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Dace - (DAYSE) a small fish found in the rivers of England and Wales, generally used as bait to catch larger types of fish.
Daff - (DAF) to remove or put to one side. Used in the literal sense, as to take off and put aside clothing, or figuratively as in to put off a person or put aside a situation or idea.
Dalliance - (DAL-ee-ance) playing around, lazing around, an activity that wastes time. Also fooling around in the sense of two people touching and carressing in an amourous sense.
Dally - (DAL-lee) play around, gently tease; wait around; to flirt or engage in romantic playfulness. Often the sort of behavior two young lovers might engage in.
Dam - (DAM) mother, the female parent. When this word appears it virtually always means mother and never a structure that blocks the flow of water.
Damask - (DAM-ask) light-red or pink. The name comes from the color of the damask rose, a flower prized highly for its beauty.
Damasked - (DAM-askd) colored light red or pink, like the damask rose; also, something that has been colored brightly, not necessarily in pink.
Damosella - (dam-o-sel-lah) another way to say "damsel", an archaic word (very rarely in modern use) which means young maiden, usually an unmarried woman.
Dancing-rapier - (DANS-ing RAYP-ee-er) a decorative sword used in dances. It was expressly not a sword to be used in combat, but for artistic purposes only.
Dandle - (DAN-dul) stroke, fondle, or pet. To handle someone in the manner one might handle a small pet or an infant, with affection toward an inferior.
Dank - (DANK) slightly wet or clammy, like a poorly insulated basement. Dungeons where prisoners are kept and meant to be uncomfortable are often described as dank.
Daring-hardy - (DAIR-ing har-dee) foolishly brave. Daring-hardy means to take unnecessary risks, to rush forward without a plan or even a sufficient chance to prevail.
Darking - (DARK-ing) another way to say "setting" as in the setting of the sun. Evokes the image of the sky becoming darker as the sun fades.
Darnel - (DAR-nel) a type of grass, not used for food or crafting. A weed, or sometimes the burrs or cockles that come from it and stick to clothing and animal coats.
Darraign - (DAR-rain) to put in order or set up. Very similar to the modern word "arrange", likely coming from the same root word.
Dastard - (DAST-urd) a descriptive word meaning cowardly, or evil. May also be used as a word meaning someone who is a coward, weakling, or a traitor.
Daub - (DAWB) to smear or spread something with the intent of ruining the object being smeared; it can also mean to try to pass off a thing or a person as something it isn't.
Daubery, Daubry - (DAWB-er-ee, DAWB-ree) tricks or behavior that is ultimately deceptive. Illusions and other such acts meant to trick another can be considered daubery.
Dauphin - (daw-FEEN) the French crown prince. This is the title given the the eldest son of the king of France in Shakespeare's time, as well as some centuries before and after.
Daw - (DAW) simply, a jackdaw, which is a type of bird. Sometimes applied to a person, and then it means foolish or stupid, as the jackdaw was a bird known for a lack of intelligence.
Day-bed - (DAY bed) a couch or sofa which could be used for reclining or even for sleeping upon. It is much the same as the modern meaning of the word.
Day-woman - (DAY wo-man) more commonly known as a dairy-maid, a woman who tends the cows, milks them, and often is responsible for making the cheese and butter.
Deadly-handed - (ded-lee HAND-id) practiced in murder or killing. One who is an assassin or who has otherwise killed more than a few people can be termed as deadly-handed.
Deadly-standing - (ded-lee STAND-ing) describes something that is deadly or prone to killing. Somewhat similar to the term "deadly-handed".
Dearn - (DURN) dark, shadowy, gloomy, secret. Most often spelled "dern". An archaic word that is rarely used in the modern era.
Dearth - (DURTH) the lack of something, especially food. A dearth of apples means it is very difficult to find them anywhere, because there are so few. Rarely, it means something valuable, likely due to its rarity.
Death-boding - (DETH BOHD-ing) having many premonitions or visions or omens of death. It implies the idea that someone is about to die and there is little that can be done about it.
Death-practised - (deth PRAK-tisd) someone whose death has been planned. The implication is that killers have practiced to murder or assassinate a certain person.
Death-procuring - (deth pro-KYUR-ing) fatal, deadly. Something death-procuring will bring death one way or another at some point, if not immediately.
Death's-head - (DETHS hed) a skull. A skull is often a symbol of death, perhaps most famously used by pirates to inspire fear in those they plundered.
Deathsman - (DETHS-man) an executioner, one who kills criminals in an official capacity. It can also mean someone who is killing in the name of what he believes to be justice.
Death-token - (DETH tohk-en) a sign of some kind that points to immanent death, such as a fatal symptom of disease. The fate so marked often seems inescapable.
Debile - (DE-byl) lacking in strength, feeble. One who is debile is likely barely able to stand, let alone defend himself, being weak as the very elderly or the very young.
Debonair - (de-bon-AIR) charming, mannerly, possessed of good demeanor. One who is debonair is the type who does well at gatherings and leaves a good impression.
Deboshed - (de-BOSHD) another way to say "debauched", which means depraved, focused on hedonistic living, always after the standard wine, women, and song.
Deboysed - (de-BOYSD) another way to say "debauched", which means depraved, focused on hedonistic living, always after the standard wine, women, and song.
Debuty - (DEB-u-tee) a misspoken word, meant to say "deputy". Purposely misspelled to illustate a lack of education in the speaker.
Deceptious - (de-SEPT-shus) deceptive, to say it modern terms. Something deliberately used to lie or mislead, or someone inclined toward such behavior.
Decimation - (deh-sim-AY-shun) a practice, said to have originated with the Romans, of killing one out of every ten persons. From the Latin word for "ten".
Declension - (de-KLIN-shun) trending downward, either physically going down, or in the sense of declining or decaying morally, emotionally, or socially.
Decoct - (de-KOKT) to make warm, either with an actual fire, or to heat up in the sense of enflaming the rage or ire of another person or persons.
Decorum - (de-KOR-um) proper or approriate behavior. Nobles and the like are raised to show decorum so they do not embarrass their families in social situations.
Deed-achieving - (DEED a-cheev-ing) something that has been won by actions or deed. Something like a medal or a similar honor is generally a deed-achiving reward.
Deem - (DEEM) to consider the worthiness of, to evaluate. It can also be a noun, meaning an evaluation, or just a thought that comes to one regarding a situation.
Deep-drawing - (DEEP draw-ing) heavily-loaded. The meaning is of a boat that is filled with heavy goods or items to the point where it displaces a great deal of water.
Deep-fet - (deep FET) pulled from deep inside. Deep-fet groans are expressions of agony or loss that come from deep inside, from the very soul.
Deep-revolving - (deep rev-OLV-ing) thinking heavily on a matter. It essentially means to consider something for a long time, or to think deeply on something before coming to a conclusion.
Defame - (de-FAYM) to ruin someone's name, honor, or reputation; it can also be a noun referring to the disgrace or loss that comes from being defamed.
Defeature - (de-FEET-sure) that which makes something ugly, or destroys beauty. Literally, removing the features of something or someone, taking away what makes it beautiful to the eye.
Defier - (de-FY-er) one who brings a challenge, one who defies another. It can also specifically mean a herald bringing an official declaration of war.
Defunct - (de-FUNKT) a noun meaning someone who is dead. Though the word has survived to modern times, it no longer refers to the dead.
Deify - (DAY-if-aye) to give honor and worship to someone as if they were a god or to raise someone in esteem to the level of a god. Roman emperors were regularly deified.
Deign - (DAYN) to agree to, to acquiesce. The implication is of willingness, because the action was something the subject is not being compelled to make.
Deject - (de-JEKT) to be lowered or lessened in stature, amount, size or quality. When something is described as deject, it means it has fallen from a greater status.
Delver - (DEL-ver) literally, someone who digs or makes holes in the earth. More specifically, it applies to one who digs graves.
Demesne - (dem-EEN) all of the lands under a particular ruler's control. The king of England has all the lands of England as his demesne.
Demi-Atlas - (dem-ee AT-las) one who holds up half the world. From the Greek mythological figure who holds the sky up on his shoulders.
Demi-cannon - (DEM-ee can-non) either a small cannon or a large gun. The sleeve of an outfit is compared to one of these in The Taming of the Shrew.
Demi-coronal - (DEM-ee KO-roh-nal) a small coronet or crown of the type a lesser noble might wear to show his authority, while still showing subordination to higher authority.
Demi-devil - (DEM-ee DEV-il) literally, half a devil. Someone so evil or ill of aspect they they must be at least half-demonic in some manner.
Demi-natured - (DEM-ee NAYT-shurd) part one thing and part another, as in someone of mixed ancestry, or someone who is of two minds about something.
Demi-puppet - (DEM-ee PUP-pet) either a small puppet, or a creature resembling a small human. Something like a puppet, but is not a puppet, but a living being.
