Shakespeare Word Quiz Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering the Early Modern English terms and definitions required for the Shakespeare Word Quiz.

An (sometimes spelled And)

(conjunction) In Shakespeare’s English, an can mean "if."

But

(conjunction) In Shakespeare’s English, but can mean "if not," "except," "except that."

Or… or

(conjunction) Shakespeare’s English usually uses "or….or" where we would expect "either…or".

Base

(adjective) Can mean "dishonourable, low, unworthy."

Crave

(verb) To beg, entreat, request.

Doubt

(verb) Can mean "to fear, to be anxious of/about" in Early Modern English.

False

(adjective) In Early Modern English, can mean treacherous, deceptive, or dishonest.

Gentle

(adjective) Means noble, upstanding, or polite.

Humour

(noun) In Early Modern English, refers to one of the four elemental fluids thought to govern the human body and emotions, or means "mood, disposition, frame of mind, or general personality."

Ill

(adjective) bad, adverse. (adverb) badly, adversely.

Quick

(adjective) In Early Modern English, can mean "living, alive" (as in "the quick and the dead").

Mark

(verb) to note, pay attention to, take notice of.

Mischief

(noun) In Early Modern English, means serious bad things: calamity, harm, injury, disaster, or evil deed.

Sad

(adjective) Serious, grave, solemn.

Still

(adverb) In Early Modern English, can mean "always, ever, continually, constantly."

Straight

(adverb) In Early Modern English, can mean "straightaway, immediately, at once."

Thrice

(adverb) Literally means "three times" or "three times over" - is often used with adjectives to mean "very" or "a lot."

Want

(verb) In Early Modern English, can mean "to need, to be without."

Wit

(noun) intelligence, wisdom, good sense.

Weeds

(noun) In Early Modern English, this word can mean "clothing."

Alack, Alas, Alack the Day

(interjection) Exclamations indicating sorrow, grief, or regret.

Anon

(adverb) soon, shortly, presently.

Aye

(adverb) always, ever, for eternity.

Belike

(adverb) probably, presumably, perhaps, so it seems.

Fain

(adverb) gladly, willingly [usually with the verb 'would'].

Forsooth

(adverb) in truth, certainly, truly, indeed.

Hath (and Doth, Saith)

Unfamiliar third-person singular verb forms with a "-th" ending in pre-1800 Englishes: Hath = has, Doth = does, Saith = says.

Knave

(noun) scoundrel, rascal, rogue.

Methinks

(verb) "It seems to me," "I think."

Oft

(adverb) Often.

Peradventure

(adverb) perhaps, maybe.

Quoth

(verb) "said" {specifically in the past tense}, used in the third person singular or first person singular only.

Thou

Archaic second-person singular informal pronoun meaning "you". Subject form: Thou; object form: Thee; possessive adjective form: Thy (thine in front of a vowel). Associated verbs: Thou art (you are), Thou hast (you have), Thou dost (you do).

Wanton

(adjective) carefree, undisciplined, lively, or lewd.