| Term | Definition |
|---|
| Alack | expression of regret, sorrow, dismay, alarm |
| Anon | at once |
| Atomies | tiny creatures |
| Avaunt | Go away! Withdram! Depart |
| Belike | most likely; probably |
| Beseech | impore; beg; askl; importune |
| Betimes | immediately; at once |
| Betwixt | between |
| Bombard | leather jug |
| Bourn | boundary |
| Bruit | echo, noise, clamor; to make a report or spread a rumor |
| Buckram | stiff cotton cloth used to line clothing |
| Cap-a-Pie | entirely; in every way |
| Cozen | cheat; trick; deceive |
| Cuckold; | man married to an adulteress |
| Durst | dared; had the courage to |
| Ere | before; previous to; sooner than |
| Fain | ready; willing; eager |
| Fardel | burden; pack; bundle |
| Fie | For shame! Nonsense! |
| Fool | In the courts of England, a fool was a comic figure with a quick tongue who entertained the king, queen and their guests. He was allowed to--and even expected to--criticize anyone at court. Many fools, or jesters, were dwarfs or cripples, their odd appearance enhancing their appeal and, according to prevail beliefs, bringing good luck to the court. Shakespeare wrote many fools into his plays. Among them were the fool in King Lear and Feste in Twelfth Night. William Kempe and Richard Armin became London celebrities for their performances as fools in Shakespeare's plays. Armin wrote a book about |
| Fordo | ruin; kill; destroy |
| Forsooth | indeed; in truth; verily; in fact |
| Gaoler | jailer |
| Gramercy | thanks, thank you |
| Gules | in heraldry, the color red |
| Haply | perhaps; by accident or chance; by happenstance |
| Hautboy | oboe, a woodwind instrument |
| Holp | help or helped |
| Huggermugger | secret act performed in confusion or haste |
| Incarnadine | blood-red |
| Liege | lord; king; sovereign |
| Marry | by the Virgin Mary (I swear by the Virgin Mary); the meaning and force are similar to those of the word well. Example from Shakespeare: "Marry, what do you think, John?" Also used as an exclamation of surprise or emphasis |
| Meed | merit, worth, excellence |
| Methinks | I think; it seems to me; it appears as if |
| Misprise | undervalue; underestimate; belittle; disparage |
| Moe | more |
| Morris | dance in which costumed performers act out a story |
| Morrow | morning |
| Mote | dust particle; speck |
| Nonce | occasion |
| Orison | prayer |
| Palter | talk insincerely; mislead; equivocate; leave the meaning open to interpretation |
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