William Shakespeare Language, Vocabulary and Dictionary
William Shakespeare Dictionary
DAFF to befool, to put off, to doff DAMN to condemn DANGER reach, control, power DANSKER a Dane DARE to challenge DARKLING in the dark DARRAIGN to set in array DAUB to disguise DAUBERY imposition DAY-WOMAN a dairy-maid DEARN lonely DEBOSHED debauched, drunken DECK to bedew DECK a pack of cards DECLINE to enumerate DECLINED fallen DEEM doom, judgment DEFEAT to undo, destroy DEFEATURE disfigurement DEFENCE art of fencing DEFEND to forbid DEFENSIBLE having the power to defend DEFTLY dexterously DEFY renounce DEGREES a step DELAY to let slip by delaying DEMERIT merit, desert DEMURELY solemnly DENAY denial DENOTEMENT marking Note or manifestation DEPEND to be in service DERIVED born, descended DEROGATE degraded DESCANT a variation upon a melody DESIGN to draw up articles DESPATCH to deprive, bereave DESPERATE determined, bold DETECT to charge, blame DETERMINE to conclude DICH optative mood DIFFUSED confused DIGRESSING transgressing, going out of the right way DIG-YOU-GOOD-DEN give you good evening DILDO the chorus or burden of a song DINT stroke
DISABLE to disparage DISAPPOINTED unprepared DISCASE to undress DISCONTENT a malcontent DISCOURSE power of reasoning DISDAINED disdainful DISLIMN to disfigure, transform DISME a tenth or tithe DISPARK to destroy a park DISPONGE to squeeze out as from a sponge DISPOSE disposal, to conspire DISPOSITION maintenance DISSEMBLY used ridiculously for assembly DISTASTE to corrupt DISTEMPERED discontented DISTRACTION a detached troop or company of soldiers DISTRAUGHT distracted, mad DIVERTED turned from the natural course DIVISION a phrase or passage in a melody DIVULGED published, spoken of DOFF to put off DOLT a small Dutch coin DOLE lamentation DON to do on, put on DONE 'done to death,' put to death DOTANT one who dotes, a dotard DOUT to do out, quench DOWLAS a kind of coarse sacking DOWLE the swirl of a feather DOWN-GYVED hanging down like gyves or fetters DRAB a harlot DRABBING whoring DRAUGHT a privy DRAWN having his sword drawn DRAWN drunk, having taken a good draught DRIBBLING weak DRIVE to rush impetuously DROLLERY a puppet-show DRUMBLE to dawdle DRY thirsty DUDGEON a dagger DULL soothing DULLARD a dull person DUMP complaint DUP Lift up
Interpreting Elizabethan / Shakespearean Manuscripts and Original Documents
Vital, but little known, information about the Elizabethan alphabet is essential when looking at copies of original manuscripts of the period - examples of which can be found in Shakespeare's ' First Folio '. Learning the alphabet used during the Elizabethan era will no doubt clarify many questions that the differences of the Tudor / Elizabethan alphabet have raised such as "Couldn't Elizabethans spell properly?" and "Why is there so much confusion with the letters 'u' and 'v' and 'i' and 'j' ?Shakespeare translations and understanding the real meanings behind some of the Shakespeare language in the great plays and sonnets can be difficult. And this is hardly surprising when the expressions and their meanings have been obsolete since the Elizabethan era!