Demi-wolf - (DEM-ee wolf) literally, a half-wolf. An animal that is half-dog, half-wolf. Cited to express the thought that all kinds of dogs are still called dogs.
Demure - (dem-YUR) of a serious manner, without frivolity or silliness. May also be used as a verb, meaning to look demure or have a demure demeanor and gaze.
Denay - (de-NAY) a noun meaning a refusal, denial or rejection. As a verb, it has exactly the same meaning as the modern word "deny".
Denier - (den-EER) a unit of money worth about a tenth of a penny. Used to denote an amount of money that is near-useless, a tiny amount that would never buy anything.
Denote - (de-NOHT) to make a special note of something, to point out a particular thing. Also, to represent or somehow show something or a representation of something.
Denunciation - (de-nun-see-AY-shun) a public declaration made to announce something official. It does not necessarily carry the negative meaning of the modern definition.
Depose - (de-POSE) a verb, as in to take a deposition from, to obtain a statement, to receive an oath, or to give a statement. It can also mean to take something away from someone.
Deprave - (de-PRAYV) to reduce the reputation or impugn the honor of another. To deprave someone is an attempt to either insult or destroy them.
Deracinate - (de-RAS-in-ate) to remove or destroy, as if to pull up a plant. The implication is to rip away the subject in such a way that will kill it.
Dern - (DERN) dark, shadowy, gloomy, secret. Sometimes spelled "dearn" or "dearne". An archaic word that is rarely used in the modern era.
Derogate - (DAIR-oh-gayt) a descriptive word meaning of lowered quality or character. As a verb, it means to act in such away as to weaken one's own reputation.
Derogation - (dair-oh-GAY-shun) suffer a lost of reputation or esteem. When one is subjected to a derogation, it means they are looked upon with less respect thereafter.
Derry - (DAIR-ee) a nonsense word used in songs to keep the measure and beat of the lyrics, such as "derry, and a derry, and a hey, nonny nonny".
Desart - (de-SART) a thing or reward that is well-deserved or fitting. Similar to someone getting their "just desserts", but the meaning here is positive.
Desartless - (de-SART-less) undeserving of honor, someone who is basically unachieved. One who is desartless does not merit any special reward or recognition.
Descant - (DES-kant) one of the harmonies in a song, often a variant of the melody in a different key that sounds good with the melody. As a verb, to sing the harmony. It can also mean to make remarks about something.
Descry - (deh-KRAYE) to see or discover something, to point something out, to make something known. As a noun it means the sighting of something from afar.
Dispatch - (des-PATCH) to settle a matter, to put an end to a business affair. To have dispatch in a peace talk is to finally sign the treaty.
Despoil - (de-SPOYL) to remove, take, or otherwise deprive someone of something. To despoil a man of his livelihood is to somehow fire him or destroy his work.
Detract - (de-TRAKT) to take away from, to make an amount of something less, to remove a part of something from the greater whole.
Devest - (de-VEST) an alternate spelling of "divest", which means to remove. Specifically, this means disrobing, or the removal of clothing.
Dew-bedabbled - (DOO be-DAB-uld) dappled, or dotted with dew. It evokes a picture of something studded all over with little beads of dew.
Dewberry - (DOO-bair-ee) a type of blackberry plant bearing deep purple to black fruit. Also refers to the berries which come from the dewberry bush.
Dewlap - (DOO-lap) the flaps of loose skin that hang from the neck that tend to develop as a person ages.
Dexter - (DEX-ter) on the right side. The term comes from heraldry with "dexter" meaning the right side of an emblem and "sinister" referring to the left.
Dey-woman, Day-woman - (DAY wo-man) more commonly known as a dairy-maid, a woman who tends the cows, milks them, and often is responsible for making the cheese and butter.
Diadem - (DY-a-dim) a crown, or sometimes the power behind that crown, meaning the authority and sovereignty of the person who wears it.
Diapason - (dy-a-PAY-son) a musical term meaning the deeper registers of the harmony, to sing or play the harmony an octive lower.
Dich - (DICH) another way to say "do it". It is possibily written that way to represent another dialect or way of speaking, but that is not absolutely certain.
Diction - (DIKT-shun) the story of something told in words, an oral report, a verbal account. To stand before someone and tell them your tale is to give them your diction.
Didst - (DIDST) a archaic way to say "did". Wherever the word "didst" is found, it can be substituted with the more modern form and have the same meaning.
Diffidence - (DIF-ih-dense) lack of trust in another person, the unwillingness to place confidence. Conversely, to have no diffidence in something is to trust that thing absolutely.
Digress - (dy-GRESS) to move away from or change course. Most often used in modern conversation to indicate a conversation has drifted off course.
Dild - (DILD) to give over a reward or payment, to give way. It is a contraction or abbreviation for "yield", along with a few others.
Diminutive - (de-MIN-ih-tiv) very small. It is another spelling that sometimes appears in the text, but has the same meaning as "diminutive".
Diminutive - (de-MIN-u-tiv) small, tiny. Diminutive generally implies not just small or short, but extremely tiny, making the "most diminutive" very small indeed.
Dint - (DINT) a mark or an impression made by another force. It can also mean the kind of blow or stroke that makes a mark or attempts to make a mark.
Direful - (DYR-ful) very dire, or terrifying, horrifying. Something that inspires fear in all but the bravest, and sometimes even they are not immune.
Dire-lamenting - (DYR lam-ENT-ing) deeply sad. A dire-lamenting person is in deep, deep mourning, emotionally as low as one can feel.
Direness - (DYR-ness) horror, terror, the deepest sort of fear. Direness is the type of fear that even the bold might feel, the sort of thing that makes hair stand on end.
Dirge - (DURJ) a funeral song, a song used in morning to revere the dead. These songs are mournful tunes, meant to inspire tears in those who listen.
Disallow - (dis-al-LOW) simply, to not allow something to happen, to prevent or forbid something. This word is still commonly used in modern times.
Disanimate - (dis-AN-ih-mayt) to discourage something. Disanimate is to take the animus or spirit out of something, so it lack the will to continue.
Disannul - (dis-an-NUL) to cancel or bring something to an end. The meaning is sometimes more than just ending -- it can also mean to erase something as if it had never existed.
Disbench - (dis-BENCH) to get up or be removed from one's seat. Literally, to leave a bench. When everyone is called to rise in court, they are all called upon to disbench.
Disbranch - (dis-BRANCH) literally to remove a branch from a tree, but it also has broader meaning to sever something from the body or mass of something greater.
Disburden - (dis-BUR-den) to remove a burden or a weight from oneself or from someone else. It can also mean a figurative burden. To tell someone a weighty secret is also to disburden.
Discandy - (dis-KAN-dee) melt away completely, turn into liquid. To discandy is to completely dissolve, like an ice cube left on the ground on a hot day.
Discase - (dis-CASE) to take off all of one's clothing. The word also has a more specific meaning, which is to shed or discard a costume or disguise.
Discomfit - (dis-KOM-fit) to discourage, or to defeat or overthrow. Also, a noun which means defeat or overthrow. The modern meaning of being made uncomfortable does not apply.
Discomfiture - (dis-KOM-fit-sure) a complete and utter defeat. An army that is forced to flee the field in terror and disarray has suffered a discomfiture.
Discommend - (dis-kom-MEND) the opposite of "recommend", meaning to find reasons against the approval of something, or to disapprove of a thing or person.
Discord - (DIS-kord) disagreement, argument, ongoing acts of vengeance. To have discord with another means a feud or a fight that may or may not have been going on for a while.
Discourser - (dis-KOR-ser) a teller of tales, one who relates stories or narrates an event. From the word "discourse", which means to have a discussion or dialog.
Disedge - (dis-EDJ) to have a need or a want taken care of, at least for now. The more modern way to say "disedge" is to "take the edge off" of something.
Disfigure - (dis-FIG-ur) to change the appearance of something or someone. It could also mean to put on a disguise. Not necessarily the modern meaning of ruining the appearance.
Disfurnish - (dis-FURN-ish) to take away or remove. The opposite of the word "furnish", which has the meaning of supplying someone with something.
Disgest - (dis-JEST) another spelling of "digest". To swallow something and subject it to whatever might happen in the stomach.
Dishabit - (dis-HAB-it) to remove something from its place, such as pushing a statue from its pedestal, or a building from its foundation.
Dishclout - (DISH-klowt) an archaic word for "dishcloth", a rag used for watching dishes. The word "clout" often means cloth in Shakespeare's work.
Disinsanity - (dis-in-SAN-ih-tee) a high order of madness or craziness.Rather than disinsanity meaning the lack of sanity, it means greater insanity in this instance.
Disjoin - (dis-JOYN) to unjoin, to separate oneself from something, as to disjoin a cause or an organization. It can also mean to take apart in a physical sense.
