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Cabilero - (KAB-ill-air-o) a man known to be honorable and noble in all his dealings, often a gentleman in every sense of the word. Someone who is thought to be a fine person by all.
Cacodemon - (KAK-o-deem-on) an evil spirit, a malevolent force. When referring to another person as a cacodemon, it is to say they are truly evil.
Caddis - (KAD-dis) a type of rough woven cloth. One of a great many items being sold by Autolycus in The Winter's Tale.
Caddis-garter - (KAD-dis gar-ter) a garter, or belt, made out of colored rough woven cloth. Likely not an item of great expense or value.
Cade - (KAYD) a barrel, this specific one full of herring. The barrel in question has the capacity to hold five hundred of these fish.
Cadent - (KAY-dent) falling, heading in a downward direction. A cheek can be streaked with cadent tears, a forest in autumn could have cadent leaves.
Caduceus - (ka-DOO-see-us) a wand or short staff used to proclaim one's idenity or profession. The caduceus of the god Mercury has two serpents wrapped around it with wings on the top, and is often mistakenly used as the symbol for medicine.
Cagion, Casion - (KAYJ-ee-on, KAZ-ee-on) occasion, but spoken/written with what would have been a country accent back then. The speaker was adopting a different accent as part of a disguise.
Caitiff - (KAY-tif) used as an adjective, it means lowly, worthless, wretched; used as a noun it is someone who is lowly and wretched. Depending on the context, the word can be used sympathetically or it can be used as an insult.
Calkin - (KAL-kin) the edge of a horseshoe, in particular the raised part of it that keeps the horse from slipping on certain surfaces.
Callet, Callot - (KAL-let, KAL-lot) a promiscuous woman, a harlot; a woman who nags or scolds to excess. This word is insulting no matter how it is used.
Calumniate - (kal-LUM-nee-ate) to engage in a plan to erase or otherwise deal with vicious rumors or slander. Rulers often have the need to calumniate.
Calves'-guts - (KAVS guts) the strings of a violin, very possibly literally made from the guts of a calf. Used to refer to the music of the violin itself, rather than the strings.
Cambric - (KAM-brik) a fine type of linen, of a quality a bit higher than many other fabrics. The name comes from its location of origin, Cambray, Flanders.
Camlet, Chamblet - (KAM-let, KAM-blet) a fine fabric made either of goat's wool or of silk. It can also be any garment made from camlet.
Canakin, Cannakin - (KAN-a-kin) literally a little can, but more specifically a small vessel for drinking. The contents of the canakin are generally some form of alcohol.
Candidatus - (kan-did-AT-us) a Latin word, meaning someone running for office, or simply a candidate. The candidatus generally dressed in a white toga while waiting for the vote to come in.
Candle-mine - (KAN-dul myn) a mine from which candle fat is drawn. When calling another person a candle-mine the implication is of someone so vast, they have plenty of extra fat to spare.
Candle-waster - (KAN-dul ways-ter) one who uses many candles to stay up reading well into the night. Someone enamored of books and reading, perhaps to the neglect of other pursuits.
Cane-coloured - (KAYN cul-erd) reddish-yellow colored, generally referring to one's hair color. Sometimes written as "Cain-colored" from Cain, cited in the Bible as the world's first murderer.
Cangenet - (kan-gen-ET) an short song or poem. Sometimes spelled "canzonet", which is from an Italian word "canzonetta", meaning a song or ballad.
Canker - (KAN-ker) a tumor, ulcer, blight, or some other form of visible corruption; a type of parasitic worm that destroys plants; a type of wild rose that grows rapidly; can also be a verb meaning to decay or fall apart.
Canker-bit - (KAN-ker bit) eaten by worms, destroyed and corrupted by canker-grubs. Generally used in a figurative sense to denote something that has been ravaged and ruined.
Canker-bloom - (KAN-ker bloom) the flower from a type of wild rose, known for its rapid growth and thorny brambles. Not associated with the other means of canker.
Canker-blossom - (KAN-ker blaws-sum) figuratively, one who destroys something beautiful. From the canker grub, a parasitic worm that destroys flowers.
Cankered - (KAN-kerd) rusted, corroded, tarnished, ruined by age; completely rotten; cruel and bad-tempered. All of the definitions are unflattering, no matter what the context.
Cankering - (KAN-ker-ing) corrupting, destroying. Anything referred to as cankering brings nothing but ruin and destruction. Usually refers to inanimate objects.
Canker-sorrow - (KAN-ker sar-oh) grief that eats at the spirit like a disease. The implication is of a sorrow so profound, it gnaws the soul of the one experiencing it.
Cannibally - (kan-ih-BAL-lee) as a cannibal would do it. To give someone away cannibally is the same as saying giving someone over to be served up as food.
Cannoneer - (kan-non-EER) an artilleryman, a gunner. A soldier given charge of a cannon or a battery of cannons in a battle, trained to fire them accurately and reload them quickly.
Canonize - (KAN-on-ize) to glorify, to make immortal in the figurative sense. Literally, to make someone a saint. To canonize someone means to worship their name and memory forever.
Canstick - (KAN-stik) a shorter way to say "candlestick". When one refers to the "brazen canstick", it simply means a candlestick made of brass.
Cantherizing - (KANTH-er-ize-ing) an archaic way to say "cauterizing", which means burning something, usually with a piece of hot metal, normally a person. A drastic means of stopping bleeding in an injured person.
Cantle - (KANT-ul) a bit or a part of something. To lose a cantle of land means someone has taken a bit of it, generally an unspecified amount.
Canton - (KANT-on) a song. Could be a ballad or just a verse of song. It is some kind of musical composition, with the exact type determined by context.
Canvas-climber - (KAN-vas klym-er) one who climbs the sails (which are made of canvas), in other words, it's a way to say a sailor.
Canzonet - (kan-zon-ET) an short song or poem. Sometimes spelled "cangonet". The word is from an Italian word "canzonetta", meaning a song or ballad.
Cap and Knee - (kap and nee) To take one's cap in one's hand and kneel (take a knee). This gesture is a sign of extreme respect, shown to nobility or others worthy of such.
Cap-and-Knee - (KAP and nee) describes a person who is flattering in the extreme, obsequious. Someone today might use the term "brown nosed" to describe cap-and-knee behavior.
Cap-a-pe, Cap-a-pie - (kap-ah-PAY, kap-a-PEE-ay) literally, from head to toe, from top to bottom, meaning the whole thing, every inch of a person. The words are taken from the French.
Caparisoned - (kap-AIR-is-ond) dressed up in one's gear. A knight is caparisoned in his armor, a princess is caparisoned in her gown, a king is caparisoned in his robes and crown.
Caper - (KAY-per) to visibly in a happy mood; to dance and jump around joyfully; to join a dancing contest. Folks such as jesters would caper about in an attempt to make others laugh.
Capering - (KAY-per-ing) dancing around, frolicking. While not an insult, it generally implies a lack of seriousness in the subject to refer to someone as capering.
Capitulate - (ka-PIT-u-late) to strike a bargain, sign a treaty; to attempt to negotiate toward a bargain or treaty. Not necessarily to give in, as in the modern meaning.
Capocchia - (ka-PO-chee-a) someone who is not all there, a simpleton. From the Italian word for "head", implying there is something wrong with one's head.
Capon - (KAY-pon) a chicken, a rooster made incapable of breeding, raised specifically to eat; an idiot, a "birdbrain", someone with diminished capacity for thought.
Capriccio - (ka-PREE-see-o) caprice, whim. From the Italian word meaning "caprice". A sudden thought or idea that comes with the strong urge to act upon it, strongly implied to be a trivial notion.
Capricious - (ka-PREE-shus) full of wit, intelligent. Implies an imaginative mind. This differs from the modern meaning of a mood that changes quickly and without warning.
Captain-General - (KAP-tan gen-er-ul) the highest authority in a military force, the commander-in-chief. There is no one higher in rank than the captain-general.
Captainship - (KAP-tan-ship) the command of a group, the position of leadership. Not necessarily a military command. It can refer to the state of being in charge of anyone.
Captious - (KAP-shus) containing a lot of space, having a great deal of room in which to move. Sometimes implies something that can hold a great deal of something else.
Carack - (KAIR-ak) a large ship, a galleon outfitted for war. Generally spelled "carrack" in general speech and in many transcriptions.
Caract - (KAIR-akt) a badge or other sort of emblem that can be used as personal identification. Sometimes spelled "charact".
Caraway - (KAIR-a-way) caraway seeds. May also be some kind of recipe or delicacy which contains caraway seeds.
Carbonado - (kar-bon-AH-doh) as a verb, to cut or slice something, in the same way a butcher cuts meat; as a noun, a cut of meat that has been grilled.
Carbonadoed - (kar-bon-AY-dohd) to have been cut up, slashed, hacked with something; to cut something in order to ready it on the grill.
Carbuncle - (KAR-bun-kul) a precious stone known for its fire-like red color; a tumor or growth, some sort of ugly physical corruption. The second meaning is used as an insult.
Carbuncled - (KAR-bun-kuld) set with precious stones. An item that has been carbuncled has been given a great (and highly visible) increase in value.
Carcanet - (KAR-ka-net) a jewelled necklace. A carcanet is the sort of thing a gentleman might give to a lady as a present to show his esteem.
Cardecue - (KAR-deh-kew) one quarter of a crown, from the French "quart d'ecu", which literally means "fourth of a crown".
Carder - (KAR-der) one who cards wool, meaning to comb it out so it's suitable for making thread. Wool often contains impurities that must be removed.
Cardinally - (KAR-din-a-lee) a made-up word that means "carnally", or in a sexual manner. The word is deliberately misspelled to show an aspect of the character speaking the line.
Cardmaker - (KARD-mayk-er) an instrument used to card, or comb, wool. The wool of sheep must be thoroughly combed to rid it of impurities before it can be spun.
Care-tuned - (KAIR toond) made more aware of sorrow, on the same wavelength as grief. A care-tuned tongue belongs to someone who has seen a lot of emotional pain.
Carl, Carle - (KARL) a disparaging name for a peasant. Used by those of higher birth to address those who are not in the noble class in a way that is utterly without respect.
Carlot - (KAR-lot) a peasant or someone who lives out in the country, someone of low birth. Not so insulting as being called a "carl", but in many ways similar.
Carman - (KAR-man) one whose profession it is to drive a cart or a wagon. Almost always a commoner of little notice to those of higher birth.
Carnal - (KAR-nal) bloodthirsty, murderous. In this sense, a carnal person is someone almost completely savage in violence, killing without mercy.
Carouse - (ka-ROWZ) as a verb, to drink long and heartily, generally to the point of drunkeness; as a noun, a cup filled to the top and meant to be drunk all at once.
Carper - (KAR-per) someone who carps, or finds fault in everything and is not afraid to tell others of those faults. A carper is something like a critic, if often an unwanted one.
Carpet-monger - (KAR-pet mon-ger) a slang term for someone who reputedly has a way with women. It comes from the idea that a lady's room is carpeted and the carpet-monger finds himself in many such rooms.
Carrack, Carack - (KAIR-ak) a large ship, a galleon outfitted for war. Generally spelled "carrack" in general speech and in many transcriptions.
Carrion - (KAIR-ee-on) something that is disgusting or vile, as in rotting flesh; something that eats rotting flesh; someone thin as a corpse. Can also mean a corpse or the rotting flesh of a corpse.
Carry-tale - (KAIR-ee tail) someone who spreads gossip and rumors, a tattletale. As in modern times, it is not generally good to have a reputation as such.
Casement - (KACE-ment) a window, particularly one that is hinged so it can be opened and shut; a part of a window that may be moved or the light that come through that window.
Casion - (KAY-see-on) occasion, but spoken/written with what would have been a country accent back then. The speaker was adopting a different accent as part of a disguise.
Cask - (KASK) short for casket, a box for jewelry. It does not mean a casket for a corpse, or a cask to hold beer or ale.
Casque, Caske - (KASK) a helmet, such as a soldier would wear. Part of the general panoply of a warrior, not a particular kind of helmet.
Cassock - (KASS-ok) a military cloak, or simply a long coat. Sometimes known for being one of the outer garments of a a priest.
Castigation - (kast-ih-GAY-shun) self-punishment or denial to oneself. A way to control one's own behavior or to withstand temptation.
Cat o'mountain - (kat o MOWN-tan) an archaic way of saying a mountain lion or a panther. A somewhat large predatory cat that is sometimes a danger to travelers.
Cat-a-mountain - (kat-a-MOWN-tan) an archaic way of saying a mountain lion or a panther. A somewhat large predatory cat that is sometimes a danger to travelers.
Cataplasm - (KAT-a-plas-um) a type of plaster or poultice. A thick mixture spread on a wound to assist in healing or cure a disease or poison.
Catechize - (KAT-eh-kize) in general, to ask questions. It can also mean a more intense interrogation, like an attorney's or jurist's cross-examination.
Cate-log - (KAYT log) an alternate pronunciation of a catalog or list of features, to underscore the way the character would have said the word.
Cater-cousins - (KAYT-er cuz-ins) very good friends, people who get along very well. Two who are cater-cousins are literally like family to one another.
Cates - (KAYTS) food or provisions, sometimes implied to mean the best kinds of foods or delicacies. From the same root word as the modern "cater".
Catling - (KAT-ling) string made from catgut, used to make strings for musical instruments, such as harps, violins, or fiddles.
Caudie - (KAW-die) an adjective meaning sugary or very sweet, as if made from honey. It can also be spelled as "candy" in some transcripts.
Caudle - (KAW-dul) a type of gruel, served warm, that acted as a sort of medicine. The word could also be used as a verb meaning to serve someone that same gruel.
Cautel - (KAW-tel) trickery or lies. Another word for deception, but one no longer in use in modern times. Derived from "uncountable".
Cautelous - (KAW-tel-us) crafty, tricky; cautious or careful. The meanings can be very different and have to be determined by the context of the passage in which the word appears.
Cavaleiro - (kav-a-LAIR-oh) a man known to be honorable and noble in all his dealings, often a gentleman in every sense of the word. Someone who is thought to be a fine person by all.
Cavaliero - (kav-a-LEER-oh) honest, full of honor, brave and true. From the same root as "cabellero" or "chevalier", terms for a knight.
Cavalleria - (kav-a-LAIR-ee-a) a society or association of knights or gentlemen of high society. King Arthur's Round Table could be considered a cavalleria.
Cave-keeper - (KAYV keep-er) one who lives in a cave. Unlike house-keeper, it does not necessarily mean one who keeps a cave clean.
Cavetto - (kav-ET-oh) a short way of telling the listener to be careful, to beware. This word is almost more like a command than a request.
Caviary - (KAV-ee-air-ee) caviar. Sometimes spelled "caviare". When Hamlet proclaims something to be like caviar, he is saying it is not something everyone will like at first.
Cavil - (KAV-ul) an argument that splits hairs, causing problems over minor, possibly meaningless, points. Used as a verb, it means to raise such small and pointless arguments.
Ce - (che) part of a contraction for "I shall", but spoken in what is meant to be a country accent by a character disguised as a peasant.
Ceinture - (SEN-sure) a belt or a girdle. An accessory that wraps around the body to secure another garment and prevent it from falling off.
Celerity - (sel-AIR-ih-tee) quickness. To act or do something with celerity is to do it as quickly as possible or at least faster than it would usually be done.
Cellarage - (SEL-ar-ij) the cellars or basement in a building. To refer to the cellarage means to talk about the entire underground portion of the facility.
Censer - (SEN-ser) a container in which perfume or incense is burned, with holes in the top to release the smoke, and suspended from a chain. Used to cover unpleasant smells or in religious ceremonies.
Censure - (SEN-sure) an opinion or judgment, the severity of which depends upon the context. It could be a simple opinion or it could be a death sentence. As a verb, it means to give an opinion or judgment on something, whether benign or harsh.
Cere up - (seer UP) seal up, to wrap in a funeral shroud. Sometimes written as "sear up". To cere up someone is to ready them for the grave.
Cerecloth - (SEER-clawth) a cloth, usually made of linen, which is soaked or coated in wax to make it waterproof, then used as a shroud to wrap a corpse.
Cerements - (SEER-ments) much the same as cerecloth -- clothing or sheets wrapped around a body as part of burial preparations.
Certes - (SURTS) an archaic way of saying "certainly". Certes is to say that something will happen without a doubt. It can be utterly counted upon.
Cess - (SESS) the complete end of something, short for "cessation"; a judgment, estimation, or evaluation of something or someone else.
Cesse - (SEECE) an alternate spelling of "cease", no longer in use. Such a spelling appears rarely in even Shakespeare's work.
Cestern, Cesterne - (SEST-urn) both alternate spellings of the word "cistern", something that holds water. Usually a reservoir of some sort.
