately; at once; right away false friend — of time, not direction see also presently, forthwith, straightway
- straightway
- immediately; at once see also straight
- strumpet
- a prostitute; a promiscuous woman
- suffer
- to allow; to permit; to endure 'suffer it' = 'allow it'
- swain
- a young rustic man; a country lover or shepherd
T
- tabor
- a small drum
- teem
- to be fertile; to bring forth abundantly
- tender
- to offer; to hold dear; to regard 'tender your love' = 'value your love'
- tester
- a sixpence coin
- thereto
- to that; in addition; also
- thrall
- a slave; one held in bondage; captivity
- thrice
- three times see also twain
- tidings
- news; information
- tis
- it is contraction of 'it is'
- trencher
- a wooden plate or board for serving food
- troth
- faith; truth; a pledge 'by my troth' = 'on my honor'; 'plight troth' = 'promise' see also by my troth
- twain
- two; a pair 'in twain' = 'in two, apart' see also thrice
- twas
- it was contraction of 'it was' see also twere
- twere
- it were; it would be contraction of 'it were' see also twas
- twixt
- between contraction of 'betwixt' see also betwixt
U
- undone
- ruined; destroyed 'I am undone' = 'I am ruined'
- unmeet
- unfitting; improper; unsuitable see also meet
- unto
- to; toward; until
- usance
- interest charged on a loan; usury
V
- vaunt
- to boast; to brag
- vile
- worthless; base; disgusting could mean 'lowly/cheap,' not only morally evil
- visage
- the face; appearance; countenance see also countenance
- vouchsafe
- to grant; to graciously permit or allow
W
- want
- to lack; to be without false friend — often meant 'need/lack,' not 'desire' see also wanting
- wanting
- lacking; missing; deficient see also want
- ward
- a guard; protection; a minor under guardianship
- wax
- to grow; to increase 'wax and wane' = 'grow and shrink'
- weal
- well-being; prosperity; the state or commonwealth see also commonweal
- ween
- to think; to suppose; to imagine
- welkin
- the sky; the heavens
- wench
- a girl or young woman; a female servant often familiar or mildly disparaging, not always rude see also maid
- whence
- from where; from which place 'whence come you?' = 'where do you come from?' see also hence, thence, whither
- where
- whereas; while sometimes used for 'whereas'
- wherefore
- why; for what reason false friend — means 'why,' not 'where' see also wherefore
- whit
- a tiny bit; the least amount 'not a whit' = 'not at all'
- whither
- to where; to which place 'whither goest thou?' = 'where are you going?' see also hither, thither, whence
- whoreson
- a coarse term of abuse; 'bastard' often used jokingly or as a rough insult
- wide
- far from the mark; astray 'wide of the truth' = 'far from correct'
- wight
- a person; a human being; a creature
- wist
- knew past tense of 'wot' see also wot
- withal
- with; besides; in addition; nevertheless
- wittol
- a man who tolerates his wife's unfaithfulness
- woe
- deep sorrow; grief; misery 'woe is me' = 'I am full of sorrow'
- wont
- accustomed; a habit; usual practice 'as he was wont' = 'as was his custom'
- wot
- to know 'I wot not' = 'I do not know' see also wist
- wrack
- ruin; destruction; wreckage 'wrack and ruin' = 'total destruction'
Y
Z
- zounds
- an oath of anger or astonishment contraction of 'God's wounds' see also 'swounds
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