Disjoint - (dis-JOYNT) to be out of joint or somehow disconnected from something. As a verb, it means to break something apart or cause a condition of disjointedness.
Disjunction - (dis-JUNKT-shun) the breaking apart of something that once was in unity. The disjunction of a political organization would mean it not only breaks apart, but that it probably does so on unfriendly terms.
Dislimn - (dis-LIMN) to destroy completely, to obliterate. Dislimn is more than breaking something -- it means to make it unrecognizable, at the very least.
Disloyal - (dis-LOY-al) unfaithfulness. It could be in a poltical sense, a moral sense, or the unfaithfulness that sometimes happens with married couples.
Dismal - (DIZ-mal) something very destructive, something that causes a calamity or a disaster; it can also mean evil or with evil intent.
Dismasked - (dis-MASKD) a modern way to say it would be "unmasked". One who is dismasked has had their mask removed, either physically or figuratively.
Disme - (DY-em) the tenth person killed. From the Anglo-Saxon meaning "tenth". May be related to the Roman practice of decimation.
Dismember - (dis-MEM-ber) to take apart or blast to pieces, to tear someone limb from limb. A very violent and destructive method of destruction.
Dismission - (dis-MIS-shun) dismissal, discharge from service, the separation or sending away of someone. A dismission isn't always a bad thing, but it can be.
Disnatured - (dis-NAYT-shurd) apart from nature, fundamentally unnatural, an aberration. Something that can be described as disnatured is something that should not even exist, by the laws of nature.
Disorbed - (dis-ORBD) to be removed from orbit. Generally applies to celestial objects, like a star, a planet, the sun, or the moon. Obviously, this implies a catastrophic event.
Disparagement - (dis-PAIR-aj-ment) a lowering of ones reputation or status in the eyes of others. Something that causes disgrace. To give one a disparagement is a great insult at the very least.
Disparity - (dis-PAIR-ih-tee) literally, a lack of parity, meaning unequal, or two things that are not of the same quality, to the detrement of one or both.
Dispark - (dis-PARK) to change a park into something else, or to fundamentally change the nature of a park to something that it wasn't before, or never intended to be.
Dispiteous - (dis-PIT-ee-us) literally, without pity. Heartless, merciless, cruel, describing someone who has not even a little sympathy for the plight of others.
Displant - (dis-PLANT) to take something from its accustomed place and move it to another, perhaps unfamiliar, place. To take something away.
Disponge - (dis-SPUNJ) to expunge from, like water from a sponge. The impression is of something being drained out or removed from something else to pour out over everything.
Disport - (dis-PORT) to give sport, meaning to entertain. It can also be used as a noun, meaning entertainment, a pleasant diversion, or something used to pass the time.
Disprise, Disprize - (dis-PRYZ) to regard a thing as having little value, to express the worthlessness of a person or object, to look down upon something or someone.
Dispunge - (dis-SPUNJ) to expunge from, like water from a sponge. The impression is of something being drained out or removed from something else to pour out over everything.
Disputation - (dis-pyoo-TAY-shun) talking, conversation. To ask someone for a disputation or some disputations is to ask them to talk or converse about something.
Disquiet - (dis-KWY-et) disturbed or troubled. Disquiet waters means a lake or river or ocean disturbed by weather. A disquiet spirit can be bothered by disturbing circumstances.
Disrelish - (dis-REL-ish) literally to not relish a thing or situation. To dislike something, to find something distasteful or tedious.
Disroot - (dis-ROOT) to take something from its accustomed place and move it to another, perhaps unfamiliar, place. To take something away. Similar to "displant".
Disseat - (dis-SEET) another way to say "unseat", to remove someone from where they sit. It particularly applies to remove one from a horse's saddle, as if by being pitched to the ground by the bucking animal, or by the lance of a knight.
Dis-seat - (dis-SEET) another way to say "unseat", to remove someone from where they sit. It particularly applies to remove one from a horse's saddle, as if by being pitched to the ground by the bucking animal, or by the lance of a knight.
Dissension - (dis-SIN-shun) a fight or argument over something. Dissention rarely means a physical fight or a war, but refers instead to some kind of heated dispute.
Dissentious - (dis-SENT-shus) inclined to cause dissent, meaning someone argumentative, who likes to start quarrels. A dissentious person is generally looking for trouble.
Dissever - (dis-SEV-er) to sever one thing from another, usually in a figurative sense. To separate or divide something, to disassociate.
Dissipation - (dis-sih-PAY-shun) dissolving or breaking apart, in the sense of a cloud of smoke being broken up by the wind. A dissipation of a cohort means the people in the group went their own ways.
Dissuade - (dis-SWAYD) similar to persuade, trying to talk someone into doing something. It has the implication of imparting advice to another.
Distaff-woman - (DIS-staf wo-man) a woman who spins wool or flax or some other natural fiber into thread. From the word "distaff", was an object that held the fibers while it was being spun.
Distain - (dis-TAYN) figuratively, to stain, as in to stain one's reputation or honor. To corrupt or ruin. It can also mean to ruin a reputation or accomplishment by overshadowing or outdoing it.
Distemper - (dis-TEM-per) some kind of illness or impairment, whether from sickness or disease, from excess of alcohol, or from some mental condition that causes strange behavior. It can also mean a foul mood. As a verb, it means to cause a disturberance or foment chaos.
Distil - (dis-TIL) either to melt or dissolve, or to trickle down in droplets. The exact meaning of the word is best defined from the context of the passage in which it appears.
Distrain - (dis-TRAYN) to take something from someone else forcefully, to take command of something that belongs to someone else.
Disvouch - (dis-VOWCH) to deny the existence of something to one degree or another, to refuse to take note of a thing or person, to contradict.
Ditch-delivered - (DITCH del-iv-erd) literally delivered in a ditch, in a maternal sense. Someone who was born in a ditch, rather than in a home, where babies tended to be born then.
Ditch-dog - (DITCH dog) a dead dog that has been thrown into a ditch. Part of a list of truly disgusting things claimed to be the food of Tom.
Ditty - (DIT-tee) a song, or the words and lyrics of a song. This is one of the words that has lasted until the modern day with the same general meaning.
Diurnal - (dy-URN-al) something which occurs on a daily basis. In generally, something diurnal is assocated with the daylight hours when the sun is in the sky.
Dive-dapper - (DYV dap-per) a bird which dives under the water obtain its food. More specifically a bird native to England also known as the little grebe.
Dividant - (div-AYE-dant) describes something that can be divided into discrete parts, or things that can be divided into different groups due to different characteristics.
Dividual - (div-ID-u-al) different, as in the difference between men and women. To say something is "more than in sex dividual" is to say there is more difference there than the differences that normally exist between a man and a woman.
Do de - (doo dee) the sound of teeth chattering together. It is an attempt to convert sound into words and "do de do de" is what teeth chattering sounds like to the speaker.
Doer - (DOO-er) literally, someone who does. It could mean someone who performs a heroic act, someone who knows how to get something done and does it, or an actor or other performer.
Doff - (DOFF) to remove and cast away. Usually it refers to clothing, meaning to take off an outfit and put it aside or throw it away, but it can also apply to sentiments or feelings.
Dog-ape - (DOG ayp) a baboon, particularly one which has a dog-like face. Such animals were a rare sight in that part of the world.
Dog-hearted - (DOG har-tid) to have the heart of a dog in the worst possible sense, meaning to lack any regard for another person, to have no human compassion.
Dog-weary - (DOG weer-ee) the same meaning as "tired as a dog" or "dog-tired". To be utterly and completely exhausted, usually after "working like a dog".
Doit - (DOYT) literally, a small Dutch coin worth about half a farthing of English money. Figuratively, a thing that has virtually no worth or value whatsoever.
Dole - (DOHL) pain of an emotional nature, particularly sadness. It can also mean one's portion or lot out of a greater collection or pool of something, or the delivery or distribution of the same.
Dolour - (DOHL-or) pain of an emotional nature, especially sorrow or grief. From the Latin "dolor", which means pain or grief.
Domineer - (dom-in-NEER) to party hard, to have a great deal of fun at a social gathering. In this instance it does not have the modern meaning of utter control.
Dominical - (dom-IN-ih-cul) a document with the letters so printed as to clearly identify which days are Sundays, for better adherence to religious duty.
Dominie - (DOM-ih-nee) one who teaches or one who heads a school or other place of education. A word still used today in some places.
Dormouse - (DOR-mowse) a descriptive word meaning sleeping or dormant, like the dormouse itself which spends a good deal of time in deep hibernation.
Dost - (DOST) a form of the word "do". Whenever "dost" is scene in the text, the more modern from "do" can generally be substituted.
Dotage - (DOH-taj) the feebleness of mind that often comes with very advanced age. Also, to dote on someone else, showing that person an overabundance of affection or care.