Chace - (CHAYSE) a tennis term meaning a point that was given up to one's opponent. Also an alternate spelling of "chase", which can also mean pursuit.
Chafe - (CHAYF) to raise passions, rather rage, lust, or simple irritation and frustration. Also used as a noun, meaning a hot temper or fury.
Chaffless - (CHAF-less) something that has no chaff in it, implying that it is without flaw, that all that was worthless in it has been removed.
Chaffy - (CHAF-fee) to be like chaff, absolutely useless. A chaffy thing or person is only fit to be tossed aside and forgotten.
Chair-days - (CHAIR dayz) old age. The implication is of someone who spend all his or her days sitting in a chair, due to advanced age.
Chalice - (CHAL-ihs) a small cup or tankard for drinking; a ceremonial cup of the type used in formal or religious ceremonies.
Chaliced - (CHAL-ihsd) having a blossom shaped like a cup. A chaliced flower has a distinct cup-like shape when it grows naturally.
Chamberer - (CHAIM-ber-er) one who often visits ladies' chambers, not out of lechery, but because of ability in decorating and fashion.
Chamberlain - (CHAIM-ber-lin) one of the closest servants a noble can have, an attendant who attends to the needs of his lord in the lord's private rooms.
Chamber-lye - (CHAIM-ber ly) urine. A play on words inferring a caustic or harsh liquid produced in one's private chambers.
Chamblet - (KAM-blet) a fine fabric made either of goat's wool or of silk. It can also be any garment made from camlet.
Changeling - (CHAINJ-ling) a child that has been taken by fairies; an ugly child (like a fairy replacement); any substitution or change; one who is fickle or changeable.
Chanson - (CHAN-son) another word for a song. It can be used interchangably with song, ballad, hymn, or other such words, depending upon the context.
Chanticleer - (CHANT-ih-kleer) a rooster. The term comes from a story by Geoffrey Chaucer, 'The Nun Priest's Tale".
Chantry - (CHANT-ree) a small private chapel of the sort kept by nobles or the rich. A little church for personal use.
Chape - (CHAYP) the metal part of a dagger's sheath. It usually applies specifically to the metal covering the tip of the sheath.
Chapeless - (CHAYP-less) without a sheath. This generally means an old or cheap weapon, as most of them come with some means of easy conveyance.
Chapless, Chopless - (CHAP-less, CHOP-less) without a jaw. It comes from the same origin as the phrases "licking his chops" or "hit in the chops", referring to one licking one's jaws or being hit in the jaw, respectively.
Chaplet - (CHAP-let) a leafy or flowery garland, most commonly a crown or flowers rather than something like the Hawaiian lei.
Chapman - (CHAP-man) one whose profession is trading, like a merchant. Someone who's livelihood comes from making deals involving goods.
Charact, Caract - (KAIR-akt) a badge or other sort of emblem that can be used as personal identification. Carried by people with official importance.
Character - (kair-AKT-er-ee) the means of one's expression, usually through writing or letters, though not necessarily so.
Chare - (CHAIR) another word for "chore", meaning some work or task to be accomplished. It can also be used as a verb, meaning to complete a chore.
Charge-house - (CHARJ howse) a school or a college, a place youth are formally educated by learned men.
Charging-staff - (CHARJ-ing staf) another name for a knight's lance. It is used to charge another knight in the joust, hence the name "charging-staff".
Chariest - (CHAIR-ee-est) with as much care or caution as possible, displaying a great degree of shyness or modesty.
Chariness - (CHAIR-ee-ness) the firm standing of something. To guard the chariness of one's reputation is to make sure no one brings it down, even a little bit.
Charneco - (CHAR-nee-koh) a type of sweet wine from Portugal. One of many drinks served to Horner in a (successful) attempt to get him very drunk.
Charnel-house, Charnel house - (CHAR-nel howse) a burial vault. This is a building where people keep their dead, often containing a number of graves or coffins, enough for an entire family.
Chary - (CHAIR-ee) carefully, cautiously, shyly; or with great care to show how much the object in question is cherished by the one dealing with it.
Chaste - (CHAYST) without sexual contact, celibate; completely pure, without stain or blemish; engaged in legitimate sexual activity, i.e. between married people.
Chastisement - (chas-TIZE-ment) punishment or correction. This covers everything from a scolding or dressing down all the way to corporal punishment.
Chattels - (CHAT-tels) possessions that can be transported. Anything that belongs to someone that can be moved to a new location is chattel.
Chaudron, Chawdron - (CHAW-dron) the guts, entrails, innards of a beast. Mentioned in Macbeth as part of a witch's brew including all manner of animal parts.
Chawed - (CHAWD) another way to say "chewed". Where the word "chawed" is seen it can always be substituted with the word "chewed".
Che - (CHE) a dialect pronunciation of "I", spoken by Edgar as he feigned a rustic or country accent as part of a disguise.
Cheek-roses - (CHEEK roh-ez) blushing or rosy cheeks. The cheeks generally belong to a young woman and are often flushed by youth and/or embarrassment.
Chequin - (CHE-kwin) a unit of money, specifically a type of gold coin originating from Italy or Turkey. One of them was worth about 8 English shillings.
Cherubin - (CHAIR-u-ben) having angelic qualities. It can also refer to an angel itself, specifically one of the cherubim, or some other heavenly being; one possessed of angelic beauty.
Chevalier - (chev-a-LEER) a knight. From the French, meaning a horseman. The word from which "chivalry" originates.
Chivalry - (CHEV-al-ree) another spelling of "chivalry". It means prowess in war or martial virtue, but could also mean the knightly code of honor.
Cheverel - (CHEV-er-el) kid leather, or leather made from the skin of a young goat. A type of leather known for how soft and flexible it was.
Cheveril - (CHEV-er-il) flexible and pliant, like cheverel, or kid leather. Easy to manipulate or sway in one direction or another, or flexible in any situation.
Chewet - (CHE-wet) one who talks entirely too much, a chatterbox. Used to accuse someone of rambling. Also, a dish made from minced meat.
Chid - (CHID) the past form of "chide", meaning to scold, correct, or rebute. It is generally meant to be a fairly gentle manner, in the way one might scold a child.
Chidden - (CHID-den) suffered chiding, been the subject of chiding; driven along as if by a storm, beaten against.
Chide - (CHYD) to scold or rebuke; to quarrel with; to drive or send someone away; sometimes, to beat against. Generally not too harsh a rebute -- one would chide a child for wrongdoing.
Childbed - (CHYLD bed) describes someone in labor, in the process of delivering a baby, when used as an adjective.
Child-changed - (CHYLD chainjd) describes either one changed in some way by his children. It could also mean one changed into a child by some means.
Chine - (CHYN) a piece or a part of a cut of meat; there is also an unclear instance that appears in the Taming of the Shrew.
Chinks - (CHEENKS) bags full of money or money otherwise made ready to transport. The impression is of money that be taken on a journey easily.
Chip Bread - (CHIP brehd) to cut off the crust of a loaf of bread, leaving only the softer inner section. To chip bread is merely to remove the outside.
Chirrah - (cheer-AH) another spelling of "sirrah", which is a form of address. Why the word is spelled differently in one instance and one instance only is unclear.
Chirurgeonly - (ky-RUR-jee-on-lee) in the manner of a surgeon. Chururgeon is an older version of a surgeon, operating from principles from before the rise of modern medicine.
Choice-drawn - (CHOYSE drawn) chosen with great care to find the best. Implies that the final pick was the choice option, meaning the best possible.
Choir, Quire - (KWY-er) usually a group that performs songs, but can apply to any company of people; as a verb, to sing harmoniously, or to sing in a choir.
Choler - (KOHL-er) anger or wrath. From one of the four Greek humors that were said to control the health and spirit. Choler was yellow bile, an excess of which caused hot-temperedness.
Choleric - (KOHL-er-ik) easily angered, hot tempered; angry or enrage; something that causes anger or heated tempers.
Chop Logic - (CHOP loj-ik) one who argues simply for the sake of argument, someone who is verbally combative.
Chop-fallen - (CHOP fall-en) downcast, experiencing sorrow. One who is chop-fallen is down in the dumps, and visibly sad about something.
Chopine - (CHOP-ine) platform shoes that were fashionable in Shakespeare's day. When Hamlet mentions it, it is to say one of the players he has hired looks taller, thanks to the shoe.
Chopped Logic - (CHOPD lojik) one who argues simply for the sake of argument, someone who is verbally combative.
Chough - (CHUHFF) jackdaw, a type of bird known for chattering; one who chatters often and incessantly; a clownish person or someone who lives out in the country.
Chould - (CHOULD) a dialect version of "I should". Spoken by Edgar when adopting a rustic or country accent, as part of a disguise.
Christendom - (KRIS-en-dum) one's given name, or Christian name. The name under which a given person was baptised, the full name given at birth.
Christom - (KRIST-om) Misspelling/mispronunciation of "christened" or "chrism", as if spoken by someone of little or no education.
Chronicle - (KRON-ih-uhl) a story or recounting of how something happened, or more formally the official record of an event; as a verb to record or write down an event for future reference.
Chrysolite - (KRIS-oh-lyt) a semi-precious stone, one of many kinds that were generally green in color. A jewel of some worth, though not of the greatest value.
Chuck - (CHUHK) chicken, or chick. Said as a term of endearment, much the same as one today might call someone "dear" or "honey".
Chuff - (CHUHF) one who is highly unwilling to part from his money, a miser; a clown or someone with poor manners.
Churl - (CHURL) an extremely common person, a peasant, or surf; someone of low repute; a term of endearment, like affectionately calling someone an "old rogue".
Cicatrice - (SEE-ka-triss) a scar or a mark on someone's body that resembles a scar. Often pointed out as a distinct mark for easy identification.
Cinquepace - (SIN-keh-pase) a dance of Elizabethan times. "Cinquepace" roughly means "five step" and the dance itself was a five-step dance.
Cinque-spotted - (SINK spaht-id) having five spots, like the 5 side of a die. It comes in part from the Italian -- "cinque" is Italian for "five".
Circummured - (sir-KUM-merd) placed a wall around. The implication is of something completely encircled by a wall or similar barrier.
Circumscription - (sir-kum-SKRIP-shun) some kind of prevention or restriction against a particular action. To put someone into circumscription is to jail that person.
Cital - (SY-tal) a report, mention, or acknowledgment of an event or person. To make a cital of oneself is to tell one's own story.
Cittern-head - (SIT-tern hed) someone with an ugly face. A cittern was a stringed instrument with a hideously carved head and to call someone a cittern-head is to compare that person's head to that of the instrument.
Civet - (SIV-et) a particular sort of perfume, a musky scent obtained from the civet cat. Used in Shakespeare's work even by kings.
Clack-dish - (KLAK dish) a special bowl used by beggars to hold their donations, with a lid that can be clapped loudly to draw attention of future givers.
Clamor, Clamour - (KLAM-er) the noun is a protest or complaint; but as a verb the word means to quiet or quash such complaints.
Clangor, Clangour - (KLANG-or) a loud ringing sound, as if from bells or gongs. A noise difficult to ignore that can be heard from a great distance.
Clapper-claw - (KLAP-per KLAW) a verb meaning to beat someone up. To clapper-claw someone tightly means to thrash that person soundly.
Clatpole - (KLAT-pohl) a stupid person, a bonehead, a numbskull. A clatpole is one who couldn't be trusted to do anything intelligently, due to lack of mental capacity.
Cleanly-coined - (KLEEN-lee coynd) well-thought up. A cleanly-coined excuse may not be a true reason, but it will sound good when used.
Clean-timbered - (kleen TIM-berd) strong of limb, well put-together, fit. Someone with well-defined muscle, visibly used to exercise or warfare.
Cleap - (KLEEP) to embrace, to hug, to hold in one's arms. May also be used in the figurative sense to embrace a concept or idea.
Clear-spirited - (kleer SPEER-it-id) someone with a good heart. A clear-spirited person is one of high moral virtue who can be counted on to do what is right.
Clearstory - (KLEER-stor-ee) an upper window in a chamber. It may be too high to look through, but its purpose is to let in sunlight, rather than provide a view.
Cleave the pin - (KLEEV the PIN) to cut to the very core, figuratively. The pin is the very center of a thing, derived from the pin that marked the middle of an archery target. To cleave the pin is to hit a target perfectly.
Cleave to - (KLEEV too) stick to, often figuratively, as in to stick to a plan. To cleave to someone's word means to follow their orders explicitly.
Clefture - (KLEF-sure) an older word for a cleft or crack in an object. A more modern way would be to call it a "crack" or "fissure".
Clement - (KLEM-ent) forgiving, merciful, compassionate. A clement person is one inclined to show clemency for an infraction.
Clepe - (KLEP) an archaic word meaning "call", as in "They call me William". "They clepe me coward" is the same as saying "They call me a coward."
Clerestory, Clearstory - (KLEER-stor-ee) an upper window in a chamber. It may be too high to look through, but its purpose is to let in sunlight, rather than provide a view.
Clew - (KLEW) an archaic word for a ball of thread or yarn. The word has since passed out of modern usage, at least in the meaning one finds it in Shakespeare.
Climatures - (KLYM-at-ures) parts of the world, locations. The same base as the word "clime", which means a region of the world defined by its weather or climate. There is a similar meaning in climature.
Clime - (KLYM) a land or a region of the world. It may or may not mean a sovereign country, but could well be a part of the world distinguished in some other manner, like ethnicity.
Cling - (KLING) to wither or shrivel away. The implication is of something decaying or drying out, the same way a corpse withers after a time.
Clinquant - (KLEEN-kant) glittering or sparkling, usually due to being made of gold or silver, or being covered by those precious metals.
Clipper - (KLIP-per) one who shaves coins for extra money. It was a practice of some criminals to peel the edges from coins, collecting slivers of gold or silver to sell or make into new coins, devaluing the coins they clipped.
Clip-winged - (KLIP weengd) something with clipped wings. A bird (or a mythological winged creature, like a griffon) has lost the ability to fly by having parts of its wings removed.
Cloak-bag - (KLOHK bag) a bag for garments, used not only for carrying cloaks, but for other clothing, as well. It has some similarities to a suitcase in purpose, if not in appearance.
Clock and clock, 'twixt - (KLOK and KLOK, twixt) hour after hour, on and on, to engage in a specified activity without stopping once for hours on end.
Clock-setter - (KLOK set-ter) the person who sets the clock, keeps it running accurately, and in general performs maintenance upon it.
Clod - (KLOD) literally a clod of dirt, a lump of earth or mud. This is a word the meaning of which has not changed much over the centuries.
Clodpole - (KLOD-pohl) someone mentally slow or stupid. A "clodpole" is very similar to a "blockhead" or "dummy" in modern terms.
Clog - (KLOG) a wooden block, heavy enough to be a burden; any sort of burden that slows down or holds one back; as a verb, to block passage or progress.
Cloistered - (KLOYST-erd) sequestered and locked away. From the word "cloister", a place where nuns and monks would go to pray in seclusion.
Cloistress - (KLOYS-tress) a shorter way to refer to a cloistered nun, a woman who has taken vows and remains apart from society to join the contemplative life.
Close-stool - (KLOS stool) a chamber pot built into or concealed under a stool, which would have a hole cut into the seat. A primitive form of a toilet.
Close-tongued - (KLOS tungd) keeps secrets close and quiet, only speaking them sparingly. To be close-tongued is to be quiet about something.
Closet-war - (KLAWS-et war) strategy made away from the battlefield. It has the implication of setting in a chair and plotting through maps, removed from the battle itself.
Cloth of State - (KLAWTH ov stayt) a large cloth draped over the chair of the statemen, like the throne of a king or a duke, or whatever chair they happen to have designated as their own.
Clothier's yard - (KLOHTHE-ee-ers yard) the measure clothesmakers used to measure out their cloth, which happened to be the same 36-inch yard used in some countries still.
Cloth-of-gold - (KLOTH ov gohld) very rich and expensive cloth. It was was necessarily cloth made of gold or made using gold, or even of golden color.
Clotpoll, Clotpole, Clatpole - (KLOT-pohl, KLOT-pohl, KLAT-pohl) someone of low intelligence, a stupid person; one's head or skull. The former meaning is used as an insult.
Clout - (KLOWT) a bit of cloth, like a rag or a handkerchief; the bullseye of an archery target, often marked with a bit of cloth in the very center.
Clouted - (KLOWT-id) studded with nails, hobnailed. Almost always refers to boots, especially of the types soldiers wear to make their footwear more durable.
Cloven - (KLOHV-en) split apart, in the manner of a goat's cloven hoof; completely broken apart into pieces, as if by a strong blow.
Cloy - (KLOY) to fill up on, to consume until fill, to use until statisfied; to claw or scratch with claws. Most often found in the latter sense.
