The Absolute Shakespeare Glossary is a dictionary
for Shakespeare, it explains the meanings of the words
the Bard uses that are not in common use today.
ABATE, v. t. to deduct, except, to blunt, take the
edge off, to deprive
ABHOR, v. t. to reject
ABJECTS, sub. servile persons
ABLE, v. t. to warrant
ABODE, v. t. to forebode
ABODEMENTS, sub. evil omens
ABRAM, adj, auburn
ABRIDGMENT, sub. a short entertainment
ABSEY-BOOK, sub. a primer
ABSOLUTE, adj, resolved, perfect, positive
ABY, v. t. to pay for, atone for
ACCITE, v. t. to cite, summon
ACCITES, v. t. excites
ACKNOWN, BE NOT, do not pretend to be cognizant of
ACONITUM, sub. the plant aconite, or wolf's bane
ACTURE, sub. performance
ADDICTION, sub. inclination
ADDITION, sub. title
ADDRESSED, adj, ready
ADOPTIOUS, adj. given by adoption, not real
AFAR OFF, adv. indirectly, remotely
AFFECT, sub. inclination; v. t. to love
AFFECTION, sub. affectation
AFFECTIONED, adj. full of affectation
AFFEERED, pt. p. confirmed, a law term
AFFRONT, v. t. to confront, to face
AFFY, v. t. to betroth; v. i. to confide
AFTER-SUPPER, sub. rere-supper
AGLET-BABY, sub. the figure cut on the tag of a
lace [Fr. aiguillette]
AGNIZE, v. t. to acknowledge, avow
AGOOD, adv. much, a great deal
A-HOLD, adv. to lay a ship a-hold=to keep her
up to wind
AIERY, AERY, sub. the brood of an eagle; 'An aery of
children,' alluding to a company of young
actors
AIM, sub. a guess
AIM, TO CRY, v. i. a phrase borrowed from archery; to
give
encouragement to
ALDERLIEFEST, adj. dearest of all
ALL AMORT, adj. quite dejected [Fr. à la mort]
ALLAY, sub. mitigation
ALL HID, sub. the game of hide and seek
ALLICHOLY, adj; sub. melancholy
ALLOW, v. to approve
ALL-THING, adv. in every way
ALMS-DRINK, sub. liquor drunk to ease another
AMES-ACE, sub. the lowest throw of dice
ANCHOR, sub. an anchorite, a hermit
ANCIENT, sub. an officer next in rank to a lieu-
tenant, Comp. Ancient
Pistol.
ANNEXION, sub. addition
ANSWERABLE, adj, corresponding
ANTICK, sub. the buffoon of the old plays
ANTRE, sub. a cavern [Fr. antre]
APPEACH, v. i. to impeach
APPEAL, sub. impeachment
APPLE-JOHN, sub. a shrivelled up winter apple.
APPOINTMENT, sub. equipment
APPROOF, sub. approval, proof
APRICOCK, sub. apricot
APRON-MAN, sub. a mechanic
ARCH, sub. chief, master
ARGOSY, sub. a large merchantman, perhaps from
Ragusa [Hagusine]
AROINT THEE, int. avaunt, stand off, begone
ARTHUR'S SHOW, sub. an archery exhibition by a
society of London archers, who assumed the
name of Arthur and his knights
ARTICULATE, v. i. to specify, set forth; to draw up
articles for a peace
ASKANCE, adv. awry, with sidelong glance
; v. t. to make to turn aside
ASSINEGO, sub. an ass
ATONE, v. t. to reconcile, set at one
ATTAINT, sub. stain, disgrace
AUGUR, sub. augury
AUNT, sub. an old woman; a loose woman
AVISE, v. t. to inform. 'Are you avised ?'='Do
you know?
|