Dotant - (DOHT-ant) someone whose mental capacity has been greatly diminished, or one who never had much mental ability in the first place.
Dotard - (DOHT-erd) someone who is foolish due to great age, or someone who has slipped into senility. Meant in a disparaging manner.
Dote - (DOHT) to act in an irrational or foolish way, to behave as if one has lost one's mind. A different meaning from to dote on or to dote upon.
Doth - (DOTH) an archaic way of saying "does". Whenever "doth" is seen in the text, the more modern word "does" can generally be substituted.
Doting - (DOHT-ing) of little intelligence, lacking common sense or general wisdom. When applied to a person it is not complimentary in the slightest.
Doublet - (DUB-let) a close fitting jacket often with a very small skirt attached. Worn by men. A doublet could be made with or without sleeves. Doublet and hose were a popular men's outfit of the time.
Doughty-handed - (DOWT-ee HAND-id) literally, brave-handed. It applies to those who show great courage and skill in battle, verging on heroism, if not heroism itself.
Dout - (DOWT) to quench or put out, as with a fire. It could mean a physical fire, but could also mean emotional or spiritual fire, such as courage.
Dowdy - (DOWD-ee) a woman who is in some way unattractive. She could have an appearance considered to be homely or merely dressed in clothes that make her unattractive.
Dower - (DOW-er) the money or property given to the husband from his new wife's family when they marry. As a verb, it means to give that property and money to the new husband.
Dowerless - (DOW-er-less) without a dowry, or a payment that goes from the bride's father to the groom upon marriage. A woman without a dowry was difficult to find a husband for, especially among the nobility.
Dowlas - (DOWL-as) a type of clothing, specifically a type of cheap linen of low quality. The name is derived from its place of origin: Doulas, in Brittany.
Dowle, Dowl - (DOWL) either a tiny feather, or a small part of a larger feather. It would not be large enough to serve as the feather in a cap or as a plume.
Down-gyved - (DOWN gyvd) hanging down like leg-chains. Fetters for the legs are also known as gyves, which is where the term is derived. Down-gyved stockings are dropped down to the subject's ankles, but still partially on.
Down-pillow - (DOWN pill-oh) a pillow filled with feathers, or just as it would mean in modern terms without the hyphen, a down pillow.
Down-rope - (DOWN-rohp) to seep or ooze down. It is meant to imply an unpleasant sort of seepage from whatever the source might be.
Down-sleeve - (DOWN-sleev) literally, sleeves that go all the way down, or sleeves that go completely from the shoulders to the wrists. A full sleeve.
Down-trod - (DOWN-trod) to be crushed or oppressed, literally to be stepped upon and pressed down into the earth. It is meant almost always in a figurative sense.
Downtrodden - (DOWN-trod-en) to suffer oppression or the rule of a tyrant. The impression is of being stepped upon by a heavy boot. This term is still in used today.
Downy - (DOWN-ee) very soft and fluffy, like a mound of down feathers. It can also refer to the comforting feeling given by such a comfortable thing.
Dowset - (DOW-set) the testicles of a deer. Considered to be one of the best parts of the animal, and to be allowed to eat them was a sign of regard.
Doxy - (DOX-ee) usually, a prostitute of the lowest sort, a cheap streetwalker. It can also mean simply a girl one fancies in a romantic manner.
Drab - (DRAB) a woman who is free with her sexual favors, either for money or for reasons of her own. A dreadful insult to deliver to a woman of any kind.
Drachma - (DRAK-mah) a silver coin from Greece, which can have different values, but is always worth a fairly good amount when translated to terms of English money.
Draff - (DRAF) something fit only for pigs to consume, something that should be thrown away, refuse. Generally refers to food, if food that only the desperate would eat.
Dram - (DRAM) a very, very small amount of something (in modern measurements, 1/16 of an ounce). It can mean specifically a tiny single dose of poison.
Drave - (DRAYV) an older way to say "drove", the past tense of "drive". In the text, any instance of "drave" can be replaced with "drove" without losing the meaning.
Drawn - (DRAWN) with a drawn sword. Also, with the meaning of being figuratively drawn from cover, like an animal flushed from its den for the hunters to find.
Drayman - (DRAY-man) a man who drives a dray, which is a cart used for the carrying of heavy loads, generally drawn by a horse.
Dread-bolted - (DRED bohl-tid) with terrible and terrifying thunder and lightning. A dread-bolted night is one full of awful storms that make one fear for one's life.
Dreg - (DREG) impurities, like the bits of matter found in wine in those days, when it was often poorly strained and purified. As a verb, it means to figuratively make something cloudy, as if it were full of dregs.
Drollery - (DROHL-er-ee) a caricature or comical picture of something, or a puppet-show. In general, some sort of entertainment that is meant to be comical.
Dropsied - (DROP-seed) full of oneself. It gives the impression of someone puffed-up with a wholly undeserved sense of self-worth and a towering amount of pretentousness.)
Dropsy - (DROP-see) a disease in which one becomes swollen through the retention of fluids. As with many diseases of the time, it could be used as part of a curse.
Dross - (DROSS) something impure, something which is only worth discarding, tainted. It comes from metalworking, where dross is the the impurities left over when the item is properly made, or the taint that sometimes forms on the surface of metal.
Drossy - (DROSS-ee) describing something worthless that is better put aside than wasting time upon. From the metalworking term, where dross are the impurities discarded in the process.
Drouth - (DROWTH) dryness, or dry surroundings, or thirst. It can be anything from a dry and dusty day to a full drought. An older spelling of the word "drought".
Drovier - (DROHV-ee-er) an older way to say "drover", which is a person who drives livestock, usually cattle from one place to another.
Drowning-mark - (DROWN-ing mark) the marks of death by drowning. The lack of a drowning-mark means there is no indication that a person died by drowning.
Drudge - (DRUDJ) a lowly servant or slave, generally only good for manual labor or working the land. As with "slave", it is an insult to call someone a drudge, if they are of any higher station.
Drug-damned - (DRUHG damd) damned for the use of drugs or poisons. A specific way to curse at someone for employing poisons in some way that confounds the speaker.
Drumble - (DRUHM-bul) to hang around, generally where one shouldn't be, or to move slowly and sluggishly, to be slow to get going, as if reluctant.
Dry nurse - (DRY nurse) a household servant, generally one who takes care of the babies, but does not breastfeed them. They might also do general housework.
Dry-beat - (DRY beet) to beat rather soundly. To dry-beat someone is not just a few smacks to attack someone with a blunt object and pummel them into submission.
Dryfoot - (DRY-fut) a hunting term, meaning to follow something by the scent of its feet, a bit like how a hound seems to often follow the train of its quarry.
Ducat - (DUHK-at) a gold or silver coin popular in many countries in Europe at the time. It had a varying value depending upon time and place of origin, but generally fell between one third and one fifth of a pound.
Ducdame - (DOOK-da-may) a nonsense word, used as part of an invocation to bring something to the speaker. If there is a real origin for the word, it is unknown.
Due - (DOO) describing something that is proper or appropriate. A verb meaning to give what is due someone else. A noun meaning that which is owed another, whether a debt or a show or respect and obeisance.
Duello - (doo-EL-oh) the commonly agreed-upon code of dueling. Those who engaged in duels with others were expected to follow the duello as a point of honor.
Dulcet - (DUHL-set) literally, sweet. It means something that is appealing or pleasing in a delicate way, such as one's singing voice
Dullard - (DUHL-urd) one who is dull in thought, not very intelligent, or somehow lacking in wit. It is, of course, an insult to refer to someone as a dullard.
Dull-eyed - (DUHL eyed) figuratively lacking clear vision, someone who does not have good insight, or is a poor judge of character or intent.
Dullness, Dulness - (DUHL-ness) sleepiness, tiredness, drowsiness, a general state of feeling or being slow and lazy, often due to extreme exhaustion or sleep deprivation.
Dumb-discoursive (dum dis-KERS-iv) literally to persuade or converse without making a sound. Something dumb-discoursive can make a compelling point and never say a word.
Dun - (DUHN) dark, shadowy, obscured by gloom. "Dunnest" means the very deepest darkness. It can also mean a specific color, a sort of grayish brown.
Dungy - (DUNH-gee) disgusting, filthy; resembling dung. Like dung, this is meant to describe something almost unspeakably foul.
Dup - (DUHP) a contraction for the word "do up", meaning to open. It appears in Ophelia's song in Hamlet, likely made that way to fit the meter of the music.
Dure - (DYUR) short for "endure" and it has the same meaning; to withstand or hold up to something, to show fortitude against trouble.
Durst, that thou - (DURST that thow) "durst" is a no longer used tense of "to dare". "That thou durst" means "if you dare", with the implication that the subject wouldn't dare.
Dusky - (DUHS-kee) dark and shadowed, like dusk. It can also mean dimly lit or darkened. A "dusky torch" is a torch whose light has been extinguished.