Cloyed - (KLOYD) bored, stuffed with food, stopped up, satisfied, or filled to bursting. The meaning can usually be found in the context of the surrounding text.
Cloyless - (KLOY-less) Something cloyless will never fill up or satisfy no matter how much it is used or consumed.
Cloyment - (KLOY-ment) overindulgence, especially on food and drink. This is going to the point of satisfaction or satiety and then beyond.
Clyster-pipe - (KLY-ster pyp) a rarely used (today) word for a syringe used for douches or enemas. Such medical procedures were then known as clysters.
Coacher - (KOHCH-er) a coach or chariot. Specifically meant as the chariot of the sun from Roman mythology in the passage in which it appears.
Coach-fellow - (KOHCH fell-oh) a friend or a pal. Taken from the way horses who pull a coach have to work together to get the vehicle moving.
Co-act - (KOH-akt) how certain behave when together, how specific people interact with each other.
Coactive - (ko-AKT-iv) working together to accomplish something. A group of people who work together to achieve a goal are coactive.
Coagulate - (ko-AG-u-layt) a descriptive word meaning coagulated, gelled, or clotted. A word referring to blood and gore, not used as a verb in this instance.
Coals, Carry - (KOHLS, kair-ee) to allow an insult or slight to pass, with the implication that cowardice was the reason. The term can also mean to engage in work beneath one's station.
Coarse - (KORSE) clearly of lesser quality, or of poor make; unrefined, unmannered. When used to describe a person, it is an insult.
Cobbled - (KOB-buld) roughly patched together, jury-rigged, or messed up. Roughly the same meaning of the modern phrase "cobbled together".
Cobbler - (KOB-ler) one who makes a great many mistakes at what he does, someone who fumbles his work. Cobbler can also mean a shoemaker, whether good or bad.
Cobloaf - (KOB-lohf) a small round loaf of bread, lumpy and misshapen. To refer to a person as a "cobloaf" means that person is also somewhat misshapen.
Cock - (KOK) a little boat or dinghy; a weathervane; the bird called a woodcock; the hammer of a gun (which is cocked back); a less vulgar version of "God"; the tap punched into a cask of wine.
Cock-a-hoop, set (KOK a hoop, set) the exact meaning is unknown, but it appears to mean something like turn everything into chaos, that everything will come apart.
Cockatrice - (KOK-a-trihs) a deadly serpent. Sometimes known as a basilisk, which is a mythical serpent-like creature which can kill with its gaze alone.
Cockered - (KOK-erd) describes one who is spoiled, who has lived a life of ease and comfort and generally expects that life to continue.
Cockle - (KOK-ul) a type of grass or weed; the shell of a cockle, a type of mollusk with a heart-shaped shell. These were the edible type of shellfish.
Cockle hat - (KOK-ul hat) a hat decorated with a cockle shell. A hat so decorated was the symbol of a pilgrim making a journey to the shrine of Saint James of Compostela.
Cockled - (KOK-uld) inside a shell, like a clam. Though the word comes from a mollusk, it could apply to other creatures, such as snails, turtles, and anything else that generally has a shell.
Cocklight - (KOK-lite) the sound of a rooster's crow when the sun is just starting to rise in the morining. Also, the time that crow sounds, or the crack of dawn.
Cockney - (KOK-nee) a spoiled woman of little courage who tends to be uncomfortable in situations out of her experience. Also, a weakling, a man of few masculine virtues.)
Cockpit - (KOK-pit) the pit of a theater, the lower part in front of the stage. Also refers to the performance area of an arena, where the actors, musicians, or others do their work.
Cockshut - (KOK-shuht) late in the evening, when the sun is setting. The name comes from the practice of shutting the fowl into the barn or the coop at nightfall to keep them safe from thieves or predators.
Cock-sure - (KOK shur) absolutely confident. It refers to the way a rooster tends to strut, acting like the undisupted leader of the other fowl in his domain.
Cod - (KOD) the pod of a plant, a living vessel that holds seeds. For instance, a pod of peas would often be called a "peascod".
Codpiece - (KOD-peese) a pouch or pocket on the front of a man's clothing, covering his private parts. It can also mean what is contained in the codpiece, i.e. male genitalia.
Coffer - (KOF-fer) a box or some kind of container used to store wealth. It sometimes refers to the contents of such a chest, such as money or precious stones.
Coffer-lid - (KOF-fer lid) the lid of a coffer, or chest used to hold valuables. The implication is that whatever is under the coffer-lid is something of extreme worth.
Cog - (KOG) to flatter, to pay many compliments. It can be simply trying to get on someone's good side or it could mean to sweet-talk someone in an effort run some kind of con.
Cognizance - (KOG-nih-zense) an object that enables others to recognize the one who bears it, such as some sort of insignia or a badge.
Cohere - (koh-HEER) to stick together, often in the figurative sense. It means to make a decision as a group and to stick to that decision.
Cohort - (koh-HORT) an official group of soldiers, a large military unit. Leaders would group their soldiers into cohorts that would train and fight together.
Coif, Quoif - (KOYF) a type of close-fitting cap that covered the top, back, and sides of the head, worn by both men and women. Sometimes, a type of chainmail head-covering that protected the entire head and neck, leaving the face open.
Coign - (KOYN) a corner. It could mean the corner of a building, any corner of something that sticks out prominently, or it could have a figurative meaning, as in one of the corners of the earth.
Coistrel - (KOY-strel) groom, one who cares for (someone else's) horses. It can also be a general term for someone of low birth or status.
Cold-moving - (KOLD moov-ing) a distant, cold demeanor. To have a cold-moving attitude means to show little emotion or sympathy for another.
Coleagued - (KAWL-leegd) together, in one accord. A colleagued crew have decided to act as one in a particular endeavor, united for a purpose.
Collars of esses - (KOL-ler ov ESS-is) a neck chain, so named because the links resemble the letter S. This adornment was a sign of knighthood.
Collied - (KOL-leed) darkened, murky, cloudy. Anything darkened or made obscure that was otherwise clear, whether water, a sky, or a political situation, can be said to be collied when it becomes unclear.
Collier - (KOL-ee-er) one who deals in coal, specificially selling it, but can also the be the one who digs up the coal or makes charcoal to sell to others.
Collop - (KOL-op) literally a piece of flesh, the word means one's own flesh and blood; children or descendants. Implies that a child is a part of the parent.
Coloquintida - (koh-loh-kwin-TEE-dah) a bitter apple known in English as a colocynth. Coloquintida is derived from the Italian name for the apple.
Colossus-wise - (kol-OSS-us wyz) in the manner of a colossus, a truly immense man. It evokes the image of a giant standing with his legs astride a large portion of the landscape, holding it in his power.
Colours - (KUL-ers) the identifying marks of a noble, noble house, or official organization. Colors refers to the designs on the banners, badges, and other means of identification.
Colt's Tooth - (KOLTS tooth) the playful impulses of a young person, such as the drive to engage in sporting activities or to play competative games.
Combustious - (kom-BUST-shus) easily lit aflame, flammable (or inflammable). A combustious item is literally something easy to combust. The word is generally used in metaphor.
Comeddle - (ko-MED-ul) mixed together, like water comeddled with wine. It can also be used figuratively, i.e. joy comeddled with sorrow, love comeddled with hate.
Comely - (KUM-lee) decent, good in the sense of being right. The best time to do something is a comely time, a comely-seeming person is one who tends to be in the right place, doing the right thing (in the eyes of the speaker, at least).
Comfect - (KOM-fekt) a type of candy or desert, specifically a sugar-plum. A comfect is more commonly known as a "comfit".
Comfit-maker - (KOM-fit may-ker) a candy-maker, one who makes sweets for the consumption of others. One would be known today as a confectioner.
Comingle - (ko-MEENG-ul) mixed together, like water comeddled with wine. It can also be used figuratively, i.e. joy comeddled with sorrow, love comeddled with hate.
Commandment - (kom-MAND-ment) a command, an order. It can also mean the state of being in command of others, such as a king's commandment over his people, meaning his right to command them.
Commeddle - (kom-MED-ul) mixed together, like water commeddled with wine. It can also be used figuratively, i.e. joy commeddled with sorrow, love commeddled with hate.
Commix - (kom-MIX) to mingle together, to combine two separate things. Most often meant in a figurative sense, as in profit and honor must comix in a mercantile endeavor.
Commixion, Commixtion - (ko-MIX-shun) the whole of the parts that compose a person. One might, for example, have a commixion of Spanish and English in one's ancestry.
Commixture - (ko-MIX-sure) the makeup or composition of a person or thing. It could also refer specifically to colors and how they are blended in a thing.
Commodious - (kom-MOHD-ee-us) easy to command, eager to please by following orders, very accomodation. A commodious person might well say "your wish is my command" and mean it.
Commonalty - (kom-mon-AL-it-tee) common people as a whole, the people that make up the community ruled over by the nobility, the people in the region without any real rank or standing, in general.
Common-hackneyed - (KOM-mon hak-need) something that was once special or valuable made cheap by overuse or exposure and dissemination to the public.
Commonty - (KOM-mon-tee) a way to misspeak the word "comedy". Spoken by someone of low station and low education, and purposely misspelled by the writer to show that.
Commutual - (KOM-mewt-u-al) in common cause, in concert, of one accord. The implication is that each member of the commutual cause is answerable to the others.
Comonty - (KOM-mon-tee) a way to misspeak the word "comedy". Spoken by someone of low station and low education, and purposely misspelled by the writer to show that.
Compartner - (kom-PART-ner) an associate in a particular endeavor, a partner in some sort of venture. Not necessarily friends, but people who are working together.
Compeer - (kom-PEER) a companion or associate of generally equal rank, an acquaintance with whom one works. It can also be a verb meaning to be the equal of someone in some skill or in rank.
Competence - (KOM-pet-ense) enough to supply a certain need. To have a competence of water for all your people means enough water to drink for everyone.
Competency - (KOM-pet-ense-ee) the means to survive, sometimes more specifically the means to survive without overdoing it. It is enough to live on without excess.
Compile - (KOM-pyl) to compose something in writing. In these terms, an author would compile a book or a manuscript, a ruler might compile a treaty.
Complice - (KOM-pliss) an older way to say "accomplice". A complice is someone one works with toward a certain goal or in a certain context.
Complot - (KOM-plot) to plot together. It can also be a noun meaning a plot, specifically a plot or conspiracy planned in secret for whatever reason.
Composture - (kom-POS-ture) an archaic word meaning "compost". It is literally manure and more than likely a pile of it, depending upon the context. Likely to be used in a metaphorical sense.
Compt - (KOMPT) the day when all moral accounts are due, as in the day of judgment, when those who have done wrong will finally suffer for it.
Compatible - (KOMPT-ih-bul) easy to influence, easy to get hurt feelings, suggestible. Most young people are comptible, as it is easy to insult them or to mold their personalities.
Comptless - (KOMPT-less) unable to be counted or measured. There are comptless stars in the sky, comptless grains of sand on the beach, one can have comptless love for another.
Comptroller - (kompt-TROL-ler) one in charge of the day to day business of a household or demesne, also serves as the one who arranges and coordinates formal events.
Compunctious - (kom-PUNKT-shus) full of remorse, regretful. One who is compunctious is plainly sorry for the actions he or she has undertaken, whatever they might be.
Comutual - (KOM-mewt-u-al) in common cause, in concert, of one accord. The implication is that each member of the commutual cause is answerable to the others.
Con - (KON) to learn something by heart, to memorize; to give or express something to another in some manner. The meaning can be understood from the context.
Concave - (KON-kayv) hollowed-out, empty, like a cave in a rocky mountain. A cup, a bowl, or something of similar shape may easily be described as concave.
Conceptious - (kon-SEPT-shus) capable of a great amount of conception, abundantly fertile or fruitful. The earth in conceptious, as that's where all food and plants ultimately grow.
Concernancy - (kon-SERN-an-see) something that has concern or relevance to a particular topic or conversation. It is the important part of a statement as it relates to the subject.
Concord - (KON-kord) work well together, harmony. When several things or situations are in concord, it means more or less that they are in tune with one another.
Concordant - (kon-KORD-ant) working well together, working in harmony and unity. It can apply more specifically to music which is well-harmonized and pleasing to the ear.
Concupiscible - (kon-kewp-ISS-ih-bul) lusting after, wanting in a physical manner. The word implies great desire of a physical, probably sexual nature, but not necessarily.
Concupy - (KON-kew-py) another way to say "concubine", a woman with whom a man has a physical relationship who is not is wife. It can also mean lust.
Condign - (KON-dyn) well-deserved, fitting. A condign punishment means someone got exactly what was coming to them. The same is true if someone mentioned condign praise.
Condole - (kon-DOHL) a verb meaning to offer condolences. To condole is to show great sympathy and to grieve with another in their time of sorrow.
Condoling - (kon-DOHL-ing) emotionally touching. A condoling speech causes the listeners to feel what the speaker wishes them to feel, whether it be anger, sorrow, or sympathy.
Conduce - (kon-DOOSE) leads to, contributes to. A situation to conduce a fight means that situation either starts the fight, creates the conditions for fighting, or allows the fight to continue.
Conduit - (KON-doo-it) a path or passage through which something flows from one place to another, generally blood or water, but it can be used to mean emotions or concepts when used figuratively.
Confectionary - (kon-FEKT-shun-air-ee) a place where sweets or candies are made. Some candy shops or candy factories are still known as confectionaries today.
Confer - (kon-FER) to talk, to engage in conversation. It could be chatting, gossiping, or merely small talk. The word is still in use today.
Conformity - (kon-FURM-ih-tee) a misspoken word, where the speaker means to say "infirmity" or illness. The writer wrote it this way to show the low education of the speaker.
Confix - (kon-FIX) to adhere, to stick together. It means not just to fix one thing to another, but to firmly and strongly fix the two together.
Conflux - (KON-flux) flowing together, joining. The implication is of two rivers that flow together from different sources and become one larger and stronger river as it continues.
Conformable - (kon-FORM-a-bul) easy to conform. Someone who is conformable will follow the will of another without complaint, doing what they are told without question.
Confound - (kon-FOWND) to disrupt, confuse, block, or destroy, as in to confound a plan. It can also mean to amaze or astonish someone to the point of confusion.
Confute - (kon-FEWT) to defeat or contradict, especially in the sense of an argument. The word "refute" has a similar meaning.
Congeal - (kon-JEEL) to become more firm, to clot, to curdle. Blood will congeal when it coagulates, as milk will congeal when it curdles.
Congee - (kon-JEE) a formal or ceremonious way to depart, usually referring to an elaborate bow or curtsey before departing, but it could also refer to other such ceremonies.
Conger - (KON-ger) a type of scaleless eel found in coastal ocean waters. Eaten by some, and once used as an insult toward another in Shakespeare's work.
Congree - (kon-GREE) a combination of "concord" and "agree" meaning to join together and agree on some manner, or to act as one in some manner.
Congrue - (kon-GROO) essentially the same as "agree". To congrue with someone is the same as to affirm and go along with whatever it is they have to say.
Congruent - (kon-GROO-ent) fitting or suitable. To give someone a congruent reward is to give a reward that fits the service performed, whether great or small.
Conject - (kon-JEKT) another way to say "to make a conjucture", meaning to suppose a reason for something or to present a theory.
Conjoin - (kon-JOYN) meet together, come together. It can also mean actively join together to finish a task or start some sort of plan.
Conjunct - (kon-JUNKT) multiple people, object, or concepts brought together to make one. United in meaning and purpose when there were once two or more.
Conjuration - (kon-jer-AY-shun) spells to summon magical power or spirits; sometimes more broadly an appeal not to spirits but to other people.
Conjure - (KON-jur) to control or command the spirit. Either literal spirits and demons, to summon them up or banish them, or human spirits, either by convincing and begging or by means of spells and charms. Also, to bring something forth.
Conjuror, Conjurer - (KON-jur-er) a sorcerer, or someone who brings forth (conjures) spirits from another world. A conjurer can also be an exorcist, who sends spirits back to wherever it is they came from.
Connectural - (kon-NEK-tur-al) another way to say "conjectural", meaning suspicious, or speculative. Connectural arguments are theories generally somewhat based on facts.
Connive at - (kon-IVE at) to regard with goodwill, to help out. When the gods connive at mankind, they are willing to look kindly upon people and perhaps even give them assistance.
Consanguineous - (kon-sang-GWIN-ee-us) literally, of the same blood. The word applies to two people of the same blood, who can look to a common ancestry relatively recent in their family tree.
Consanguinity - (kon-sang-GWIN-oo-ih-tee) a familial relationship, related by blood. Refers to people who have common ancestry in their family tree.
