William Shakespeare Language, Vocabulary and Dictionary
William Shakespeare Dictionary
GABERDINE a loose outer coat GAD a pointed instrument GAIN-GIVING misgiving GAIT going, steps GALLIARD a dance GALLIASSE a ship GALLIMAUFRY a ridiculous medley GALLOW to scare GALLOWGLASS the irregular infantry of Ireland and the Highlands of Scotland GAMESTER a frolicsome person, a loose woman GARBOIL disorder, uproar GARISH gaudy, staring GARNER to lay by, as corn in a barn GAST frightened GAUDY festive GAZE an object of wonder GEAR matter of business of any kind GECK a fool GENEROSITY noble birth GENEROUS noble GENTILITY good manners GENTLE gentlefolk, noble GENTRY complaisance, conduct becoming gentlefolk GERMEN seed, embryo GEST period GIB a he-cat GIFTS talents, endowment GIGLOT a wanton girl GILDER a coin GILT money State of wealth GIMMAL double GIMMOR contrivance GING gang GIRD to gibe
GIRD a sarcasm or gibe GLEEK to scoff GLOSE to comment GLUT to swallow GNARL to snarl GOOD-DEED indeed GOOD-DEN good-evening GORBELLIED corpulent GOURD a game of chance GOUT a drop GOVERNMENT discretion GRAINED engrained GRAMERCY grand mercy, much thanks GRANGE the farmstead attached to a monastery, a solitary farm-house GRATILLITY used ridiculously for 'gratuity.' GRATULATE to congratulate GRAVE to bury GREASILY grossly GREEK a bawd GREEN immature, fresh, unused GREENLY foolishly GREET to weep GRIZE a step GROSSLY palpably GROUNDLING one who sits in the pit of a theatre GROWING accruing GUARD to decorate GUARDAGE guardianship GUINEA-HEN the pintado GULES red, a term in heraldry GULF the throat GUN-STONE a cannon ball GUST taste, relish GYVE to fetter
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!