Daff - (DAF) to remove or put to one side. Used in the literal sense, as to take off and put aside clothing, or figuratively as in to put off a person or put aside a situation or idea.
Dalliance - (DAL-ee-ance) playing around, lazing around, an activity that wastes time. Also fooling around in the sense of two people touching and carressing in an amourous sense.
Dally - (DAL-lee) play around, gently tease; wait around; to flirt or engage in romantic playfulness. Often the sort of behavior two young lovers might engage in.
Dam - (DAM) mother, the female parent. When this word appears it virtually always means mother and never a structure that blocks the flow of water.
Damask - (DAM-ask) light-red or pink. The name comes from the color of the damask rose, a flower prized highly for its beauty.
Damasked - (DAM-askd) colored light red or pink, like the damask rose; also, something that has been colored brightly, not necessarily in pink.
Damosella - (dam-o-sel-lah) another way to say "damsel", an archaic word (very rarely in modern use) which means young maiden, usually an unmarried woman.
Dancing-rapier - (DANS-ing RAYP-ee-er) a decorative sword used in dances. It was expressly not a sword to be used in combat, but for artistic purposes only.
Dandle - (DAN-dul) stroke, fondle, or pet. To handle someone in the manner one might handle a small pet or an infant, with affection toward an inferior.
Dank - (DANK) slightly wet or clammy, like a poorly insulated basement. Dungeons where prisoners are kept and meant to be uncomfortable are often described as dank.
Daring-hardy - (DAIR-ing har-dee) foolishly brave. Daring-hardy means to take unnecessary risks, to rush forward without a plan or even a sufficient chance to prevail.
Darking - (DARK-ing) another way to say "setting" as in the setting of the sun. Evokes the image of the sky becoming darker as the sun fades.
Darnel - (DAR-nel) a type of grass, not used for food or crafting. A weed, or sometimes the burrs or cockles that come from it and stick to clothing and animal coats.
Darraign - (DAR-rain) to put in order or set up. Very similar to the modern word "arrange", likely coming from the same root word.
Dastard - (DAST-urd) a descriptive word meaning cowardly, or evil. May also be used as a word meaning someone who is a coward, weakling, or a traitor.
Daub - (DAWB) to smear or spread something with the intent of ruining the object being smeared; it can also mean to try to pass off a thing or a person as something it isn't.
Daubery, Daubry - (DAWB-er-ee, DAWB-ree) tricks or behavior that is ultimately deceptive. Illusions and other such acts meant to trick another can be considered daubery.
Dauphin - (daw-FEEN) the French crown prince. This is the title given the the eldest son of the king of France in Shakespeare's time, as well as some centuries before and after.
Daw - (DAW) simply, a jackdaw, which is a type of bird. Sometimes applied to a person, and then it means foolish or stupid, as the jackdaw was a bird known for a lack of intelligence.
Day-bed - (DAY bed) a couch or sofa which could be used for reclining or even for sleeping upon. It is much the same as the modern meaning of the word.
Day-woman - (DAY wo-man) more commonly known as a dairy-maid, a woman who tends the cows, milks them, and often is responsible for making the cheese and butter.
Deadly-handed - (ded-lee HAND-id) practiced in murder or killing. One who is an assassin or who has otherwise killed more than a few people can be termed as deadly-handed.
Deadly-standing - (ded-lee STAND-ing) describes something that is deadly or prone to killing. Somewhat similar to the term "deadly-handed".
Dearn - (DURN) dark, shadowy, gloomy, secret. Most often spelled "dern". An archaic word that is rarely used in the modern era.
Dearth - (DURTH) the lack of something, especially food. A dearth of apples means it is very difficult to find them anywhere, because there are so few. Rarely, it means something valuable, likely due to its rarity.
Death-boding - (DETH BOHD-ing) having many premonitions or visions or omens of death. It implies the idea that someone is about to die and there is little that can be done about it.
Death-practised - (deth PRAK-tisd) someone whose death has been planned. The implication is that killers have practiced to murder or assassinate a certain person.
Death-procuring - (deth pro-KYUR-ing) fatal, deadly. Something death-procuring will bring death one way or another at some point, if not immediately.
Death's-head - (DETHS hed) a skull. A skull is often a symbol of death, perhaps most famously used by pirates to inspire fear in those they plundered.
Deathsman - (DETHS-man) an executioner, one who kills criminals in an official capacity. It can also mean someone who is killing in the name of what he believes to be justice.
Death-token - (DETH tohk-en) a sign of some kind that points to immanent death, such as a fatal symptom of disease. The fate so marked often seems inescapable.
Debile - (DE-byl) lacking in strength, feeble. One who is debile is likely barely able to stand, let alone defend himself, being weak as the very elderly or the very young.
Debonair - (de-bon-AIR) charming, mannerly, possessed of good demeanor. One who is debonair is the type who does well at gatherings and leaves a good impression.
Deboshed - (de-BOSHD) another way to say "debauched", which means depraved, focused on hedonistic living, always after the standard wine, women, and song.
Deboysed - (de-BOYSD) another way to say "debauched", which means depraved, focused on hedonistic living, always after the standard wine, women, and song.
Debuty - (DEB-u-tee) a misspoken word, meant to say "deputy". Purposely misspelled to illustate a lack of education in the speaker.
Deceptious - (de-SEPT-shus) deceptive, to say it modern terms. Something deliberately used to lie or mislead, or someone inclined toward such behavior.
Decimation - (deh-sim-AY-shun) a practice, said to have originated with the Romans, of killing one out of every ten persons. From the Latin word for "ten".
Declension - (de-KLIN-shun) trending downward, either physically going down, or in the sense of declining or decaying morally, emotionally, or socially.
Decoct - (de-KOKT) to make warm, either with an actual fire, or to heat up in the sense of enflaming the rage or ire of another person or persons.
Decorum - (de-KOR-um) proper or approriate behavior. Nobles and the like are raised to show decorum so they do not embarrass their families in social situations.
Deed-achieving - (DEED a-cheev-ing) something that has been won by actions or deed. Something like a medal or a similar honor is generally a deed-achiving reward.
Deem - (DEEM) to consider the worthiness of, to evaluate. It can also be a noun, meaning an evaluation, or just a thought that comes to one regarding a situation.
Deep-drawing - (DEEP draw-ing) heavily-loaded. The meaning is of a boat that is filled with heavy goods or items to the point where it displaces a great deal of water.
Deep-fet - (deep FET) pulled from deep inside. Deep-fet groans are expressions of agony or loss that come from deep inside, from the very soul.
Deep-revolving - (deep rev-OLV-ing) thinking heavily on a matter. It essentially means to consider something for a long time, or to think deeply on something before coming to a conclusion.
Defame - (de-FAYM) to ruin someone's name, honor, or reputation; it can also be a noun referring to the disgrace or loss that comes from being defamed.
Defeature - (de-FEET-sure) that which makes something ugly, or destroys beauty. Literally, removing the features of something or someone, taking away what makes it beautiful to the eye.
Defier - (de-FY-er) one who brings a challenge, one who defies another. It can also specifically mean a herald bringing an official declaration of war.
Defunct - (de-FUNKT) a noun meaning someone who is dead. Though the word has survived to modern times, it no longer refers to the dead.
Deify - (DAY-if-aye) to give honor and worship to someone as if they were a god or to raise someone in esteem to the level of a god. Roman emperors were regularly deified.
Deign - (DAYN) to agree to, to acquiesce. The implication is of willingness, because the action was something the subject is not being compelled to make.
Deject - (de-JEKT) to be lowered or lessened in stature, amount, size or quality. When something is described as deject, it means it has fallen from a greater status.
Delver - (DEL-ver) literally, someone who digs or makes holes in the earth. More specifically, it applies to one who digs graves.
Demesne - (dem-EEN) all of the lands under a particular ruler's control. The king of England has all the lands of England as his demesne.
Demi-Atlas - (dem-ee AT-las) one who holds up half the world. From the Greek mythological figure who holds the sky up on his shoulders.
Demi-cannon - (DEM-ee can-non) either a small cannon or a large gun. The sleeve of an outfit is compared to one of these in The Taming of the Shrew.
Demi-coronal - (DEM-ee KO-roh-nal) a small coronet or crown of the type a lesser noble might wear to show his authority, while still showing subordination to higher authority.
Demi-devil - (DEM-ee DEV-il) literally, half a devil. Someone so evil or ill of aspect they they must be at least half-demonic in some manner.
Demi-natured - (DEM-ee NAYT-shurd) part one thing and part another, as in someone of mixed ancestry, or someone who is of two minds about something.
Demi-puppet - (DEM-ee PUP-pet) either a small puppet, or a creature resembling a small human. Something like a puppet, but is not a puppet, but a living being.