Conscionable - (KON-shun-a-bul) of good conscious. A conscionable action is one which is indisputably right, one which will not trouble one's conscience.
Considerance - (kon-SID-er-anse) another way to say "consideration", as in to give a matter some thought. An archaic word since placed with the more modern form.
Consistory - (kon-SIST-or-ee) specificially, a court overseen by religious authority, but more generally it could mean any place officials meet to do official business.
Consonancy - (KON-son-an-see) agreement, accord. Two who have the same idea or who come to the same conclusion or plan of action are in consonancy.
Consonant - (KON-son-ant) something or someone very worth noticing, with the implication that it is too small, in a social sense, to pay much mind.
Consort - (KON-sort) singly, a friend or companion. More than one person can also be a consort, as in a general group of people. A consort can also specifically mean a musical group. As a verb, it means to go with or accompany someone.
Conspectuity - (kon-spec-TOO-ih-tee) sight or ability to see. It means to be able to see in a physical sense, but it can also apply to the figurative ability of insight.
Conspirant - (kon-SPYR-ant) one engaged in a conspiracy. Someone who is planning or who is part of a secret plan or plot. A modern speaker might say "conspirator".
Constancy - (KON-stan-see) another way to say "consistency". The ability to hold on to beliefs or to stick to a plan, no matter what difficulties arise.
Conster - (KON-ster) explain or interpret, to give or read information to others. To either tell a story or to learn from that story.
Constrain - (kon-STRAIN) to force, whether by obligation or by physical means. Also, to outright invade or force oneself upon another in some manner.
Constringe - (kon-STRINJ) to squeeze, pull together, or otherwise force two or more things into the same area. May be used metaphorically.
Construe - (kon-STROO) to understand or interpret a situation or a story. What the hearer or reader construes might be wrong, but the word still applies.
Contagion - (kon-TAYJ-ee-on) something infectious, like a disease or a plague. Not necessarily a disease, but anything that passes its qualities on to others rampantly.
Contemn - (kon-TIM) to look upon with contempt and to treat that person as such, to obviously show hatred and disregard for another.
Contemptible - (kon-TIMPT-ih-bul) so low and despicable as to be worth of contempt. It also could mean someone who has contempt for everyone and everything.
Contemptuous - (kon-TIMPT-u-us) the same meaning as "contemptible", meaning worthy of contempt, something horrible that is worth nothing but hatred.
Contention - (kon-TENT-shun) a fight, argument, or strong disagreement. The implication is of battling over something, but it rarely means an physical conflict.
Contestation - (kon-test-A-shun) an action taken together by two that would otherwise be enemies. Afterward, they are just as likely to return to being enemies.
Continuate - (kon-TIN-u-et) continues on without interruption. It could also mean something that continues on for a very long time, if not forever.
Contrariety - (kon-TRAIR-ih-tee) opposition or inconsistancy. Something that shows a sharp difference or contrast between two things or two points of view.
Contrarious - (kon-TRAIR-ee-us) opposing, whether through circumstances like weather that turns against a fleet, or through people who dispute the current plan through argument or action.
Contrive - (kon-TRYV) to come up with a plot or a plan. It could also mean simply to pass time in some manner, usually in an idle way.
Controlment - (kon-TROHL-ment) an older way to say "control", in the sense of keeping something back, or keeping something in check. It means restraint, usually of one's impulses or urges.
Contumely - (KON-toom-eh-lee) an insult or an insulting manner, some kind of abuse, whether verbal or physical, a comtemptuous attitude.
Contusion - (kon-TOO-shun) a bruise or other kind of visible, non-bleeding injury. This word still has the same meaning today and is even used by some medical professionals to describe a bruise.
Conventicle - (kon-VENT-ih-kul) generally a place to meet, but it has the implication of a secret meeting place, a place to plot where people come to meet away from prying eyes.
Convertite - (kon-VERT-ite) one who has converted or found religion, someone who is repentant of whatever sins they may have committed.
Convive - (kon-VYV) to eat together and have fun doing it. The implication is of a feast where everyone will enjoy themselves with conversation and good food.
Convocation - (kon-voh-KAY-shun) a gathering, usually an official body of people, like a parliament, a meeting of church officials, or a meeting of a noble's court.
Cony - (KOH-nee) a rabbit, a small field animal often caught for eating, and occasionally for their soft fur. Spelled "coney" today.
Cony-catch - (KOH-nee kach) literally, rabbit catch. A verb meaning to be caught by a trick. It can also mean one who learns how to trick others or becomes a trickster himself.
Cony-catching - (KOH-nee kach-ing) cheating, tricking, conning, swindling. A cony-catching individual is one who tries to trick others into things, usually into giving up money.
Cooling card - (KOO-ling kard) literally, the card that firmly ends the game, making it impossible for the opponent to win. It means to effectively block the action of another.
Copatain hat - (KO-pa-tan hat) a hat with a high-crown, shaped like a sugar loaf. It's possible the word "copatain" comes from a misspelling or corruption of "captain".
Copesmate - (KOHPS-mayt) a companion, the sort of friend one has known for a while, at least long enough to become moderately familiar with.
Copped - (KOPPD) piled up in a heap, with a mounded appearance. Piles of clothes may appear copped, as might distant hills.
Copulative - (KOP-u-lat-iv) one getting married, being coupled to another person by marriage vows. There is nothing implicitly sexual about the term, the way it is stated.
Coragio - (kor-AH-jee-oh) courage. From the Italian word "coraggio", which also means courage. It is meant to offer encouragement to those who might be feeling their courage flagging.
Coranto - (kor-RAN-toh) a quick and lively dance, involving some rapid running steps. The name comes from a French word meaning the "running".
Co-rival - (KOH ryv-al) an equal or peer, something or someone equal in power, capability and influence. Also a verb, meaning to strive against or to rival.
Corky - (KOR-kee) dried up. Like a cork, completely without sap or water, withered. Also to describe the skin of the aged or anyone who seems shriveled.
Cormorant - (KOR-mor-ant) ravenously greedy, something that would devour everything in sight. It can also be a noun describing one who would greedily devour.
Corner-cap - (KOR-ner kap) a cap with three-corners, something like a tri-corner hat, or a hat like a mortarboard, of the type scholars wear.
Cornuto - (kor-NOO-toh) literally, a beast with horns. More commonly, a cuckold, or man with an unfaithful wife. To "put horns" on a man means to steal his wife's affection.
Corollary - (KOH-roh-lair-ee) an extra, more than needed, or just one more than planned. To bring a corollary to a meeting means to bring someone else along.
Coronal - (KOH-rohn-al) a crown or similar mark of rank that encircles the head. Taken from the Latin word for crown.
Corpulent - (KOR-pew-lent) well-made and full of body. It does not mean obese or very large from excess of food, in Shakespeare's language, as it does today.
Corresponsive - (ko-reh-SPONS-iv) the same, or functionally the same. Two items that are corresponsive are pratically interchangable.
Corrigible - (KO-rij-ih-bul) something that corrects or disciplines inappropriate behavior. It can also mean easy to to control or manipulate.
Corrival - (KOH ryv-al) an equal or peer, something or someone equal in power, capability and influence. Also a verb, meaning to strive against or to rival.
Corse - (KORSE) another word for "corpse", or dead body. From the French word, "cors", and the Latin "corpus", both of which mean body.
Corslet - (KORS-let) a breastplate, armor that protests the torso. Also a verb meaning to embrace or wrap around in the manner of the armored corslet.
Costard - (KOST-urd) a joking term referring to a head. Literally a large type of apple. The term likens a head to a large round object, but it is meant to be more humorous than insulting.
Costermonger - (KOST-er-mong-er) one who sells produce, particularly fruits and vegetables. The term comes from 'costard-seller' or someone who sells apples.
Co-supreme - (KO soo-PREEM) a ruler who has an equal partner in the rule of the realm. A rare arrangement in history, so it is used figuratively for the most part.
Cote - (KOHT) a little cottage or dwelling. Also a verb meaning to overtake or to run past, from the way dogs would sometimes outrun their prey in rabbit chasing.
Cot-quean - (KOHT-kween) an effeminate man, a man who pays entirely too much attention to household affairs that should be considered the province of women.
Couch down - (kowch DOWN) to assume a lower position by crouching, huddling down, or lying down flat. Can be pictured as an act of cowardice, depending upon the context.
Couched - (KOWCHD) said, spoken. To describe how words are couched is to describe how they were spoken, in attitude, tone, or mood.
Coulter - (KOHL-ter) the blade mounted on the front of a plow, used to part the soil and help turn it over, making it more useful for sowing seed.
Counsel-bearer - (KOWN-sil bair-er) one who carries private messenges. Literally one who carries counsel, or advice, from one person to another.
Counsel-giver - (KOWN-sil giv-er) advisor, one who gives counsel to others. The implication is of a teacher or mentor, one who supplies wisdom to those who make decisions.
Counsel-keeper - (KOWN-sil keep-er) one who holds a secret. Refers to someone's confidant, but does not imply whether or not this person will keep the secrets so entrusted.
Counsel-keeping - (KOWN-sil keep-ing) able to keep secrets. A counsel-keeping person is the sort that one feels confident in telling their secrets.
Counter-caster - (KOWN-ter kas-ter) someone who tends to figure out a course of action with the help of "counters" or people well-versed in math. A term of contempt.
Counterchange - (KOWNT-er-chaynj) the return of respect in equal measure, a reciprocal show of regard. A counterchange is a diplomatic sort of thing in which to engage.
Counterfeited - (KOWNT-er-fiht-id) faked, portrayed as something it is not; as a noun, something that pretends or is depicted as something it is not; as a verb, to create a false copy or something, or to pretend to be something other than the truth.
Counterfeiting - (KOWNT-er-fiht-ing) pretending or faking. Anything that pretends to be something it is not or depicts something other than what it truly is.
Counterfeitly - (KOWNT-er-fiht-lee) in a counterfeit manner, pretending to feel emotions one is not feeling. Speaking a cause counterfeitly is to promote a cause one does not believe in.
Countermand - (KOWNT-er-mand) to go against, to prevent, or to otherwise attempt to put a halt to an action or command. Also a noun meaning a command that contradicts another command.
Countermine - (KOWNT-er-myn) a passage dug under a mountain or a fortress specifically to counter enemies who attempt to tunnel into the facility.
Counterpoint - (KOWNT-er-poynt) a quilted blanket or coverlet that is the topmost later of the bedcovers. Also sometimes known as a "counterpane."
Counterpoise - (KOWNT-er-poyse) something that carries the same weight as its opposite, often figurative. A verb meaning to oppose or rival, or to otherwise offset.
Counter-reflect - (KOWNT-er re-flekt) a reflection that comes from a reflection, similar to looking at a mirror within a mirror, implying something that has rebounded twice to return to its original target.
Counter-seal - (KOWNT-er seel) to give an additional seal or sign of authenticity, generally to give it greater import and show the value of the document or to agree with the original writer.
Countervail - (KOWNT-er-vail) to be the match of, to be the pair, to be the perfect balance for something or someone else.
Country base - (KUNT-ree bayse) a chasing game played by boys in the country involving running from base to base.
Country matters - (KUNT-ree mat-ters) a term for sexual intercourse which incorporates a pun on a crude term for a part of female anatomy.
Couplement - (KUP-ul-ment) an archaic way to say a couple or a pair of something. The sun and the moon are a couplement, as are a king and a queen, or a set of twins.
Couplet - (KUP-let) a couple of something, often a couple of lines of poetry. Sometimes it refers specifically to a pair of chicks, or two young creatures.
Courb - (KORB) to hold something back, to restrain, to prevent a thing from happening or continuing. An alternate spelling for "curb".
Course - (KORSE) a way of doing something or of following a plan; the normal way of doing things; the path something normally travels, like the path of river; sometimes, the lower sail of a ship. As a verb, to chase or to hunt.
Courser - (KORSE-er) a horse, especially one known for its speed. A courser would make a fine racehorse or possibly make a good animal to use in jousts.
Coursing - (KORSE-ing) chasing or running after. Coursing comes from a term in hunting where human hunters would set their hounds to run down rabbits.
Court holy-water - (kort HOH-lee wah-ter) fine words like flowerly flattery or beautiful promises that ultimately turn out to have no real truth behind them.
Court of guard - (KORT ov GARD) the guard room or guard house. Essentially, this is the place, wherever it is, that the guards spend their time when not on duty at their posts.
Court-cupboard - (KORT KUP-bord) a cabinet, a place where food or other items, especially items associated with the kitchen and with cooking are stored.
Courtesan, Courtezan - (KORT-ih-sahn, KORT-ih-zahn) a prostitute or a woman known for promiscuous behavior. It may be a woman who walks the streets or one who associates with the higher classes in a bordello.
Court-Hand - (KORT-hand) the official style of writing, longhand, writing for formal documents. This is the way a scribe or functionary would write treaties or other important documents.
Courtier - (KORT-ee-er) one who courts the favor of a woman, most likely seeking her hand in marriage. It could also describe someone who pursues an ideal.
Cousin-german - (KUHZ-in JER-man) a way to say "first cousin", a relative who is the son or daughter of a parent's brother or sister.
Coverture - (KOV-ert-ur) something that covers or protects, like the darkness of night, or clothing, or a canopy of canvas or tree limbs. In general, a thing that provides cover.
Cower - (KOW-er) to physically lower oneself by squatting, kneeling, or bending down. It does necessarily mean a show of cowardice.
Cowish - (KOW-ish) lacking resolve, cowardly, unable to settle on a firm decision. Being cowish is not a virtuous trait to have.
Cowl-staff - (KOWL staf) a pole slung from the shoulder, thick enough to hold a heavy load suspended from it. These are carried by two people, one on each end with the load in the middle.
Cox - (KOX) a substitute word for "God", a way to avoid taking the Lord's name in vain, which was stronger cursing in Shakespeare's day.
Coxcomb - (KOX-cohm) the hat of a fool; the head of something; or a foolish head, someone not especially intelligent. The final definition is an insult.
Coy - (KOY) to stroke or caress, or to show hesitance to do something; gentle and kind, or reluctant to speak, distant, and stand-offish.
Coystrill - (KOY-stril) groom, one who cares for (someone else's) horses. It can also be a general term for someone of low birth or status.
Coz - (KOZ) an affectionate abbreviation or diminuition of the word "cousin". It's somewhat similar to calling a brother "bro" or a sister "sis".
Cozen-german - (KOZ-en GER-man) a way to say "first cousin", a relative who is the son or daughter of a parent's brother or sister. Alternately, it could mean a conman of German extraction.
Crabbed - (KRABD) irritable or easy to anger, much the same as the word "crabby" is used today. In this case, it can apply to situations or circumstances that are unpleasant.
Crab-tree - (KRAB tree) an archaic name for a crab-apple tree, a sort of apple tree that produces small and bitter fruit. Not generally eaten, but the wood has various uses.
Crack-hemp - (KRAK hemp) a criminal who has committed crimes that deserves hanging, or a criminal that is already on the way to be hung in the near future.
Crafty-sick - (KRAF-tee SIK) a crafty-sick person is someone who is only pretending to be ill, whether for sympathy or to play a trick or run a con on someone.
Crafty-swearing - (KRAF-tee SWAIR-ing) making sly promises of the kind where the soul of the promise might be broken without technically breaking the promise at all.
Crannied - (KRAN-need) split, cracked, or in some way physically and visibly broken. Something with a hole in it that doesn't belong can also be considered crannied.
Crants - (KRANTS) a leafy or flowery garland or wreath. Crants is a singular term, so it's proper to say a crants when referring to only one.
Crare - (KRAIR) a small water vehicle used for trading. Not one of the top boats of a fleet, used by merchants who don't generally have enough money to afford better.
Crasing, Crazing - (KRAYZ-ing) barely missed, or richochet. A bullet's grazing can mean where it grazed a target, leaving a mark but not necessarily killing a target.
Craven - (KRAYV-en) cowardly, without courage. Also, someone who evinces cowardly behavior. The word can also be used as a verb, meaning to make someone exhibit cowardly or fearful behavior.
Craze - (KRAYZ) to harm, break down, crack up, or shatter. Objects can certainly be crazed, but it's possible to craze things like a person's voice, meaning that person's voice has been lost from overuse or sickness.
Creak - (KREEK) a verb meaning to cause something to make a creaking or squeaking sound, as in to creak the floorboards when walking upon them.
Credence - (KREED-ense) heartfelt trust and confidence in another. To give credence to another person the same as saying one has faith in them.
Credent - (KREED-ent) believing, credulous, trusting; likely to happen; believable, trustworthy. The exact meaning must be learned from the context.
Credulous - (KRED-u-lus) very willing to accept or ready to accept; naïve and much too trusting for one's own good. The exact meaning must be learned from the context.
