Much Ado About Nothing: Benedick's Soliloquy Vocabulary

A comprehensive vocabulary review of 52 archaic words, idiomatic phrases, and rhetorical devices from Benedick's soliloquy in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.

Jade's trick

An ill-mannered retreat, sudden stop, or unruly slip-up like that of a worn-out horse; referred to by Beatrice when ending a conversation.

I KHOW you of old

A remark indicating longstanding familiarity with someone's character, habits, and verbal sparring nature.

Beatrice

The sharp-witted lady whose supposed profound love and affection for Benedick are discussed in the scene.

ENEDICK (Benedick)

The gentleman who speaks the soliloquy, re-evaluating his staunch bachelorhood upon overhearing that Beatrice loves him.

Coming forward

The stage direction directing Benedick to step out from his hiding place onto the stage to speak his thoughts.

Trick

A deceit, practical joke, or artifice, which Benedick initially insists this conference cannot be.

Conference

The conversation or discussion between the other characters that Benedick eavesdropped on.

Sadly borne

Conducted with genuine gravity, solemnity, and seriousness rather than jest or mockery.

Hero

Beatrice's cousin, identified in the monologue as the reliable source verifying Beatrice's true affections.

Pity

To feel sympathy, compassion, or sorrow for the distress and emotional plight of another person.

Affections

Feelings of deep romantic passion, attachment, and emotional devotion.

Full bent

Stretched or strained to the utmost capacity, derived from an archery bow drawn back completely.

Requited

Returned, reciprocated, or answered in equal measure, as Benedick concludes Beatrice's love must be.

Censured

Judged, evaluated, or critically estimated by others regarding character and behavior.

Bear myself proudiy (proudly)

To conduct oneself with arrogance, disdain, or haughtiness upon realizing another's romantic interest.

Perceive

To become aware of, observe, or detect through sight or insight.

Sign of affection

An outward demonstration, token, or expression revealing one's inner feelings of love.

Marry

To enter into the state of wedlock, a commitment Benedick previously claimed he would never undertake.

Detractions

Critical statements, disparaging remarks, or spoken faults that expose a person's flaws.

Pul (put) them to mending

To apply overheard criticisms productively to reform, correct, and improve one's behavior.

Fair

Physically attractive, beautiful, and pleasing to behold.

'Tis a truth

A statement confirming that something is factually accurate and undeniable.

Bear them witness

To confirm, testify to, or corroborate the truth of what others have said.

Virtuous

Possessing high moral excellence, purity, and nobility of character.

Reprove

To refute, disprove, reject, or find fault with an assertion.

Wise

Displaying sound judgment, intellect, knowledge, and discernment.

By my troth

An idiomatic Renaissance oath meaning 'on my word of honor' or 'by my faith'.

Addition to her wit

An enhancement or further demonstration of someone's intelligence and cleverness.

Argument of her folly

Substantial evidence or proof showing someone to be foolish or unwise.

Horribly in love

Extremely, intensely, and overwhelmingly enamored beyond measure.

Odd quirks

Unexpected witticisms, sarcastic gibes, or playful teasing remarks.

Remnants of wit

Scraps, fragments, or remnants of clever verbal mockery fired from companions.

Broken on

Directed, launched, or cracked against someone like rhetorical weapons in banter.

Railed

Spoken bitter, mocking, or vehement complaints and criticisms against something over a long period.

Marriage

The legal and spiritual union of spouses, against which Benedick had spent a great deal of time railing.

Appetite alter

A shift or change in a person's desires, preferences, or tastes as time passes.

Meat in his youth

Desires, pleasures, or foods that a man relish and seeks when he is young.

Endure in his age

To tolerate, stomach, or remain fond of something in later life that was enjoyed during youth.

Quips

Sharp, clever retorts or witty mocking observations.

Sentences

Moral maxims, proverbs, or philosophical axioms quoted to instruct or mock.

Paper bullets of the brain

Intellectual barbs, witty jibes, or superficial verbal teasing that possess no real power to injure.

Awe

To intimidate, deter, daunt, or restrain someone from taking a desired path.

Career of his humour

The full running course, unrestrained momentum, or pursuit of a man's natural inclination and temperament.

The world must be peopled

Benedick's grand philosophical justification that humanity must reproduce, thereby excusing his decision to marry.

Bachelor

An unmarried man; the identity Benedick earlier resolved to keep until his death.

Die a bachelor

To live out the remainder of one's days without ever taking a wife.

Live till I were married

Benedick's witty rationalization that his prior vow to die unmarried assumed he would not survive to wed.

By this day!

An emphatic oath sworn by the light of the present day to emphasize certainty.

Fair lady

A courteous, flattering title bestowed on Beatrice denoting noble standing and physical beauty.

Spy

To notice, discover, detect, or catch sight of subtle cues.

Marks of love

Visible signs, tokens, or behavioral indications suggesting someone is in love.

Humour

A person's natural disposition, mood, whim, or temperament.

Jade's trick

An ill-mannered escape, deceitful prank, or an abrupt stop, comparing someone to a vicious or exhausted nag that quits a race prematurely.