Demi-wolf - (DEM-ee wolf) literally, a half-wolf. An animal that is half-dog, half-wolf. Cited to express the thought that all kinds of dogs are still called dogs.
Demure - (dem-YUR) of a serious manner, without frivolity or silliness. May also be used as a verb, meaning to look demure or have a demure demeanor and gaze.
Denay - (de-NAY) a noun meaning a refusal, denial or rejection. As a verb, it has exactly the same meaning as the modern word "deny".
Denier - (den-EER) a unit of money worth about a tenth of a penny. Used to denote an amount of money that is near-useless, a tiny amount that would never buy anything.
Denote - (de-NOHT) to make a special note of something, to point out a particular thing. Also, to represent or somehow show something or a representation of something.
Denunciation - (de-nun-see-AY-shun) a public declaration made to announce something official. It does not necessarily carry the negative meaning of the modern definition.
Depose - (de-POSE) a verb, as in to take a deposition from, to obtain a statement, to receive an oath, or to give a statement. It can also mean to take something away from someone.
Deprave - (de-PRAYV) to reduce the reputation or impugn the honor of another. To deprave someone is an attempt to either insult or destroy them.
Deracinate - (de-RAS-in-ate) to remove or destroy, as if to pull up a plant. The implication is to rip away the subject in such a way that will kill it.
Dern - (DERN) dark, shadowy, gloomy, secret. Sometimes spelled "dearn" or "dearne". An archaic word that is rarely used in the modern era.
Derogate - (DAIR-oh-gayt) a descriptive word meaning of lowered quality or character. As a verb, it means to act in such away as to weaken one's own reputation.
Derogation - (dair-oh-GAY-shun) suffer a lost of reputation or esteem. When one is subjected to a derogation, it means they are looked upon with less respect thereafter.
Derry - (DAIR-ee) a nonsense word used in songs to keep the measure and beat of the lyrics, such as "derry, and a derry, and a hey, nonny nonny".
Desart - (de-SART) a thing or reward that is well-deserved or fitting. Similar to someone getting their "just desserts", but the meaning here is positive.
Desartless - (de-SART-less) undeserving of honor, someone who is basically unachieved. One who is desartless does not merit any special reward or recognition.
Descant - (DES-kant) one of the harmonies in a song, often a variant of the melody in a different key that sounds good with the melody. As a verb, to sing the harmony. It can also mean to make remarks about something.
Descry - (deh-KRAYE) to see or discover something, to point something out, to make something known. As a noun it means the sighting of something from afar.
Dispatch - (des-PATCH) to settle a matter, to put an end to a business affair. To have dispatch in a peace talk is to finally sign the treaty.
Despoil - (de-SPOYL) to remove, take, or otherwise deprive someone of something. To despoil a man of his livelihood is to somehow fire him or destroy his work.
Detract - (de-TRAKT) to take away from, to make an amount of something less, to remove a part of something from the greater whole.
Devest - (de-VEST) an alternate spelling of "divest", which means to remove. Specifically, this means disrobing, or the removal of clothing.
Dew-bedabbled - (DOO be-DAB-uld) dappled, or dotted with dew. It evokes a picture of something studded all over with little beads of dew.
Dewberry - (DOO-bair-ee) a type of blackberry plant bearing deep purple to black fruit. Also refers to the berries which come from the dewberry bush.
Dewlap - (DOO-lap) the flaps of loose skin that hang from the neck that tend to develop as a person ages.
Dexter - (DEX-ter) on the right side. The term comes from heraldry with "dexter" meaning the right side of an emblem and "sinister" referring to the left.
Dey-woman, Day-woman - (DAY wo-man) more commonly known as a dairy-maid, a woman who tends the cows, milks them, and often is responsible for making the cheese and butter.
Diadem - (DY-a-dim) a crown, or sometimes the power behind that crown, meaning the authority and sovereignty of the person who wears it.
Diapason - (dy-a-PAY-son) a musical term meaning the deeper registers of the harmony, to sing or play the harmony an octive lower.
Dich - (DICH) another way to say "do it". It is possibily written that way to represent another dialect or way of speaking, but that is not absolutely certain.
Diction - (DIKT-shun) the story of something told in words, an oral report, a verbal account. To stand before someone and tell them your tale is to give them your diction.
Didst - (DIDST) a archaic way to say "did". Wherever the word "didst" is found, it can be substituted with the more modern form and have the same meaning.
Diffidence - (DIF-ih-dense) lack of trust in another person, the unwillingness to place confidence. Conversely, to have no diffidence in something is to trust that thing absolutely.
Digress - (dy-GRESS) to move away from or change course. Most often used in modern conversation to indicate a conversation has drifted off course.
Dild - (DILD) to give over a reward or payment, to give way. It is a contraction or abbreviation for "yield", along with a few others.
Diminutive - (de-MIN-ih-tiv) very small. It is another spelling that sometimes appears in the text, but has the same meaning as "diminutive".
Diminutive - (de-MIN-u-tiv) small, tiny. Diminutive generally implies not just small or short, but extremely tiny, making the "most diminutive" very small indeed.
Dint - (DINT) a mark or an impression made by another force. It can also mean the kind of blow or stroke that makes a mark or attempts to make a mark.
Direful - (DYR-ful) very dire, or terrifying, horrifying. Something that inspires fear in all but the bravest, and sometimes even they are not immune.
Dire-lamenting - (DYR lam-ENT-ing) deeply sad. A dire-lamenting person is in deep, deep mourning, emotionally as low as one can feel.
Direness - (DYR-ness) horror, terror, the deepest sort of fear. Direness is the type of fear that even the bold might feel, the sort of thing that makes hair stand on end.
Dirge - (DURJ) a funeral song, a song used in morning to revere the dead. These songs are mournful tunes, meant to inspire tears in those who listen.
Disallow - (dis-al-LOW) simply, to not allow something to happen, to prevent or forbid something. This word is still commonly used in modern times.
Disanimate - (dis-AN-ih-mayt) to discourage something. Disanimate is to take the animus or spirit out of something, so it lack the will to continue.
Disannul - (dis-an-NUL) to cancel or bring something to an end. The meaning is sometimes more than just ending -- it can also mean to erase something as if it had never existed.
Disbench - (dis-BENCH) to get up or be removed from one's seat. Literally, to leave a bench. When everyone is called to rise in court, they are all called upon to disbench.
Disbranch - (dis-BRANCH) literally to remove a branch from a tree, but it also has broader meaning to sever something from the body or mass of something greater.
Disburden - (dis-BUR-den) to remove a burden or a weight from oneself or from someone else. It can also mean a figurative burden. To tell someone a weighty secret is also to disburden.
Discandy - (dis-KAN-dee) melt away completely, turn into liquid. To discandy is to completely dissolve, like an ice cube left on the ground on a hot day.
Discase - (dis-CASE) to take off all of one's clothing. The word also has a more specific meaning, which is to shed or discard a costume or disguise.
Discomfit - (dis-KOM-fit) to discourage, or to defeat or overthrow. Also, a noun which means defeat or overthrow. The modern meaning of being made uncomfortable does not apply.
Discomfiture - (dis-KOM-fit-sure) a complete and utter defeat. An army that is forced to flee the field in terror and disarray has suffered a discomfiture.
Discommend - (dis-kom-MEND) the opposite of "recommend", meaning to find reasons against the approval of something, or to disapprove of a thing or person.
Discord - (DIS-kord) disagreement, argument, ongoing acts of vengeance. To have discord with another means a feud or a fight that may or may not have been going on for a while.
Discourser - (dis-KOR-ser) a teller of tales, one who relates stories or narrates an event. From the word "discourse", which means to have a discussion or dialog.
Disedge - (dis-EDJ) to have a need or a want taken care of, at least for now. The more modern way to say "disedge" is to "take the edge off" of something.
Disfigure - (dis-FIG-ur) to change the appearance of something or someone. It could also mean to put on a disguise. Not necessarily the modern meaning of ruining the appearance.
Disfurnish - (dis-FURN-ish) to take away or remove. The opposite of the word "furnish", which has the meaning of supplying someone with something.
Disgest - (dis-JEST) another spelling of "digest". To swallow something and subject it to whatever might happen in the stomach.
Dishabit - (dis-HAB-it) to remove something from its place, such as pushing a statue from its pedestal, or a building from its foundation.
Dishclout - (DISH-klowt) an archaic word for "dishcloth", a rag used for watching dishes. The word "clout" often means cloth in Shakespeare's work.
Disinsanity - (dis-in-SAN-ih-tee) a high order of madness or craziness.Rather than disinsanity meaning the lack of sanity, it means greater insanity in this instance.
Disjoin - (dis-JOYN) to unjoin, to separate oneself from something, as to disjoin a cause or an organization. It can also mean to take apart in a physical sense.