Crescive - (KREES-siv) increasing, growing. It could mean literally becoming larger, or it could also mean growth in the manner of a child, in which the subject changes and matures as it grows.
Cresset - (KRESS-et) a signal light, usually a flaming torch. It can also be a basket meant to carry fire that serves as portable light.
Crest-fallen - (KREST fall-en) emotionally crushed by a defeat or a setback. It alludes to a rooster whose crest once stood tall with pride, but now a mishap has cause that crest to fall in dejection.
Crest-wounding - (KREST woond-ing) harming to the reputation of the family. The family crest is an emblem that represents the family. A crest-wounding action is something that hurts or defaces the family name.
Crewel - (KROO-el) made from crewel, a fabric of soft smooth yarn. Crewel yarn was often used to create embroidery for clothing or other fine objects.
Croak - (KROHK) to make a low rough sound. It is not necessarily the noise a frog makes. It is used at least once in Shakespeare to refer to a stomach rumbling.
Crone - (KROHN) a very old woman, withered with age. Witches are often described as such. It is not generally an insult, though not exactly a term of respect, either.
Crook-back - (KROOK bak) hunchbacked, or someone who has a hunched back. A descriptive term that has sense passed out of usage in favor of hunchbacked.
Crooked-pated - (KROOK-ed PAYT-id) with a deformed skull. It refers to someone whose head is misshapen, usually through some kind of congenital condition.
Cross-gartered - (KROSS GART-erd) with garters (belts) crisscrossing on the legs. The look is similar to pictures of the sandals Roman soldiers were reputed to wear, with thick crossed laces running up the calf.
Cross-gartering - (KROSS GART-er-ing) garters (belts) crisscrossing on the legs. The look is similar to pictures of the sandals Roman soldiers were reputed to wear, with thick crossed laces running up the calf.
Crossly - (KROSS-lee) in a way that goes against current hopes or plans. To go crossly against good fortune means that good luck has turned to bad, or that circumstances have worked against good fortune.
Cross-row - (KROSS roh) an archaic way of saying a row of all the letters. Today, it would simply be termed as an alphabet. Cross-row has passed out of usage.
Crossway - (KROSS-way) a crossroad, a place where two roads meet. Often used as a meeting place or as a landmark to direct another to a destination.
Crotchet - (kroh-SHAY) in this case, not weaving a scarf, but a passing wishful thought, generally a strange or fantastical one that can't come to pass in reality.
Crowflower - (KROH-flow-er) a certain flower, but the exact type of flower referred to is unknown. Thought by some to be the flower known as the "ragged robin."
Crowner - (KROWN-er) an archaic word for coroner, someone who looks into the death of someone else to determine whether the cause was unnatural.
Crownet - (KROWN-et) literally a crown or a coronet, but it can also mean someone who wears such a crown, who is not quite a king -- a noble or a prince. As an adjective it can mean wreathed around, like a crown of flowers.
Crudy - (KRUD-ee) thick, curdled, congealed. A crudy thing has a thick and heavy feeling to it. It is not necessarily a liquid, but could be something else that can be described as thick and heavy.
Crupper - (KRUP-per) a leather strap on a horse's saddle, used to make sure the saddle doesn't slip to one side or the other while the rider is mounted.
Crusado - (kroos-AH-doh) a gold coin in use by Portugal in Shakespeare's time. A cross was stamped upon its face, hence the name. The coin was worth about 3 shillings in English money.
Cruzado - (krooz-AH-doh) a gold coin in use by Portugal in Shakespeare's time. A cross was stamped upon its face, hence the name. The coin was worth about 3 shillings in English money.
Crystalline - (KRISS-tahl-lyn) like crystal in appearance, transparent or translucent. Crystal was a fairly expensive material, so for something to appear to be made of it suggested great worth.
Cub-drawn - (KUB drawn) extremely hungry. It refers to a cubs who drain their mother of milk due to their ravenous natures.
Cubiculo - (kewb-IK-u-loh) a small bedroom or chamber for resting. It comes from the Latin, roughly meaning a room in which to lie down.
Cubit - (KEWB-it) a unit of measurement used to count length or distance, around 20 inches or 50 centimeters. The length was derived originally by measuring a man's arm from the tips of his fingers to his elbow.
Cuckold - (KUK-old) a man whose wife is unfaithful, or a verb meaning to shame a man by sleeping with his wife. A man with an unfaithful wife was generally a subject for jokes and ridicule.
Cuckold-mad - (KUK-old mad) driven insane by an unfaithful wife. To have an unfaithful wife was a great shame to any man in Elizabethan England, and such a situation subjected him to much ridicule.
Cuckold-maker - (KUK-old may-ker) a man who seduces women who are already married. Such a man is often despiced, given that it was a great shame for any man to have an unfaithful wife.
Cuckoldy - (KUK-old-ee) a descriptive word meaning one who wife has been unfaithful. A man who has an unfaithful wife is known as a "cuckold", which is a term of mockery.
Cuckoo-bud - (KUK-oo buhd) a type of flower, specifically a buttercup. It may have been chosen in this passage because its name sounds a bit like "cuckold".
Cuckoo-flower - (KUK-oo flow-er) wildflowers that appear around the time when cuckoos begin to call, hence the flower named after the bird.
Cuffs, go to - (KUHFS, goh too) end up in a fight. An augument that will go to cuffs is going to be an argument that will end up in fist-fighting.
Cuish, Cuisse - (KWEESH, KWEESE) a piece of armor that protects the leg of a warrior. It comes from the French word "cuisse", which means "thigh".
Cull - (KUHL) to select or choose. The people or objects picked can be culled, or chosen, or a group can be "culled out" of a larger group.
Cullion - (KUHL-yun) a rascal, a lowly person who is likely to get into trouble or cause trouble. It's a word used to disparage another person.
Cullison - (KUHL-ih-son) a badge, emblem, or some other way to recognize a person of authority or of high-birth. Commonly used to establish rank or prove identity.
Culverin - (KULH-vur-in) a small cannon with a long barrel. Used, of course, in battle as artillery for destroying regiments and knocking down structures.
Cumber - (KUM-ber) burden or weigh down, usually in the figurative sense. From the word "encumber", which has the same general meaning.
Cur - (KUR) a dog, especially a watchdog. It does not have the insulting meaning in these works as it does in some others. It is not a word used as an insult.
Curate - (KYUR-ayt) a parish priest, a priest in charge of a church. A religious figure, and often the sort of person gone to for counsel or for solace.
Curds and whey - (KURDS and WAY) a particular food made from dairy, much like a cheese which has not been pressed. Cottage cheese is a food similar to curds and whey, in that it is a type of cheese that does not have all of the whey pressed out of it.
Curious-good - (KYUR-ee-ous gud) an object made with a great deal of exquisite detail, something very finely crafted with a view toward artistry.
Curious-knotted - (KYUR-ee-ous not-tid) a word describing something with elaborate patterns of flowers, the work of a talented gardener with access to a great many flowers.
Curled-pate - (KURLD-payt) curly-haired. The word "pate" refers to someone's head, skull, or scalp in Shakespeare's work. An archaic usage that has since been abandoned.
Currance - (KUR-ranse) another way to say "current". It refers to the direction in which something flows, whether it be water, or a developing situation.
Currish - (KUR-rish) likes to start trouble, combative, mean. A currish person is someone who is likely to start a fight because fighting is something he likes to do.
Cursitory - (KUR-sit-oh-ree) done in a rush, usually so quickly as to do a slipshod job. It has the same meaning as the more modern "cursory".
Curst - (KURST) angry or enraged. It could also mean in such as state all the time, describing someone hot-tempered, grouchy, or easy to goad into a fight.
Cur'sy - (KUR see) good manners, good service, hospitable. Sometimes refers to a special good deed done. The word is short for "courtesy" and has the same meaning.
Curtail - (KUR tail) to cut short. This usually applies to a situation, such as a battle curtailed by nightfall, or a speech curtailed by a sudden commotion nearby.
Curtal - (KUR tal) with a tail that's been cut. It can also mean something that is so common as to appear or be spoken of in every household.
Curtle-axe - (KURT-ul ax) a sword used for cutting, rather than stabbing, like a cutlass. A curtle-axe is not an axe at all, under any known circumstances.
Curvet - (kur-VET) a kind of high jump performed by a horse and rider. It can also be used as a verb, always referring to a horse, to mean jump around and generally ask in a frisky manner.
Cushing - (KUSH-ing) another word for a cushion, since fallen out of general usage. The word can be used instead of cushion interchangably.
Custard-coffin - (KUS-terd KOF-in) the shell of crust that is baked around a custard. Sort of a play on words suggesting the crust to be the final resting place of the custard.
Custom-shrunk - (KUS-tom SHRUNK) a loss in business, down in sales or trade. The reason for this does not matter -- it could be from a lack of customers, or it
could be due to thieves or natural disaster.
Costrel - (KUS-trel) a person of low repute, a thief, a trouble-maker. There are a lot of words for this in Shakespearean English and few of them can be interpreted as good.
Cutpurse - (KUT-purse) one who makes a living through literally stealing from others. The word comes from one who cuts a whole in purses to let the money out into his own hands.
Cutter - (KUT-ter) an artist who works in his medium by cutting it, such as a sculptor, engraver, wood carver.
Cuttle - (KUT-tul) a knife used by someone to cut purses or pockets in order to steal money. It can also mean someone who pushes other people around or even kills them for some petty reason.
Cyme - (SYME) some kind of plant, perhaps a flower. The context in which it appears makes it seem to be some kind of medicinal plant, perhaps one that induces vomiting. The exact meaning is unclear.
Cynic - (SIN-ik) someone who always sees the flaw in something, often pragmatic to a fault, one who is critical of just about everything.
Cacodemon - (KAK-o-deem-on) an evil spirit, a malevolent force. When referring to another person as a cacodemon, it is to say they are truly evil.
Caddis - (KAD-dis) a type of rough woven cloth. One of a great many items being sold by Autolycus in The Winter's Tale.
Caddis-garter - (KAD-dis gar-ter) a garter, or belt, made out of colored rough woven cloth. Likely not an item of great expense or value.
Cade - (KAYD) a barrel, this specific one full of herring. The barrel in question has the capacity to hold five hundred of these fish.
Cadent - (KAY-dent) falling, heading in a downward direction. A cheek can be streaked with cadent tears, a forest in autumn could have cadent leaves.
Caduceus - (ka-DOO-see-us) a wand or short staff used to proclaim one's idenity or profession. The caduceus of the god Mercury has two serpents wrapped around it with wings on the top, and is often mistakenly used as the symbol for medicine.
Cagion, Casion - (KAYJ-ee-on, KAZ-ee-on) occasion, but spoken/written with what would have been a country accent back then. The speaker was adopting a different accent as part of a disguise.
Caitiff - (KAY-tif) used as an adjective, it means lowly, worthless, wretched; used as a noun it is someone who is lowly and wretched. Depending on the context, the word can be used sympathetically or it can be used as an insult.
Calkin - (KAL-kin) the edge of a horseshoe, in particular the raised part of it that keeps the horse from slipping on certain surfaces.
Callet, Callot - (KAL-let, KAL-lot) a promiscuous woman, a harlot; a woman who nags or scolds to excess. This word is insulting no matter how it is used.
Calumniate - (kal-LUM-nee-ate) to engage in a plan to erase or otherwise deal with vicious rumors or slander. Rulers often have the need to calumniate.
Calves'-guts - (KAVS guts) the strings of a violin, very possibly literally made from the guts of a calf. Used to refer to the music of the violin itself, rather than the strings.
Cambric - (KAM-brik) a fine type of linen, of a quality a bit higher than many other fabrics. The name comes from its location of origin, Cambray, Flanders.
Camlet, Chamblet - (KAM-let, KAM-blet) a fine fabric made either of goat's wool or of silk. It can also be any garment made from camlet.
Canakin, Cannakin - (KAN-a-kin) literally a little can, but more specifically a small vessel for drinking. The contents of the canakin are generally some form of alcohol.
Candidatus - (kan-did-AT-us) a Latin word, meaning someone running for office, or simply a candidate. The candidatus generally dressed in a white toga while waiting for the vote to come in.
Candle-mine - (KAN-dul myn) a mine from which candle fat is drawn. When calling another person a candle-mine the implication is of someone so vast, they have plenty of extra fat to spare.
Candle-waster - (KAN-dul ways-ter) one who uses many candles to stay up reading well into the night. Someone enamored of books and reading, perhaps to the neglect of other pursuits.
Cane-coloured - (KAYN cul-erd) reddish-yellow colored, generally referring to one's hair color. Sometimes written as "Cain-colored" from Cain, cited in the Bible as the world's first murderer.
Cangenet - (kan-gen-ET) an short song or poem. Sometimes spelled "canzonet", which is from an Italian word "canzonetta", meaning a song or ballad.
Canker - (KAN-ker) a tumor, ulcer, blight, or some other form of visible corruption; a type of parasitic worm that destroys plants; a type of wild rose that grows rapidly; can also be a verb meaning to decay or fall apart.
Canker-bit - (KAN-ker bit) eaten by worms, destroyed and corrupted by canker-grubs. Generally used in a figurative sense to denote something that has been ravaged and ruined.
Canker-bloom - (KAN-ker bloom) the flower from a type of wild rose, known for its rapid growth and thorny brambles. Not associated with the other means of canker.
Canker-blossom - (KAN-ker blaws-sum) figuratively, one who destroys something beautiful. From the canker grub, a parasitic worm that destroys flowers.
Cankered - (KAN-kerd) rusted, corroded, tarnished, ruined by age; completely rotten; cruel and bad-tempered. All of the definitions are unflattering, no matter what the context.
Cankering - (KAN-ker-ing) corrupting, destroying. Anything referred to as cankering brings nothing but ruin and destruction. Usually refers to inanimate objects.
Canker-sorrow - (KAN-ker sar-oh) grief that eats at the spirit like a disease. The implication is of a sorrow so profound, it gnaws the soul of the one experiencing it.
Cannibally - (kan-ih-BAL-lee) as a cannibal would do it. To give someone away cannibally is the same as saying giving someone over to be served up as food.
Cannoneer - (kan-non-EER) an artilleryman, a gunner. A soldier given charge of a cannon or a battery of cannons in a battle, trained to fire them accurately and reload them quickly.
Canonize - (KAN-on-ize) to glorify, to make immortal in the figurative sense. Literally, to make someone a saint. To canonize someone means to worship their name and memory forever.
Canstick - (KAN-stik) a shorter way to say "candlestick". When one refers to the "brazen canstick", it simply means a candlestick made of brass.
Cantherizing - (KANTH-er-ize-ing) an archaic way to say "cauterizing", which means burning something, usually with a piece of hot metal, normally a person. A drastic means of stopping bleeding in an injured person.
Cantle - (KANT-ul) a bit or a part of something. To lose a cantle of land means someone has taken a bit of it, generally an unspecified amount.
Canton - (KANT-on) a song. Could be a ballad or just a verse of song. It is some kind of musical composition, with the exact type determined by context.
Canvas-climber - (KAN-vas klym-er) one who climbs the sails (which are made of canvas), in other words, it's a way to say a sailor.
Canzonet - (kan-zon-ET) an short song or poem. Sometimes spelled "cangonet". The word is from an Italian word "canzonetta", meaning a song or ballad.
Cap and Knee - (kap and nee) To take one's cap in one's hand and kneel (take a knee). This gesture is a sign of extreme respect, shown to nobility or others worthy of such.
Cap-and-Knee - (KAP and nee) describes a person who is flattering in the extreme, obsequious. Someone today might use the term "brown nosed" to describe cap-and-knee behavior.
Cap-a-pe, Cap-a-pie - (kap-ah-PAY, kap-a-PEE-ay) literally, from head to toe, from top to bottom, meaning the whole thing, every inch of a person. The words are taken from the French.
Caparisoned - (kap-AIR-is-ond) dressed up in one's gear. A knight is caparisoned in his armor, a princess is caparisoned in her gown, a king is caparisoned in his robes and crown.
Caper - (KAY-per) to visibly in a happy mood; to dance and jump around joyfully; to join a dancing contest. Folks such as jesters would caper about in an attempt to make others laugh.
Capering - (KAY-per-ing) dancing around, frolicking. While not an insult, it generally implies a lack of seriousness in the subject to refer to someone as capering.
Capitulate - (ka-PIT-u-late) to strike a bargain, sign a treaty; to attempt to negotiate toward a bargain or treaty. Not necessarily to give in, as in the modern meaning.
Capocchia - (ka-PO-chee-a) someone who is not all there, a simpleton. From the Italian word for "head", implying there is something wrong with one's head.
Capon - (KAY-pon) a chicken, a rooster made incapable of breeding, raised specifically to eat; an idiot, a "birdbrain", someone with diminished capacity for thought.