Conference

A serious conversation, discussion, or overheard dialogue among gentlemen ('the conference was sadly borne').

Sadly borne

Conducted with gravity, solemnity, and seriousness, convincing Benedick that the conversation was genuine rather than a jest.

Hero

The gentlewoman named as the trustworthy source confirming Beatrice's passionate love ('They have the truth of this from Hero').

Full bent

Strained to the utmost limit or capacity, an archery metaphor referring to a bow drawn back fully ('her affections have their full bent').

Requited

Reciprocated, returned, or repaid with equal affection ('Love me! why, it must be requited').

Censured

Judged, appraised, or critically evaluated by observers ('I hear how I am censured').

Detractions

Criticisms, exposures of personal faults, or disparaging observations made by others ('happy are they that hear their detractions').

Put them to mending

To apply heard criticisms toward self-reformation, correction, and personal improvement ('can pul them to mending').

Fair

Physically beautiful, lovely, or attractive, a truth Benedick readily acknowledges about Beatrice ('the lady is fair; 'tis a truth').

Virtuous

Possessing high moral excellence, chastity, and purity of character ('virtuous; 'tis so, I cannot reprove it').

Reprove

To refute, disprove, contradict, or find fault with an assertion ('I cannot reprove it').

By my troth

An emphatic archaic oath signifying 'upon my honor' or 'in all truth' ('by my troth, it is no addition to her wit').

Addition to her wit

An enhancement, credit, or evidence of greater intellect and sharpness ('no addition to her wit').

Argument of her folly

Proof, evidence, or demonstration of foolishness or lack of good sense ('nor no great argument of her folly').

Horribly in love

Benedick's dramatic phrase pledging to become overwhelmingly, desperately, and passionately enamored with Beatrice.

Odd quirks

Peculiar turns of phrase, sarcastic verbal gibes, or clever taunts aimed at someone.

Remnants of wit

Scraps, leftover pieces, or fragments of mockery and intellectual banter aimed at a target.

Railed

Protested vehemently, complained bitterly, or attacked with harsh language ('railed so long against marriage').

Appetite alter

The natural shifting, transformation, or change of a person's desires, tastes, and inclinations over time.

Meat in his youth

A metaphor for the pleasures, ideas, or appetites that a man passionately relishes during his early years.

Cannot endure in his age

A metaphor describing things once relished in youth that become intolerable, unpalatable, or rejected in later maturity.

Quips

Sharp, witty retorts, sarcastic jibes, or taunts ('Shall quips and sentences… awe a man').

Sentences

Pithy moral maxims, learned proverbs, or formal classical aphorisms cited to lecture or mock someone.

Paper bullets of the brain

Clever verbal quips and intellectual taunts that, like harmless paper pellets, possess no physical force to do real damage.

Awe

To intimidate, frighten, or deter someone through dread or respectful fear ('awe a man from the career of his humour').

Career of his humour

The unchecked run, full charge, or pursuit of a man's prevailing disposition, mood, and natural inclination.

The world must be peopled

Benedick's expansive philosophical rationalization that humanity must procreate, justifying his sudden decision to wed.

Bachelor

An unmarried man, a title and status Benedick had previously sworn he would maintain until death.

Marks of love

Outward indicators, tokens, or observable expressions of romantic affection ('I do spy some marks of love in her').

Beatrice

The quick-witted lady who approaches Benedick at the end of his soliloquy, whom he now regards as fair and loving.

Benedick

The gentleman in the text who overhears praise of Beatrice's secret love and decisively alters his lifelong anti-marriage resolve.

Coming forward

The stage direction indicating that Benedick steps out from his hiding place after listening to the conversation in secret.

Affections

Passionate feelings, romantic inclinations, or deep emotional devotion ('her affections have their full bent').

Pity

To feel sympathy, compassion, or sorrow for another's emotional anguish ('They seem to pity the lady').

Proudly

In an arrogant, haughty, or dismissive manner ('they say I will bear myself proudiy').

Perceive

To notice, discern, or recognize through observation ('if I perceive the love come from her').

Sign of affection

An outward demonstration, token, or open confession of love and romantic feeling.

Bear them witness

To corroborate, confirm, or testify to the truth of what witnesses have declared ('I can bear them witness').

Wise

Showing good judgment, discernment, and intelligence, a quality Benedick grants Beatrice except in loving him.

By this day!

An emphatic colloquial oath swearing by the light of the present day ('By this day! she's a fair lady').

Spy

To catch sight of, observe, or detect subtle details ('I do spy some marks of love in her').

Trick

A deceptive hoax, ruse, or prank, which Benedick concludes the overheard dialogue cannot possibly be ('This can be no trick').

Marriage

The formal state of wedlock, an institution against which Benedick had long railed before changing his perspective.

Humour

A person's natural temperament, whim, mood, or prevailing state of mind ('career of his humour').

Folly

Foolishness, irrationality, or lack of wisdom, which Benedick argues is not proven by Beatrice loving him.

Wit

Mental sharpness, intelligence, and inventive cleverness in language ('addition to her wit', 'remnants of wit').

Troth

Faith, fidelity, or pledged loyalty, invoked in solemn Elizabethan affirmations.