Disjoint - (dis-JOYNT) to be out of joint or somehow disconnected from something. As a verb, it means to break something apart or cause a condition of disjointedness.
Disjunction - (dis-JUNKT-shun) the breaking apart of something that once was in unity. The disjunction of a political organization would mean it not only breaks apart, but that it probably does so on unfriendly terms.
Dislimn - (dis-LIMN) to destroy completely, to obliterate. Dislimn is more than breaking something -- it means to make it unrecognizable, at the very least.
Disloyal - (dis-LOY-al) unfaithfulness. It could be in a poltical sense, a moral sense, or the unfaithfulness that sometimes happens with married couples.
Dismal - (DIZ-mal) something very destructive, something that causes a calamity or a disaster; it can also mean evil or with evil intent.
Dismasked - (dis-MASKD) a modern way to say it would be "unmasked". One who is dismasked has had their mask removed, either physically or figuratively.
Disme - (DY-em) the tenth person killed. From the Anglo-Saxon meaning "tenth". May be related to the Roman practice of decimation.
Dismember - (dis-MEM-ber) to take apart or blast to pieces, to tear someone limb from limb. A very violent and destructive method of destruction.
Dismission - (dis-MIS-shun) dismissal, discharge from service, the separation or sending away of someone. A dismission isn't always a bad thing, but it can be.
Disnatured - (dis-NAYT-shurd) apart from nature, fundamentally unnatural, an aberration. Something that can be described as disnatured is something that should not even exist, by the laws of nature.
Disorbed - (dis-ORBD) to be removed from orbit. Generally applies to celestial objects, like a star, a planet, the sun, or the moon. Obviously, this implies a catastrophic event.
Disparagement - (dis-PAIR-aj-ment) a lowering of ones reputation or status in the eyes of others. Something that causes disgrace. To give one a disparagement is a great insult at the very least.
Disparity - (dis-PAIR-ih-tee) literally, a lack of parity, meaning unequal, or two things that are not of the same quality, to the detrement of one or both.
Dispark - (dis-PARK) to change a park into something else, or to fundamentally change the nature of a park to something that it wasn't before, or never intended to be.
Dispiteous - (dis-PIT-ee-us) literally, without pity. Heartless, merciless, cruel, describing someone who has not even a little sympathy for the plight of others.
Displant - (dis-PLANT) to take something from its accustomed place and move it to another, perhaps unfamiliar, place. To take something away.
Disponge - (dis-SPUNJ) to expunge from, like water from a sponge. The impression is of something being drained out or removed from something else to pour out over everything.
Disport - (dis-PORT) to give sport, meaning to entertain. It can also be used as a noun, meaning entertainment, a pleasant diversion, or something used to pass the time.
Disprise, Disprize - (dis-PRYZ) to regard a thing as having little value, to express the worthlessness of a person or object, to look down upon something or someone.
Dispunge - (dis-SPUNJ) to expunge from, like water from a sponge. The impression is of something being drained out or removed from something else to pour out over everything.
Disputation - (dis-pyoo-TAY-shun) talking, conversation. To ask someone for a disputation or some disputations is to ask them to talk or converse about something.
Disquiet - (dis-KWY-et) disturbed or troubled. Disquiet waters means a lake or river or ocean disturbed by weather. A disquiet spirit can be bothered by disturbing circumstances.
Disrelish - (dis-REL-ish) literally to not relish a thing or situation. To dislike something, to find something distasteful or tedious.
Disroot - (dis-ROOT) to take something from its accustomed place and move it to another, perhaps unfamiliar, place. To take something away. Similar to "displant".
Disseat - (dis-SEET) another way to say "unseat", to remove someone from where they sit. It particularly applies to remove one from a horse's saddle, as if by being pitched to the ground by the bucking animal, or by the lance of a knight.
Dis-seat - (dis-SEET) another way to say "unseat", to remove someone from where they sit. It particularly applies to remove one from a horse's saddle, as if by being pitched to the ground by the bucking animal, or by the lance of a knight.
Dissension - (dis-SIN-shun) a fight or argument over something. Dissention rarely means a physical fight or a war, but refers instead to some kind of heated dispute.
Dissentious - (dis-SENT-shus) inclined to cause dissent, meaning someone argumentative, who likes to start quarrels. A dissentious person is generally looking for trouble.
Dissever - (dis-SEV-er) to sever one thing from another, usually in a figurative sense. To separate or divide something, to disassociate.
Dissipation - (dis-sih-PAY-shun) dissolving or breaking apart, in the sense of a cloud of smoke being broken up by the wind. A dissipation of a cohort means the people in the group went their own ways.
Dissuade - (dis-SWAYD) similar to persuade, trying to talk someone into doing something. It has the implication of imparting advice to another.
Distaff-woman - (DIS-staf wo-man) a woman who spins wool or flax or some other natural fiber into thread. From the word "distaff", was an object that held the fibers while it was being spun.
Distain - (dis-TAYN) figuratively, to stain, as in to stain one's reputation or honor. To corrupt or ruin. It can also mean to ruin a reputation or accomplishment by overshadowing or outdoing it.
Distemper - (dis-TEM-per) some kind of illness or impairment, whether from sickness or disease, from excess of alcohol, or from some mental condition that causes strange behavior. It can also mean a foul mood. As a verb, it means to cause a disturberance or foment chaos.
Distil - (dis-TIL) either to melt or dissolve, or to trickle down in droplets. The exact meaning of the word is best defined from the context of the passage in which it appears.
Distrain - (dis-TRAYN) to take something from someone else forcefully, to take command of something that belongs to someone else.
Disvouch - (dis-VOWCH) to deny the existence of something to one degree or another, to refuse to take note of a thing or person, to contradict.
Ditch-delivered - (DITCH del-iv-erd) literally delivered in a ditch, in a maternal sense. Someone who was born in a ditch, rather than in a home, where babies tended to be born then.
Ditch-dog - (DITCH dog) a dead dog that has been thrown into a ditch. Part of a list of truly disgusting things claimed to be the food of Tom.
Ditty - (DIT-tee) a song, or the words and lyrics of a song. This is one of the words that has lasted until the modern day with the same general meaning.
Diurnal - (dy-URN-al) something which occurs on a daily basis. In generally, something diurnal is assocated with the daylight hours when the sun is in the sky.
Dive-dapper - (DYV dap-per) a bird which dives under the water obtain its food. More specifically a bird native to England also known as the little grebe.
Dividant - (div-AYE-dant) describes something that can be divided into discrete parts, or things that can be divided into different groups due to different characteristics.
Dividual - (div-ID-u-al) different, as in the difference between men and women. To say something is "more than in sex dividual" is to say there is more difference there than the differences that normally exist between a man and a woman.
Do de - (doo dee) the sound of teeth chattering together. It is an attempt to convert sound into words and "do de do de" is what teeth chattering sounds like to the speaker.
Doer - (DOO-er) literally, someone who does. It could mean someone who performs a heroic act, someone who knows how to get something done and does it, or an actor or other performer.
Doff - (DOFF) to remove and cast away. Usually it refers to clothing, meaning to take off an outfit and put it aside or throw it away, but it can also apply to sentiments or feelings.
Dog-ape - (DOG ayp) a baboon, particularly one which has a dog-like face. Such animals were a rare sight in that part of the world.
Dog-hearted - (DOG har-tid) to have the heart of a dog in the worst possible sense, meaning to lack any regard for another person, to have no human compassion.
Dog-weary - (DOG weer-ee) the same meaning as "tired as a dog" or "dog-tired". To be utterly and completely exhausted, usually after "working like a dog".
Doit - (DOYT) literally, a small Dutch coin worth about half a farthing of English money. Figuratively, a thing that has virtually no worth or value whatsoever.
Dole - (DOHL) pain of an emotional nature, particularly sadness. It can also mean one's portion or lot out of a greater collection or pool of something, or the delivery or distribution of the same.
Dolour - (DOHL-or) pain of an emotional nature, especially sorrow or grief. From the Latin "dolor", which means pain or grief.
Domineer - (dom-in-NEER) to party hard, to have a great deal of fun at a social gathering. In this instance it does not have the modern meaning of utter control.
Dominical - (dom-IN-ih-cul) a document with the letters so printed as to clearly identify which days are Sundays, for better adherence to religious duty.
Dominie - (DOM-ih-nee) one who teaches or one who heads a school or other place of education. A word still used today in some places.
Dormouse - (DOR-mowse) a descriptive word meaning sleeping or dormant, like the dormouse itself which spends a good deal of time in deep hibernation.
Dost - (DOST) a form of the word "do". Whenever "dost" is scene in the text, the more modern from "do" can generally be substituted.
Dotage - (DOH-taj) the feebleness of mind that often comes with very advanced age. Also, to dote on someone else, showing that person an overabundance of affection or care.
Dotant - (DOHT-ant) someone whose mental capacity has been greatly diminished, or one who never had much mental ability in the first place.