Capriccio - (ka-PREE-see-o) caprice, whim. From the Italian word meaning "caprice". A sudden thought or idea that comes with the strong urge to act upon it, strongly implied to be a trivial notion.
Capricious - (ka-PREE-shus) full of wit, intelligent. Implies an imaginative mind. This differs from the modern meaning of a mood that changes quickly and without warning.
Captain-General - (KAP-tan gen-er-ul) the highest authority in a military force, the commander-in-chief. There is no one higher in rank than the captain-general.
Captainship - (KAP-tan-ship) the command of a group, the position of leadership. Not necessarily a military command. It can refer to the state of being in charge of anyone.
Captious - (KAP-shus) containing a lot of space, having a great deal of room in which to move. Sometimes implies something that can hold a great deal of something else.
Carack - (KAIR-ak) a large ship, a galleon outfitted for war. Generally spelled "carrack" in general speech and in many transcriptions.
Caract - (KAIR-akt) a badge or other sort of emblem that can be used as personal identification. Sometimes spelled "charact".
Caraway - (KAIR-a-way) caraway seeds. May also be some kind of recipe or delicacy which contains caraway seeds.
Carbonado - (kar-bon-AH-doh) as a verb, to cut or slice something, in the same way a butcher cuts meat; as a noun, a cut of meat that has been grilled.
Carbonadoed - (kar-bon-AY-dohd) to have been cut up, slashed, hacked with something; to cut something in order to ready it on the grill.
Carbuncle - (KAR-bun-kul) a precious stone known for its fire-like red color; a tumor or growth, some sort of ugly physical corruption. The second meaning is used as an insult.
Carbuncled - (KAR-bun-kuld) set with precious stones. An item that has been carbuncled has been given a great (and highly visible) increase in value.
Carcanet - (KAR-ka-net) a jewelled necklace. A carcanet is the sort of thing a gentleman might give to a lady as a present to show his esteem.
Cardecue - (KAR-deh-kew) one quarter of a crown, from the French "quart d'ecu", which literally means "fourth of a crown".
Carder - (KAR-der) one who cards wool, meaning to comb it out so it's suitable for making thread. Wool often contains impurities that must be removed.
Cardinally - (KAR-din-a-lee) a made-up word that means "carnally", or in a sexual manner. The word is deliberately misspelled to show an aspect of the character speaking the line.
Cardmaker - (KARD-mayk-er) an instrument used to card, or comb, wool. The wool of sheep must be thoroughly combed to rid it of impurities before it can be spun.
Care-tuned - (KAIR toond) made more aware of sorrow, on the same wavelength as grief. A care-tuned tongue belongs to someone who has seen a lot of emotional pain.
Carl, Carle - (KARL) a disparaging name for a peasant. Used by those of higher birth to address those who are not in the noble class in a way that is utterly without respect.
Carlot - (KAR-lot) a peasant or someone who lives out in the country, someone of low birth. Not so insulting as being called a "carl", but in many ways similar.
Carman - (KAR-man) one whose profession it is to drive a cart or a wagon. Almost always a commoner of little notice to those of higher birth.
Carnal - (KAR-nal) bloodthirsty, murderous. In this sense, a carnal person is someone almost completely savage in violence, killing without mercy.
Carouse - (ka-ROWZ) as a verb, to drink long and heartily, generally to the point of drunkeness; as a noun, a cup filled to the top and meant to be drunk all at once.
Carper - (KAR-per) someone who carps, or finds fault in everything and is not afraid to tell others of those faults. A carper is something like a critic, if often an unwanted one.
Carpet-monger - (KAR-pet mon-ger) a slang term for someone who reputedly has a way with women. It comes from the idea that a lady's room is carpeted and the carpet-monger finds himself in many such rooms.
Carrack, Carack - (KAIR-ak) a large ship, a galleon outfitted for war. Generally spelled "carrack" in general speech and in many transcriptions.
Carrion - (KAIR-ee-on) something that is disgusting or vile, as in rotting flesh; something that eats rotting flesh; someone thin as a corpse. Can also mean a corpse or the rotting flesh of a corpse.
Carry-tale - (KAIR-ee tail) someone who spreads gossip and rumors, a tattletale. As in modern times, it is not generally good to have a reputation as such.
Casement - (KACE-ment) a window, particularly one that is hinged so it can be opened and shut; a part of a window that may be moved or the light that come through that window.
Casion - (KAY-see-on) occasion, but spoken/written with what would have been a country accent back then. The speaker was adopting a different accent as part of a disguise.
Cask - (KASK) short for casket, a box for jewelry. It does not mean a casket for a corpse, or a cask to hold beer or ale.
Casque, Caske - (KASK) a helmet, such as a soldier would wear. Part of the general panoply of a warrior, not a particular kind of helmet.
Cassock - (KASS-ok) a military cloak, or simply a long coat. Sometimes known for being one of the outer garments of a a priest.
Castigation - (kast-ih-GAY-shun) self-punishment or denial to oneself. A way to control one's own behavior or to withstand temptation.
Cat o'mountain - (kat o MOWN-tan) an archaic way of saying a mountain lion or a panther. A somewhat large predatory cat that is sometimes a danger to travelers.
Cat-a-mountain - (kat-a-MOWN-tan) an archaic way of saying a mountain lion or a panther. A somewhat large predatory cat that is sometimes a danger to travelers.
Cataplasm - (KAT-a-plas-um) a type of plaster or poultice. A thick mixture spread on a wound to assist in healing or cure a disease or poison.
Catechize - (KAT-eh-kize) in general, to ask questions. It can also mean a more intense interrogation, like an attorney's or jurist's cross-examination.
Cate-log - (KAYT log) an alternate pronunciation of a catalog or list of features, to underscore the way the character would have said the word.
Cater-cousins - (KAYT-er cuz-ins) very good friends, people who get along very well. Two who are cater-cousins are literally like family to one another.
Cates - (KAYTS) food or provisions, sometimes implied to mean the best kinds of foods or delicacies. From the same root word as the modern "cater".
Catling - (KAT-ling) string made from catgut, used to make strings for musical instruments, such as harps, violins, or fiddles.
Caudie - (KAW-die) an adjective meaning sugary or very sweet, as if made from honey. It can also be spelled as "candy" in some transcripts.
Caudle - (KAW-dul) a type of gruel, served warm, that acted as a sort of medicine. The word could also be used as a verb meaning to serve someone that same gruel.
Cautel - (KAW-tel) trickery or lies. Another word for deception, but one no longer in use in modern times. Derived from "uncountable".
Cautelous - (KAW-tel-us) crafty, tricky; cautious or careful. The meanings can be very different and have to be determined by the context of the passage in which the word appears.
Cavaleiro - (kav-a-LAIR-oh) a man known to be honorable and noble in all his dealings, often a gentleman in every sense of the word. Someone who is thought to be a fine person by all.
Cavaliero - (kav-a-LEER-oh) honest, full of honor, brave and true. From the same root as "cabellero" or "chevalier", terms for a knight.
Cavalleria - (kav-a-LAIR-ee-a) a society or association of knights or gentlemen of high society. King Arthur's Round Table could be considered a cavalleria.
Cave-keeper - (KAYV keep-er) one who lives in a cave. Unlike house-keeper, it does not necessarily mean one who keeps a cave clean.
Cavetto - (kav-ET-oh) a short way of telling the listener to be careful, to beware. This word is almost more like a command than a request.
Caviary - (KAV-ee-air-ee) caviar. Sometimes spelled "caviare". When Hamlet proclaims something to be like caviar, he is saying it is not something everyone will like at first.
Cavil - (KAV-ul) an argument that splits hairs, causing problems over minor, possibly meaningless, points. Used as a verb, it means to raise such small and pointless arguments.
Ce - (che) part of a contraction for "I shall", but spoken in what is meant to be a country accent by a character disguised as a peasant.
Ceinture - (SEN-sure) a belt or a girdle. An accessory that wraps around the body to secure another garment and prevent it from falling off.
Celerity - (sel-AIR-ih-tee) quickness. To act or do something with celerity is to do it as quickly as possible or at least faster than it would usually be done.
Cellarage - (SEL-ar-ij) the cellars or basement in a building. To refer to the cellarage means to talk about the entire underground portion of the facility.
Censer - (SEN-ser) a container in which perfume or incense is burned, with holes in the top to release the smoke, and suspended from a chain. Used to cover unpleasant smells or in religious ceremonies.
Censure - (SEN-sure) an opinion or judgment, the severity of which depends upon the context. It could be a simple opinion or it could be a death sentence. As a verb, it means to give an opinion or judgment on something, whether benign or harsh.
Cere up - (seer UP) seal up, to wrap in a funeral shroud. Sometimes written as "sear up". To cere up someone is to ready them for the grave.
Cerecloth - (SEER-clawth) a cloth, usually made of linen, which is soaked or coated in wax to make it waterproof, then used as a shroud to wrap a corpse.
Cerements - (SEER-ments) much the same as cerecloth -- clothing or sheets wrapped around a body as part of burial preparations.
Certes - (SURTS) an archaic way of saying "certainly". Certes is to say that something will happen without a doubt. It can be utterly counted upon.
Cess - (SESS) the complete end of something, short for "cessation"; a judgment, estimation, or evaluation of something or someone else.
Cesse - (SEECE) an alternate spelling of "cease", no longer in use. Such a spelling appears rarely in even Shakespeare's work.
Cestern, Cesterne - (SEST-urn) both alternate spellings of the word "cistern", something that holds water. Usually a reservoir of some sort.
Chace - (CHAYSE) a tennis term meaning a point that was given up to one's opponent. Also an alternate spelling of "chase", which can also mean pursuit.
Chafe - (CHAYF) to raise passions, rather rage, lust, or simple irritation and frustration. Also used as a noun, meaning a hot temper or fury.
Chaffless - (CHAF-less) something that has no chaff in it, implying that it is without flaw, that all that was worthless in it has been removed.
Chaffy - (CHAF-fee) to be like chaff, absolutely useless. A chaffy thing or person is only fit to be tossed aside and forgotten.
Chair-days - (CHAIR dayz) old age. The implication is of someone who spend all his or her days sitting in a chair, due to advanced age.
Chalice - (CHAL-ihs) a small cup or tankard for drinking; a ceremonial cup of the type used in formal or religious ceremonies.
Chaliced - (CHAL-ihsd) having a blossom shaped like a cup. A chaliced flower has a distinct cup-like shape when it grows naturally.
Chamberer - (CHAIM-ber-er) one who often visits ladies' chambers, not out of lechery, but because of ability in decorating and fashion.
Chamberlain - (CHAIM-ber-lin) one of the closest servants a noble can have, an attendant who attends to the needs of his lord in the lord's private rooms.
Chamber-lye - (CHAIM-ber ly) urine. A play on words inferring a caustic or harsh liquid produced in one's private chambers.
Chamblet - (KAM-blet) a fine fabric made either of goat's wool or of silk. It can also be any garment made from camlet.
Changeling - (CHAINJ-ling) a child that has been taken by fairies; an ugly child (like a fairy replacement); any substitution or change; one who is fickle or changeable.
Chanson - (CHAN-son) another word for a song. It can be used interchangably with song, ballad, hymn, or other such words, depending upon the context.
Chanticleer - (CHANT-ih-kleer) a rooster. The term comes from a story by Geoffrey Chaucer, 'The Nun Priest's Tale".
Chantry - (CHANT-ree) a small private chapel of the sort kept by nobles or the rich. A little church for personal use.
Chape - (CHAYP) the metal part of a dagger's sheath. It usually applies specifically to the metal covering the tip of the sheath.
Chapeless - (CHAYP-less) without a sheath. This generally means an old or cheap weapon, as most of them come with some means of easy conveyance.
Chapless, Chopless - (CHAP-less, CHOP-less) without a jaw. It comes from the same origin as the phrases "licking his chops" or "hit in the chops", referring to one licking one's jaws or being hit in the jaw, respectively.
Chaplet - (CHAP-let) a leafy or flowery garland, most commonly a crown or flowers rather than something like the Hawaiian lei.
Chapman - (CHAP-man) one whose profession is trading, like a merchant. Someone who's livelihood comes from making deals involving goods.
Charact, Caract - (KAIR-akt) a badge or other sort of emblem that can be used as personal identification. Carried by people with official importance.
Character - (kair-AKT-er-ee) the means of one's expression, usually through writing or letters, though not necessarily so.
Chare - (CHAIR) another word for "chore", meaning some work or task to be accomplished. It can also be used as a verb, meaning to complete a chore.
Charge-house - (CHARJ howse) a school or a college, a place youth are formally educated by learned men.
Charging-staff - (CHARJ-ing staf) another name for a knight's lance. It is used to charge another knight in the joust, hence the name "charging-staff".
Chariest - (CHAIR-ee-est) with as much care or caution as possible, displaying a great degree of shyness or modesty.
Chariness - (CHAIR-ee-ness) the firm standing of something. To guard the chariness of one's reputation is to make sure no one brings it down, even a little bit.
Charneco - (CHAR-nee-koh) a type of sweet wine from Portugal. One of many drinks served to Horner in a (successful) attempt to get him very drunk.
Charnel-house, Charnel house - (CHAR-nel howse) a burial vault. This is a building where people keep their dead, often containing a number of graves or coffins, enough for an entire family.
Chary - (CHAIR-ee) carefully, cautiously, shyly; or with great care to show how much the object in question is cherished by the one dealing with it.
Chaste - (CHAYST) without sexual contact, celibate; completely pure, without stain or blemish; engaged in legitimate sexual activity, i.e. between married people.
Chastisement - (chas-TIZE-ment) punishment or correction. This covers everything from a scolding or dressing down all the way to corporal punishment.
Chattels - (CHAT-tels) possessions that can be transported. Anything that belongs to someone that can be moved to a new location is chattel.
Chaudron, Chawdron - (CHAW-dron) the guts, entrails, innards of a beast. Mentioned in Macbeth as part of a witch's brew including all manner of animal parts.
Chawed - (CHAWD) another way to say "chewed". Where the word "chawed" is seen it can always be substituted with the word "chewed".
Che - (CHE) a dialect pronunciation of "I", spoken by Edgar as he feigned a rustic or country accent as part of a disguise.
Cheek-roses - (CHEEK roh-ez) blushing or rosy cheeks. The cheeks generally belong to a young woman and are often flushed by youth and/or embarrassment.
Chequin - (CHE-kwin) a unit of money, specifically a type of gold coin originating from Italy or Turkey. One of them was worth about 8 English shillings.
Cherubin - (CHAIR-u-ben) having angelic qualities. It can also refer to an angel itself, specifically one of the cherubim, or some other heavenly being; one possessed of angelic beauty.
Chevalier - (chev-a-LEER) a knight. From the French, meaning a horseman. The word from which "chivalry" originates.
Chivalry - (CHEV-al-ree) another spelling of "chivalry". It means prowess in war or martial virtue, but could also mean the knightly code of honor.
Cheverel - (CHEV-er-el) kid leather, or leather made from the skin of a young goat. A type of leather known for how soft and flexible it was.
Cheveril - (CHEV-er-il) flexible and pliant, like cheverel, or kid leather. Easy to manipulate or sway in one direction or another, or flexible in any situation.
Chewet - (CHE-wet) one who talks entirely too much, a chatterbox. Used to accuse someone of rambling. Also, a dish made from minced meat.
Chid - (CHID) the past form of "chide", meaning to scold, correct, or rebute. It is generally meant to be a fairly gentle manner, in the way one might scold a child.
Chidden - (CHID-den) suffered chiding, been the subject of chiding; driven along as if by a storm, beaten against.
Chide - (CHYD) to scold or rebuke; to quarrel with; to drive or send someone away; sometimes, to beat against. Generally not too harsh a rebute -- one would chide a child for wrongdoing.
Childbed - (CHYLD bed) describes someone in labor, in the process of delivering a baby, when used as an adjective.
Child-changed - (CHYLD chainjd) describes either one changed in some way by his children. It could also mean one changed into a child by some means.
Chine - (CHYN) a piece or a part of a cut of meat; there is also an unclear instance that appears in the Taming of the Shrew.
Chinks - (CHEENKS) bags full of money or money otherwise made ready to transport. The impression is of money that be taken on a journey easily.
Chip Bread - (CHIP brehd) to cut off the crust of a loaf of bread, leaving only the softer inner section. To chip bread is merely to remove the outside.
Chirrah - (cheer-AH) another spelling of "sirrah", which is a form of address. Why the word is spelled differently in one instance and one instance only is unclear.
Chirurgeonly - (ky-RUR-jee-on-lee) in the manner of a surgeon. Chururgeon is an older version of a surgeon, operating from principles from before the rise of modern medicine.
