Glossary of Elizabethan words used in play Julius Caesar
In the works of William Shakespeare, there are many differences in grammar, syntax and meaning compared to the language toady used. This is because of the renaissance movement. The ancient classics were being studied as they had never before been studied in England. Therefore the language is full of English-Latin and Latin- English and an orderly arrangement of words into sentences is therefore lacking.
The play Julius Caesar is one of the excellent works of William Shakespeare but, students may find a hard time going through the play Julius Caesar due to the old, Elizabethan words used. Here is the glossary of the Elizabethan words used in the play Julius Caesar. I am sure you will not face the same problem after reading this.
A
Accoutred - fully clothed
Afeard - afraid ague - (pron : 'eig-yoo')
Alarum - trumpet signal for attack
An - if
Apparent prodigies - wonders that have appeared
Appertain - pertain
Apt - ready
Art - are / theory
Aside - by side of stage
As lief not be - rather not live
Aught - anything awhile - for a while
Augurers - priests who interprets omens
Ay - yes
B
Bade - commanded
Be - is/are
Become - suit
Beest - is/are
Behold - see
Beholding - indebted
Belike - probably
Be'st - is/are
Beseech - request/beg
Bestride - stand with one leg on each side
Bestow - distribute
Bethink - change
Betimes - early
Betwixt - between
Bid - tell
Bootless - vainly
Break'st - break
Bring'st - bring
Brother - brother/brother-in-law
But- only/except
But soft- slowly
C
Can'st - can
Carrion - living carcasses
Chafing with - beating on
Charactery - writing
Chidden - scolded
Common proof - common experience
Concave shores - overhanging banks
Construe - explain
Coronets - small crown made of laurel wreath
Couldst - could
Cridest - cried
Crossed - opposed
D
Dar'st - dare
Diest - die
Distract - mad/upset
Dost - do
Doth - does
Dropping fire - thunder
Durst not - dare not
E
Envy - malice
Ere - before
Erns - grieves
Even - evening
Exeuent - plural of "exit"
Exit - one person when leaves
F
Factious - active
Fain - gladly
Falling Sickness - epilepsy
Favour - feature
Fond- foolish
Forth - out
Fleering - the Elizabethan meaning combined of our "fawning" and "sneering"
Flourish - loud sound
Fly - escape
Furthest - farthest
G
Gamesome - sportive
Glazed - a combination of glared and gazed
Go to (IV,iii,33) - nonsense
H
Hail - welcome
Hark - listen
Hart - deer (pun heart)
Hast - has
Hath - has
Hence - go away
Hie - hurry
Hinds - deer
Hither - here
Humour - influence/mood/manner
I
Ides - the 15th day of the month
Increasth - increases
Ingrafted - deep-rooted
Insuppressive - unsuppressable, indomitable
Intermit - hold off K
Knave (I,i,16) - rascal
(IV,iii,240) - fellow
(IV,iii,268) - boy
L
Lethe - according to mythology Lethe was a river in Hades, the waters of which induced forgetfulness. Here death.
Like - likely
Lo - look
Lover - friend
Lov'st - love
M
Marry - an oath
Masters - friends
Mayest - may
Meanest - mean
Meet - fitting
Merrily - happily
Methinks - I think
Moe - more
N
Naughty - insolent, wicked
Nay - no
Niggard - satisfy economically
Nor ... nor - neither ... nor
O
Oft - often
Ope - open
Or ... or - either ... or
P
Palter - quibble or deceive
Partake - share
Praetor - magistrate
Prick - spur
Prithee - request you
Prodigies - unnatural events
Put on - incite, reveal
Put to silence - execution
P
Quick mettle - mentally sharp
R
Rated - upbraided
Rheumy - moist
Riv'd - torn
S
Saucy - cheeky
Save except
Say'st - say
Sick offence - harmful illness
Sirrah - fellow
Soft You! - Hold on, wait
Sounded - proclaimed
Stricken - struck
Strucken - struck
Suitor - practitioner
Sufficeth - sufficient
Swounded - fainted
T
Tapers - candles
Tarry - wait
Thee - you
Therein - in this
Thither - there
Thorough - through
Thou - you
Three-and-thirty - three-thirty
Thy - your
Thyself - your self
Tidings - news
Train - followers
Trod - walked
'Twixt - between
U
Unbraced - with doublet untied, open
Ungently - discourteously
Unto - to
Untrod - unknown
Useth - uses
Uttermost - uppermost
V
Vexeth - vex
Vouchsafe - allow/accept
Vulgar - the common people
W
Wafter - wave
Want - lack
Wast - was
Wenches - young women
Wert - were
Whe'r - frequent in Shakespeare for whether
Wherefore - why
Whilst - where
Whither - where
Wilt - will
Withal - also
Wont - used to
Would he were - I wish he were
Wrought - worked
Y
Ye - you
Yea - yes
Yesternight - last night
Yon - those
Yond - over there
Yonder - that/those
bravenet.com