Dotard - (DOHT-erd) someone who is foolish due to great age, or someone who has slipped into senility. Meant in a disparaging manner.
Dote - (DOHT) to act in an irrational or foolish way, to behave as if one has lost one's mind. A different meaning from to dote on or to dote upon.
Doth - (DOTH) an archaic way of saying "does". Whenever "doth" is seen in the text, the more modern word "does" can generally be substituted.
Doting - (DOHT-ing) of little intelligence, lacking common sense or general wisdom. When applied to a person it is not complimentary in the slightest.
Doublet - (DUB-let) a close fitting jacket often with a very small skirt attached. Worn by men. A doublet could be made with or without sleeves. Doublet and hose were a popular men's outfit of the time.
Doughty-handed - (DOWT-ee HAND-id) literally, brave-handed. It applies to those who show great courage and skill in battle, verging on heroism, if not heroism itself.
Dout - (DOWT) to quench or put out, as with a fire. It could mean a physical fire, but could also mean emotional or spiritual fire, such as courage.
Dowdy - (DOWD-ee) a woman who is in some way unattractive. She could have an appearance considered to be homely or merely dressed in clothes that make her unattractive.
Dower - (DOW-er) the money or property given to the husband from his new wife's family when they marry. As a verb, it means to give that property and money to the new husband.
Dowerless - (DOW-er-less) without a dowry, or a payment that goes from the bride's father to the groom upon marriage. A woman without a dowry was difficult to find a husband for, especially among the nobility.
Dowlas - (DOWL-as) a type of clothing, specifically a type of cheap linen of low quality. The name is derived from its place of origin: Doulas, in Brittany.
Dowle, Dowl - (DOWL) either a tiny feather, or a small part of a larger feather. It would not be large enough to serve as the feather in a cap or as a plume.
Down-gyved - (DOWN gyvd) hanging down like leg-chains. Fetters for the legs are also known as gyves, which is where the term is derived. Down-gyved stockings are dropped down to the subject's ankles, but still partially on.
Down-pillow - (DOWN pill-oh) a pillow filled with feathers, or just as it would mean in modern terms without the hyphen, a down pillow.
Down-rope - (DOWN-rohp) to seep or ooze down. It is meant to imply an unpleasant sort of seepage from whatever the source might be.
Down-sleeve - (DOWN-sleev) literally, sleeves that go all the way down, or sleeves that go completely from the shoulders to the wrists. A full sleeve.
Down-trod - (DOWN-trod) to be crushed or oppressed, literally to be stepped upon and pressed down into the earth. It is meant almost always in a figurative sense.
Downtrodden - (DOWN-trod-en) to suffer oppression or the rule of a tyrant. The impression is of being stepped upon by a heavy boot. This term is still in used today.
Downy - (DOWN-ee) very soft and fluffy, like a mound of down feathers. It can also refer to the comforting feeling given by such a comfortable thing.
Dowset - (DOW-set) the testicles of a deer. Considered to be one of the best parts of the animal, and to be allowed to eat them was a sign of regard.
Doxy - (DOX-ee) usually, a prostitute of the lowest sort, a cheap streetwalker. It can also mean simply a girl one fancies in a romantic manner.
Drab - (DRAB) a woman who is free with her sexual favors, either for money or for reasons of her own. A dreadful insult to deliver to a woman of any kind.
Drachma - (DRAK-mah) a silver coin from Greece, which can have different values, but is always worth a fairly good amount when translated to terms of English money.
Draff - (DRAF) something fit only for pigs to consume, something that should be thrown away, refuse. Generally refers to food, if food that only the desperate would eat.
Dram - (DRAM) a very, very small amount of something (in modern measurements, 1/16 of an ounce). It can mean specifically a tiny single dose of poison.
Drave - (DRAYV) an older way to say "drove", the past tense of "drive". In the text, any instance of "drave" can be replaced with "drove" without losing the meaning.
Drawn - (DRAWN) with a drawn sword. Also, with the meaning of being figuratively drawn from cover, like an animal flushed from its den for the hunters to find.
Drayman - (DRAY-man) a man who drives a dray, which is a cart used for the carrying of heavy loads, generally drawn by a horse.
Dread-bolted - (DRED bohl-tid) with terrible and terrifying thunder and lightning. A dread-bolted night is one full of awful storms that make one fear for one's life.
Dreg - (DREG) impurities, like the bits of matter found in wine in those days, when it was often poorly strained and purified. As a verb, it means to figuratively make something cloudy, as if it were full of dregs.
Drollery - (DROHL-er-ee) a caricature or comical picture of something, or a puppet-show. In general, some sort of entertainment that is meant to be comical.
Dropsied - (DROP-seed) full of oneself. It gives the impression of someone puffed-up with a wholly undeserved sense of self-worth and a towering amount of pretentousness.)
Dropsy - (DROP-see) a disease in which one becomes swollen through the retention of fluids. As with many diseases of the time, it could be used as part of a curse.
Dross - (DROSS) something impure, something which is only worth discarding, tainted. It comes from metalworking, where dross is the the impurities left over when the item is properly made, or the taint that sometimes forms on the surface of metal.
Drossy - (DROSS-ee) describing something worthless that is better put aside than wasting time upon. From the metalworking term, where dross are the impurities discarded in the process.
Drouth - (DROWTH) dryness, or dry surroundings, or thirst. It can be anything from a dry and dusty day to a full drought. An older spelling of the word "drought".
Drovier - (DROHV-ee-er) an older way to say "drover", which is a person who drives livestock, usually cattle from one place to another.
Drowning-mark - (DROWN-ing mark) the marks of death by drowning. The lack of a drowning-mark means there is no indication that a person died by drowning.
Drudge - (DRUDJ) a lowly servant or slave, generally only good for manual labor or working the land. As with "slave", it is an insult to call someone a drudge, if they are of any higher station.
Drug-damned - (DRUHG damd) damned for the use of drugs or poisons. A specific way to curse at someone for employing poisons in some way that confounds the speaker.
Drumble - (DRUHM-bul) to hang around, generally where one shouldn't be, or to move slowly and sluggishly, to be slow to get going, as if reluctant.
Dry nurse - (DRY nurse) a household servant, generally one who takes care of the babies, but does not breastfeed them. They might also do general housework.
Dry-beat - (DRY beet) to beat rather soundly. To dry-beat someone is not just a few smacks to attack someone with a blunt object and pummel them into submission.
Dryfoot - (DRY-fut) a hunting term, meaning to follow something by the scent of its feet, a bit like how a hound seems to often follow the train of its quarry.
Ducat - (DUHK-at) a gold or silver coin popular in many countries in Europe at the time. It had a varying value depending upon time and place of origin, but generally fell between one third and one fifth of a pound.
Ducdame - (DOOK-da-may) a nonsense word, used as part of an invocation to bring something to the speaker. If there is a real origin for the word, it is unknown.
Due - (DOO) describing something that is proper or appropriate. A verb meaning to give what is due someone else. A noun meaning that which is owed another, whether a debt or a show or respect and obeisance.
Duello - (doo-EL-oh) the commonly agreed-upon code of dueling. Those who engaged in duels with others were expected to follow the duello as a point of honor.
Dulcet - (DUHL-set) literally, sweet. It means something that is appealing or pleasing in a delicate way, such as one's singing voice
Dullard - (DUHL-urd) one who is dull in thought, not very intelligent, or somehow lacking in wit. It is, of course, an insult to refer to someone as a dullard.
Dull-eyed - (DUHL eyed) figuratively lacking clear vision, someone who does not have good insight, or is a poor judge of character or intent.
Dullness, Dulness - (DUHL-ness) sleepiness, tiredness, drowsiness, a general state of feeling or being slow and lazy, often due to extreme exhaustion or sleep deprivation.
Dumb-discoursive (dum dis-KERS-iv) literally to persuade or converse without making a sound. Something dumb-discoursive can make a compelling point and never say a word.
Dun - (DUHN) dark, shadowy, obscured by gloom. "Dunnest" means the very deepest darkness. It can also mean a specific color, a sort of grayish brown.
Dungy - (DUNH-gee) disgusting, filthy; resembling dung. Like dung, this is meant to describe something almost unspeakably foul.
Dup - (DUHP) a contraction for the word "do up", meaning to open. It appears in Ophelia's song in Hamlet, likely made that way to fit the meter of the music.
Dure - (DYUR) short for "endure" and it has the same meaning; to withstand or hold up to something, to show fortitude against trouble.
Durst, that thou - (DURST that thow) "durst" is a no longer used tense of "to dare". "That thou durst" means "if you dare", with the implication that the subject wouldn't dare.
Dusky - (DUHS-kee) dark and shadowed, like dusk. It can also mean dimly lit or darkened. A "dusky torch" is a torch whose light has been extinguished.