Choice-drawn - (CHOYSE drawn) chosen with great care to find the best. Implies that the final pick was the choice option, meaning the best possible.
Choir, Quire - (KWY-er) usually a group that performs songs, but can apply to any company of people; as a verb, to sing harmoniously, or to sing in a choir.
Choler - (KOHL-er) anger or wrath. From one of the four Greek humors that were said to control the health and spirit. Choler was yellow bile, an excess of which caused hot-temperedness.
Choleric - (KOHL-er-ik) easily angered, hot tempered; angry or enrage; something that causes anger or heated tempers.
Chop Logic - (CHOP loj-ik) one who argues simply for the sake of argument, someone who is verbally combative.
Chop-fallen - (CHOP fall-en) downcast, experiencing sorrow. One who is chop-fallen is down in the dumps, and visibly sad about something.
Chopine - (CHOP-ine) platform shoes that were fashionable in Shakespeare's day. When Hamlet mentions it, it is to say one of the players he has hired looks taller, thanks to the shoe.
Chopped Logic - (CHOPD lojik) one who argues simply for the sake of argument, someone who is verbally combative.
Chough - (CHUHFF) jackdaw, a type of bird known for chattering; one who chatters often and incessantly; a clownish person or someone who lives out in the country.
Chould - (CHOULD) a dialect version of "I should". Spoken by Edgar when adopting a rustic or country accent, as part of a disguise.
Christendom - (KRIS-en-dum) one's given name, or Christian name. The name under which a given person was baptised, the full name given at birth.
Christom - (KRIST-om) Misspelling/mispronunciation of "christened" or "chrism", as if spoken by someone of little or no education.
Chronicle - (KRON-ih-uhl) a story or recounting of how something happened, or more formally the official record of an event; as a verb to record or write down an event for future reference.
Chrysolite - (KRIS-oh-lyt) a semi-precious stone, one of many kinds that were generally green in color. A jewel of some worth, though not of the greatest value.
Chuck - (CHUHK) chicken, or chick. Said as a term of endearment, much the same as one today might call someone "dear" or "honey".
Chuff - (CHUHF) one who is highly unwilling to part from his money, a miser; a clown or someone with poor manners.
Churl - (CHURL) an extremely common person, a peasant, or surf; someone of low repute; a term of endearment, like affectionately calling someone an "old rogue".
Cicatrice - (SEE-ka-triss) a scar or a mark on someone's body that resembles a scar. Often pointed out as a distinct mark for easy identification.
Cinquepace - (SIN-keh-pase) a dance of Elizabethan times. "Cinquepace" roughly means "five step" and the dance itself was a five-step dance.
Cinque-spotted - (SINK spaht-id) having five spots, like the 5 side of a die. It comes in part from the Italian -- "cinque" is Italian for "five".
Circummured - (sir-KUM-merd) placed a wall around. The implication is of something completely encircled by a wall or similar barrier.
Circumscription - (sir-kum-SKRIP-shun) some kind of prevention or restriction against a particular action. To put someone into circumscription is to jail that person.
Cital - (SY-tal) a report, mention, or acknowledgment of an event or person. To make a cital of oneself is to tell one's own story.
Cittern-head - (SIT-tern hed) someone with an ugly face. A cittern was a stringed instrument with a hideously carved head and to call someone a cittern-head is to compare that person's head to that of the instrument.
Civet - (SIV-et) a particular sort of perfume, a musky scent obtained from the civet cat. Used in Shakespeare's work even by kings.
Clack-dish - (KLAK dish) a special bowl used by beggars to hold their donations, with a lid that can be clapped loudly to draw attention of future givers.
Clamor, Clamour - (KLAM-er) the noun is a protest or complaint; but as a verb the word means to quiet or quash such complaints.
Clangor, Clangour - (KLANG-or) a loud ringing sound, as if from bells or gongs. A noise difficult to ignore that can be heard from a great distance.
Clapper-claw - (KLAP-per KLAW) a verb meaning to beat someone up. To clapper-claw someone tightly means to thrash that person soundly.
Clatpole - (KLAT-pohl) a stupid person, a bonehead, a numbskull. A clatpole is one who couldn't be trusted to do anything intelligently, due to lack of mental capacity.
Cleanly-coined - (KLEEN-lee coynd) well-thought up. A cleanly-coined excuse may not be a true reason, but it will sound good when used.
Clean-timbered - (kleen TIM-berd) strong of limb, well put-together, fit. Someone with well-defined muscle, visibly used to exercise or warfare.
Cleap - (KLEEP) to embrace, to hug, to hold in one's arms. May also be used in the figurative sense to embrace a concept or idea.
Clear-spirited - (kleer SPEER-it-id) someone with a good heart. A clear-spirited person is one of high moral virtue who can be counted on to do what is right.
Clearstory - (KLEER-stor-ee) an upper window in a chamber. It may be too high to look through, but its purpose is to let in sunlight, rather than provide a view.
Cleave the pin - (KLEEV the PIN) to cut to the very core, figuratively. The pin is the very center of a thing, derived from the pin that marked the middle of an archery target. To cleave the pin is to hit a target perfectly.
Cleave to - (KLEEV too) stick to, often figuratively, as in to stick to a plan. To cleave to someone's word means to follow their orders explicitly.
Clefture - (KLEF-sure) an older word for a cleft or crack in an object. A more modern way would be to call it a "crack" or "fissure".
Clement - (KLEM-ent) forgiving, merciful, compassionate. A clement person is one inclined to show clemency for an infraction.
Clepe - (KLEP) an archaic word meaning "call", as in "They call me William". "They clepe me coward" is the same as saying "They call me a coward."
Clerestory, Clearstory - (KLEER-stor-ee) an upper window in a chamber. It may be too high to look through, but its purpose is to let in sunlight, rather than provide a view.
Clew - (KLEW) an archaic word for a ball of thread or yarn. The word has since passed out of modern usage, at least in the meaning one finds it in Shakespeare.
Climatures - (KLYM-at-ures) parts of the world, locations. The same base as the word "clime", which means a region of the world defined by its weather or climate. There is a similar meaning in climature.
Clime - (KLYM) a land or a region of the world. It may or may not mean a sovereign country, but could well be a part of the world distinguished in some other manner, like ethnicity.
Cling - (KLING) to wither or shrivel away. The implication is of something decaying or drying out, the same way a corpse withers after a time.
Clinquant - (KLEEN-kant) glittering or sparkling, usually due to being made of gold or silver, or being covered by those precious metals.
Clipper - (KLIP-per) one who shaves coins for extra money. It was a practice of some criminals to peel the edges from coins, collecting slivers of gold or silver to sell or make into new coins, devaluing the coins they clipped.
Clip-winged - (KLIP weengd) something with clipped wings. A bird (or a mythological winged creature, like a griffon) has lost the ability to fly by having parts of its wings removed.
Cloak-bag - (KLOHK bag) a bag for garments, used not only for carrying cloaks, but for other clothing, as well. It has some similarities to a suitcase in purpose, if not in appearance.
Clock and clock, 'twixt - (KLOK and KLOK, twixt) hour after hour, on and on, to engage in a specified activity without stopping once for hours on end.
Clock-setter - (KLOK set-ter) the person who sets the clock, keeps it running accurately, and in general performs maintenance upon it.
Clod - (KLOD) literally a clod of dirt, a lump of earth or mud. This is a word the meaning of which has not changed much over the centuries.
Clodpole - (KLOD-pohl) someone mentally slow or stupid. A "clodpole" is very similar to a "blockhead" or "dummy" in modern terms.
Clog - (KLOG) a wooden block, heavy enough to be a burden; any sort of burden that slows down or holds one back; as a verb, to block passage or progress.
Cloistered - (KLOYST-erd) sequestered and locked away. From the word "cloister", a place where nuns and monks would go to pray in seclusion.
Cloistress - (KLOYS-tress) a shorter way to refer to a cloistered nun, a woman who has taken vows and remains apart from society to join the contemplative life.
Close-stool - (KLOS stool) a chamber pot built into or concealed under a stool, which would have a hole cut into the seat. A primitive form of a toilet.
Close-tongued - (KLOS tungd) keeps secrets close and quiet, only speaking them sparingly. To be close-tongued is to be quiet about something.
Closet-war - (KLAWS-et war) strategy made away from the battlefield. It has the implication of setting in a chair and plotting through maps, removed from the battle itself.
Cloth of State - (KLAWTH ov stayt) a large cloth draped over the chair of the statemen, like the throne of a king or a duke, or whatever chair they happen to have designated as their own.
Clothier's yard - (KLOHTHE-ee-ers yard) the measure clothesmakers used to measure out their cloth, which happened to be the same 36-inch yard used in some countries still.
Cloth-of-gold - (KLOTH ov gohld) very rich and expensive cloth. It was was necessarily cloth made of gold or made using gold, or even of golden color.
Clotpoll, Clotpole, Clatpole - (KLOT-pohl, KLOT-pohl, KLAT-pohl) someone of low intelligence, a stupid person; one's head or skull. The former meaning is used as an insult.
Clout - (KLOWT) a bit of cloth, like a rag or a handkerchief; the bullseye of an archery target, often marked with a bit of cloth in the very center.
Clouted - (KLOWT-id) studded with nails, hobnailed. Almost always refers to boots, especially of the types soldiers wear to make their footwear more durable.
Cloven - (KLOHV-en) split apart, in the manner of a goat's cloven hoof; completely broken apart into pieces, as if by a strong blow.
Cloy - (KLOY) to fill up on, to consume until fill, to use until statisfied; to claw or scratch with claws. Most often found in the latter sense.
Cloyed - (KLOYD) bored, stuffed with food, stopped up, satisfied, or filled to bursting. The meaning can usually be found in the context of the surrounding text.
Cloyless - (KLOY-less) Something cloyless will never fill up or satisfy no matter how much it is used or consumed.
Cloyment - (KLOY-ment) overindulgence, especially on food and drink. This is going to the point of satisfaction or satiety and then beyond.
Clyster-pipe - (KLY-ster pyp) a rarely used (today) word for a syringe used for douches or enemas. Such medical procedures were then known as clysters.
Coacher - (KOHCH-er) a coach or chariot. Specifically meant as the chariot of the sun from Roman mythology in the passage in which it appears.
Coach-fellow - (KOHCH fell-oh) a friend or a pal. Taken from the way horses who pull a coach have to work together to get the vehicle moving.
Co-act - (KOH-akt) how certain behave when together, how specific people interact with each other.
Coactive - (ko-AKT-iv) working together to accomplish something. A group of people who work together to achieve a goal are coactive.
Coagulate - (ko-AG-u-layt) a descriptive word meaning coagulated, gelled, or clotted. A word referring to blood and gore, not used as a verb in this instance.
Coals, Carry - (KOHLS, kair-ee) to allow an insult or slight to pass, with the implication that cowardice was the reason. The term can also mean to engage in work beneath one's station.
Coarse - (KORSE) clearly of lesser quality, or of poor make; unrefined, unmannered. When used to describe a person, it is an insult.
Cobbled - (KOB-buld) roughly patched together, jury-rigged, or messed up. Roughly the same meaning of the modern phrase "cobbled together".
Cobbler - (KOB-ler) one who makes a great many mistakes at what he does, someone who fumbles his work. Cobbler can also mean a shoemaker, whether good or bad.
Cobloaf - (KOB-lohf) a small round loaf of bread, lumpy and misshapen. To refer to a person as a "cobloaf" means that person is also somewhat misshapen.
Cock - (KOK) a little boat or dinghy; a weathervane; the bird called a woodcock; the hammer of a gun (which is cocked back); a less vulgar version of "God"; the tap punched into a cask of wine.
Cock-a-hoop, set (KOK a hoop, set) the exact meaning is unknown, but it appears to mean something like turn everything into chaos, that everything will come apart.
Cockatrice - (KOK-a-trihs) a deadly serpent. Sometimes known as a basilisk, which is a mythical serpent-like creature which can kill with its gaze alone.
Cockered - (KOK-erd) describes one who is spoiled, who has lived a life of ease and comfort and generally expects that life to continue.
Cockle - (KOK-ul) a type of grass or weed; the shell of a cockle, a type of mollusk with a heart-shaped shell. These were the edible type of shellfish.
Cockle hat - (KOK-ul hat) a hat decorated with a cockle shell. A hat so decorated was the symbol of a pilgrim making a journey to the shrine of Saint James of Compostela.
Cockled - (KOK-uld) inside a shell, like a clam. Though the word comes from a mollusk, it could apply to other creatures, such as snails, turtles, and anything else that generally has a shell.
Cocklight - (KOK-lite) the sound of a rooster's crow when the sun is just starting to rise in the morining. Also, the time that crow sounds, or the crack of dawn.
Cockney - (KOK-nee) a spoiled woman of little courage who tends to be uncomfortable in situations out of her experience. Also, a weakling, a man of few masculine virtues.)
Cockpit - (KOK-pit) the pit of a theater, the lower part in front of the stage. Also refers to the performance area of an arena, where the actors, musicians, or others do their work.
Cockshut - (KOK-shuht) late in the evening, when the sun is setting. The name comes from the practice of shutting the fowl into the barn or the coop at nightfall to keep them safe from thieves or predators.
Cock-sure - (KOK shur) absolutely confident. It refers to the way a rooster tends to strut, acting like the undisupted leader of the other fowl in his domain.
Cod - (KOD) the pod of a plant, a living vessel that holds seeds. For instance, a pod of peas would often be called a "peascod".
Codpiece - (KOD-peese) a pouch or pocket on the front of a man's clothing, covering his private parts. It can also mean what is contained in the codpiece, i.e. male genitalia.
Coffer - (KOF-fer) a box or some kind of container used to store wealth. It sometimes refers to the contents of such a chest, such as money or precious stones.
Coffer-lid - (KOF-fer lid) the lid of a coffer, or chest used to hold valuables. The implication is that whatever is under the coffer-lid is something of extreme worth.
Cog - (KOG) to flatter, to pay many compliments. It can be simply trying to get on someone's good side or it could mean to sweet-talk someone in an effort run some kind of con.
Cognizance - (KOG-nih-zense) an object that enables others to recognize the one who bears it, such as some sort of insignia or a badge.
Cohere - (koh-HEER) to stick together, often in the figurative sense. It means to make a decision as a group and to stick to that decision.
Cohort - (koh-HORT) an official group of soldiers, a large military unit. Leaders would group their soldiers into cohorts that would train and fight together.
Coif, Quoif - (KOYF) a type of close-fitting cap that covered the top, back, and sides of the head, worn by both men and women. Sometimes, a type of chainmail head-covering that protected the entire head and neck, leaving the face open.
Coign - (KOYN) a corner. It could mean the corner of a building, any corner of something that sticks out prominently, or it could have a figurative meaning, as in one of the corners of the earth.
Coistrel - (KOY-strel) groom, one who cares for (someone else's) horses. It can also be a general term for someone of low birth or status.
Cold-moving - (KOLD moov-ing) a distant, cold demeanor. To have a cold-moving attitude means to show little emotion or sympathy for another.
Coleagued - (KAWL-leegd) together, in one accord. A colleagued crew have decided to act as one in a particular endeavor, united for a purpose.
Collars of esses - (KOL-ler ov ESS-is) a neck chain, so named because the links resemble the letter S. This adornment was a sign of knighthood.
Collied - (KOL-leed) darkened, murky, cloudy. Anything darkened or made obscure that was otherwise clear, whether water, a sky, or a political situation, can be said to be collied when it becomes unclear.
Collier - (KOL-ee-er) one who deals in coal, specificially selling it, but can also the be the one who digs up the coal or makes charcoal to sell to others.
Collop - (KOL-op) literally a piece of flesh, the word means one's own flesh and blood; children or descendants. Implies that a child is a part of the parent.
Coloquintida - (koh-loh-kwin-TEE-dah) a bitter apple known in English as a colocynth. Coloquintida is derived from the Italian name for the apple.
Colossus-wise - (kol-OSS-us wyz) in the manner of a colossus, a truly immense man. It evokes the image of a giant standing with his legs astride a large portion of the landscape, holding it in his power.
Colours - (KUL-ers) the identifying marks of a noble, noble house, or official organization. Colors refers to the designs on the banners, badges, and other means of identification.
Colt's Tooth - (KOLTS tooth) the playful impulses of a young person, such as the drive to engage in sporting activities or to play competative games.
Combustious - (kom-BUST-shus) easily lit aflame, flammable (or inflammable). A combustious item is literally something easy to combust. The word is generally used in metaphor.
Comeddle - (ko-MED-ul) mixed together, like water comeddled with wine. It can also be used figuratively, i.e. joy comeddled with sorrow, love comeddled with hate.
Comely - (KUM-lee) decent, good in the sense of being right. The best time to do something is a comely time, a comely-seeming person is one who tends to be in the right place, doing the right thing (in the eyes of the speaker, at least).
Comfect - (KOM-fekt) a type of candy or desert, specifically a sugar-plum. A comfect is more commonly known as a "comfit".
Comfit-maker - (KOM-fit may-ker) a candy-maker, one who makes sweets for the consumption of others. One would be known today as a confectioner.
Comingle - (ko-MEENG-ul) mixed together, like water comeddled with wine. It can also be used figuratively, i.e. joy comeddled with sorrow, love comeddled with hate.
Commandment - (kom-MAND-ment) a command, an order. It can also mean the state of being in command of others, such as a king's commandment over his people, meaning his right to command them.
Commeddle - (kom-MED-ul) mixed together, like water commeddled with wine. It can also be used figuratively, i.e. joy commeddled with sorrow, love commeddled with hate.
Commix - (kom-MIX) to mingle together, to combine two separate things. Most often meant in a figurative sense, as in profit and honor must comix in a mercantile endeavor.
Commixion, Commixtion - (ko-MIX-shun) the whole of the parts that compose a person. One might, for example, have a commixion of Spanish and English in one's ancestry.
Commixture - (ko-MIX-sure) the makeup or composition of a person or thing. It could also refer specifically to colors and how they are blended in a thing.
Commodious - (kom-MOHD-ee-us) easy to command, eager to please by following orders, very accomodation. A commodious person might well say "your wish is my command" and mean it.
Commonalty - (kom-mon-AL-it-tee) common people as a whole, the people that make up the community ruled over by the nobility, the people in the region without any real rank or standing, in general.
Common-hackneyed - (KOM-mon hak-need) something that was once special or valuable made cheap by overuse or exposure and dissemination to the public.
Commonty - (KOM-mon-tee) a way to misspeak the word "comedy". Spoken by someone of low station and low education, and purposely misspelled by the writer to show that.
Commutual - (KOM-mewt-u-al) in common cause, in concert, of one accord. The implication is that each member of the commutual cause is answerable to the others.
Comonty - (KOM-mon-tee) a way to misspeak the word "comedy". Spoken by someone of low station and low education, and purposely misspelled by the writer to show that.
Compartner - (kom-PART-ner) an associate in a particular endeavor, a partner in some sort of venture. Not necessarily friends, but people who are working together.
Compeer - (kom-PEER) a companion or associate of generally equal rank, an acquaintance with whom one works. It can also be a verb meaning to be the equal of someone in some skill or in rank.
Competence - (KOM-pet-ense) enough to supply a certain need. To have a competence of water for all your people means enough water to drink for everyone.
Competency - (KOM-pet-ense-ee) the means to survive, sometimes more specifically the means to survive without overdoing it. It is enough to live on without excess.
Compile - (KOM-pyl) to compose something in writing. In these terms, an author would compile a book or a manuscript, a ruler might compile a treaty.
Complice - (KOM-pliss) an older way to say "accomplice". A complice is someone one works with toward a certain goal or in a certain context.
Complot - (KOM-plot) to plot together. It can also be a noun meaning a plot, specifically a plot or conspiracy planned in secret for whatever reason.
Composture - (kom-POS-ture) an archaic word meaning "compost". It is literally manure and more than likely a pile of it, depending upon the context. Likely to be used in a metaphorical sense.
Compt - (KOMPT) the day when all moral accounts are due, as in the day of judgment, when those who have done wrong will finally suffer for it.
Compatible - (KOMPT-ih-bul) easy to influence, easy to get hurt feelings, suggestible. Most young people are comptible, as it is easy to insult them or to mold their personalities.
Comptless - (KOMPT-less) unable to be counted or measured. There are comptless stars in the sky, comptless grains of sand on the beach, one can have comptless love for another.
Comptroller - (kompt-TROL-ler) one in charge of the day to day business of a household or demesne, also serves as the one who arranges and coordinates formal events.
Compunctious - (kom-PUNKT-shus) full of remorse, regretful. One who is compunctious is plainly sorry for the actions he or she has undertaken, whatever they might be.
Comutual - (KOM-mewt-u-al) in common cause, in concert, of one accord. The implication is that each member of the commutual cause is answerable to the others.
Con - (KON) to learn something by heart, to memorize; to give or express something to another in some manner. The meaning can be understood from the context.
Concave - (KON-kayv) hollowed-out, empty, like a cave in a rocky mountain. A cup, a bowl, or something of similar shape may easily be described as concave.
Conceptious - (kon-SEPT-shus) capable of a great amount of conception, abundantly fertile or fruitful. The earth in conceptious, as that's where all food and plants ultimately grow.
Concernancy - (kon-SERN-an-see) something that has concern or relevance to a particular topic or conversation. It is the important part of a statement as it relates to the subject.
Concord - (KON-kord) work well together, harmony. When several things or situations are in concord, it means more or less that they are in tune with one another.
Concordant - (kon-KORD-ant) working well together, working in harmony and unity. It can apply more specifically to music which is well-harmonized and pleasing to the ear.
Concupiscible - (kon-kewp-ISS-ih-bul) lusting after, wanting in a physical manner. The word implies great desire of a physical, probably sexual nature, but not necessarily.
Concupy - (KON-kew-py) another way to say "concubine", a woman with whom a man has a physical relationship who is not is wife. It can also mean lust.
Condign - (KON-dyn) well-deserved, fitting. A condign punishment means someone got exactly what was coming to them. The same is true if someone mentioned condign praise.
Condole - (kon-DOHL) a verb meaning to offer condolences. To condole is to show great sympathy and to grieve with another in their time of sorrow.
Condoling - (kon-DOHL-ing) emotionally touching. A condoling speech causes the listeners to feel what the speaker wishes them to feel, whether it be anger, sorrow, or sympathy.
Conduce - (kon-DOOSE) leads to, contributes to. A situation to conduce a fight means that situation either starts the fight, creates the conditions for fighting, or allows the fight to continue.
Conduit - (KON-doo-it) a path or passage through which something flows from one place to another, generally blood or water, but it can be used to mean emotions or concepts when used figuratively.
Confectionary - (kon-FEKT-shun-air-ee) a place where sweets or candies are made. Some candy shops or candy factories are still known as confectionaries today.
Confer - (kon-FER) to talk, to engage in conversation. It could be chatting, gossiping, or merely small talk. The word is still in use today.
Conformity - (kon-FURM-ih-tee) a misspoken word, where the speaker means to say "infirmity" or illness. The writer wrote it this way to show the low education of the speaker.
Confix - (kon-FIX) to adhere, to stick together. It means not just to fix one thing to another, but to firmly and strongly fix the two together.
Conflux - (KON-flux) flowing together, joining. The implication is of two rivers that flow together from different sources and become one larger and stronger river as it continues.
Conformable - (kon-FORM-a-bul) easy to conform. Someone who is conformable will follow the will of another without complaint, doing what they are told without question.
Confound - (kon-FOWND) to disrupt, confuse, block, or destroy, as in to confound a plan. It can also mean to amaze or astonish someone to the point of confusion.
Confute - (kon-FEWT) to defeat or contradict, especially in the sense of an argument. The word "refute" has a similar meaning.
Congeal - (kon-JEEL) to become more firm, to clot, to curdle. Blood will congeal when it coagulates, as milk will congeal when it curdles.
Congee - (kon-JEE) a formal or ceremonious way to depart, usually referring to an elaborate bow or curtsey before departing, but it could also refer to other such ceremonies.
Conger - (KON-ger) a type of scaleless eel found in coastal ocean waters. Eaten by some, and once used as an insult toward another in Shakespeare's work.
Congree - (kon-GREE) a combination of "concord" and "agree" meaning to join together and agree on some manner, or to act as one in some manner.
Congrue - (kon-GROO) essentially the same as "agree". To congrue with someone is the same as to affirm and go along with whatever it is they have to say.
Congruent - (kon-GROO-ent) fitting or suitable. To give someone a congruent reward is to give a reward that fits the service performed, whether great or small.
Conject - (kon-JEKT) another way to say "to make a conjucture", meaning to suppose a reason for something or to present a theory.
Conjoin - (kon-JOYN) meet together, come together. It can also mean actively join together to finish a task or start some sort of plan.
Conjunct - (kon-JUNKT) multiple people, object, or concepts brought together to make one. United in meaning and purpose when there were once two or more.
Conjuration - (kon-jer-AY-shun) spells to summon magical power or spirits; sometimes more broadly an appeal not to spirits but to other people.
Conjure - (KON-jur) to control or command the spirit. Either literal spirits and demons, to summon them up or banish them, or human spirits, either by convincing and begging or by means of spells and charms. Also, to bring something forth.
Conjuror, Conjurer - (KON-jur-er) a sorcerer, or someone who brings forth (conjures) spirits from another world. A conjurer can also be an exorcist, who sends spirits back to wherever it is they came from.
Connectural - (kon-NEK-tur-al) another way to say "conjectural", meaning suspicious, or speculative. Connectural arguments are theories generally somewhat based on facts.
Connive at - (kon-IVE at) to regard with goodwill, to help out. When the gods connive at mankind, they are willing to look kindly upon people and perhaps even give them assistance.
Consanguineous - (kon-sang-GWIN-ee-us) literally, of the same blood. The word applies to two people of the same blood, who can look to a common ancestry relatively recent in their family tree.
Consanguinity - (kon-sang-GWIN-oo-ih-tee) a familial relationship, related by blood. Refers to people who have common ancestry in their family tree.
Conscionable - (KON-shun-a-bul) of good conscious. A conscionable action is one which is indisputably right, one which will not trouble one's conscience.
Considerance - (kon-SID-er-anse) another way to say "consideration", as in to give a matter some thought. An archaic word since placed with the more modern form.
Consistory - (kon-SIST-or-ee) specificially, a court overseen by religious authority, but more generally it could mean any place officials meet to do official business.
Consonancy - (KON-son-an-see) agreement, accord. Two who have the same idea or who come to the same conclusion or plan of action are in consonancy.
Consonant - (KON-son-ant) something or someone very worth noticing, with the implication that it is too small, in a social sense, to pay much mind.
Consort - (KON-sort) singly, a friend or companion. More than one person can also be a consort, as in a general group of people. A consort can also specifically mean a musical group. As a verb, it means to go with or accompany someone.
Conspectuity - (kon-spec-TOO-ih-tee) sight or ability to see. It means to be able to see in a physical sense, but it can also apply to the figurative ability of insight.
Conspirant - (kon-SPYR-ant) one engaged in a conspiracy. Someone who is planning or who is part of a secret plan or plot. A modern speaker might say "conspirator".
Constancy - (KON-stan-see) another way to say "consistency". The ability to hold on to beliefs or to stick to a plan, no matter what difficulties arise.
Conster - (KON-ster) explain or interpret, to give or read information to others. To either tell a story or to learn from that story.
Constrain - (kon-STRAIN) to force, whether by obligation or by physical means. Also, to outright invade or force oneself upon another in some manner.
Constringe - (kon-STRINJ) to squeeze, pull together, or otherwise force two or more things into the same area. May be used metaphorically.
Construe - (kon-STROO) to understand or interpret a situation or a story. What the hearer or reader construes might be wrong, but the word still applies.
Contagion - (kon-TAYJ-ee-on) something infectious, like a disease or a plague. Not necessarily a disease, but anything that passes its qualities on to others rampantly.
Contemn - (kon-TIM) to look upon with contempt and to treat that person as such, to obviously show hatred and disregard for another.
Contemptible - (kon-TIMPT-ih-bul) so low and despicable as to be worth of contempt. It also could mean someone who has contempt for everyone and everything.
Contemptuous - (kon-TIMPT-u-us) the same meaning as "contemptible", meaning worthy of contempt, something horrible that is worth nothing but hatred.
Contention - (kon-TENT-shun) a fight, argument, or strong disagreement. The implication is of battling over something, but it rarely means an physical conflict.
Contestation - (kon-test-A-shun) an action taken together by two that would otherwise be enemies. Afterward, they are just as likely to return to being enemies.
Continuate - (kon-TIN-u-et) continues on without interruption. It could also mean something that continues on for a very long time, if not forever.
Contrariety - (kon-TRAIR-ih-tee) opposition or inconsistancy. Something that shows a sharp difference or contrast between two things or two points of view.
Contrarious - (kon-TRAIR-ee-us) opposing, whether through circumstances like weather that turns against a fleet, or through people who dispute the current plan through argument or action.
Contrive - (kon-TRYV) to come up with a plot or a plan. It could also mean simply to pass time in some manner, usually in an idle way.
Controlment - (kon-TROHL-ment) an older way to say "control", in the sense of keeping something back, or keeping something in check. It means restraint, usually of one's impulses or urges.
Contumely - (KON-toom-eh-lee) an insult or an insulting manner, some kind of abuse, whether verbal or physical, a comtemptuous attitude.
Contusion - (kon-TOO-shun) a bruise or other kind of visible, non-bleeding injury. This word still has the same meaning today and is even used by some medical professionals to describe a bruise.
Conventicle - (kon-VENT-ih-kul) generally a place to meet, but it has the implication of a secret meeting place, a place to plot where people come to meet away from prying eyes.
Convertite - (kon-VERT-ite) one who has converted or found religion, someone who is repentant of whatever sins they may have committed.
Convive - (kon-VYV) to eat together and have fun doing it. The implication is of a feast where everyone will enjoy themselves with conversation and good food.
Convocation - (kon-voh-KAY-shun) a gathering, usually an official body of people, like a parliament, a meeting of church officials, or a meeting of a noble's court.
Cony - (KOH-nee) a rabbit, a small field animal often caught for eating, and occasionally for their soft fur. Spelled "coney" today.
Cony-catch - (KOH-nee kach) literally, rabbit catch. A verb meaning to be caught by a trick. It can also mean one who learns how to trick others or becomes a trickster himself.
Cony-catching - (KOH-nee kach-ing) cheating, tricking, conning, swindling. A cony-catching individual is one who tries to trick others into things, usually into giving up money.
Cooling card - (KOO-ling kard) literally, the card that firmly ends the game, making it impossible for the opponent to win. It means to effectively block the action of another.
Copatain hat - (KO-pa-tan hat) a hat with a high-crown, shaped like a sugar loaf. It's possible the word "copatain" comes from a misspelling or corruption of "captain".
Copesmate - (KOHPS-mayt) a companion, the sort of friend one has known for a while, at least long enough to become moderately familiar with.
Copped - (KOPPD) piled up in a heap, with a mounded appearance. Piles of clothes may appear copped, as might distant hills.
Copulative - (KOP-u-lat-iv) one getting married, being coupled to another person by marriage vows. There is nothing implicitly sexual about the term, the way it is stated.
Coragio - (kor-AH-jee-oh) courage. From the Italian word "coraggio", which also means courage. It is meant to offer encouragement to those who might be feeling their courage flagging.
Coranto - (kor-RAN-toh) a quick and lively dance, involving some rapid running steps. The name comes from a French word meaning the "running".
Co-rival - (KOH ryv-al) an equal or peer, something or someone equal in power, capability and influence. Also a verb, meaning to strive against or to rival.
Corky - (KOR-kee) dried up. Like a cork, completely without sap or water, withered. Also to describe the skin of the aged or anyone who seems shriveled.
Cormorant - (KOR-mor-ant) ravenously greedy, something that would devour everything in sight. It can also be a noun describing one who would greedily devour.
Corner-cap - (KOR-ner kap) a cap with three-corners, something like a tri-corner hat, or a hat like a mortarboard, of the type scholars wear.
Cornuto - (kor-NOO-toh) literally, a beast with horns. More commonly, a cuckold, or man with an unfaithful wife. To "put horns" on a man means to steal his wife's affection.
Corollary - (KOH-roh-lair-ee) an extra, more than needed, or just one more than planned. To bring a corollary to a meeting means to bring someone else along.
Coronal - (KOH-rohn-al) a crown or similar mark of rank that encircles the head. Taken from the Latin word for crown.
Corpulent - (KOR-pew-lent) well-made and full of body. It does not mean obese or very large from excess of food, in Shakespeare's language, as it does today.
Corresponsive - (ko-reh-SPONS-iv) the same, or functionally the same. Two items that are corresponsive are pratically interchangable.
Corrigible - (KO-rij-ih-bul) something that corrects or disciplines inappropriate behavior. It can also mean easy to to control or manipulate.
Corrival - (KOH ryv-al) an equal or peer, something or someone equal in power, capability and influence. Also a verb, meaning to strive against or to rival.
Corse - (KORSE) another word for "corpse", or dead body. From the French word, "cors", and the Latin "corpus", both of which mean body.
Corslet - (KORS-let) a breastplate, armor that protests the torso. Also a verb meaning to embrace or wrap around in the manner of the armored corslet.
Costard - (KOST-urd) a joking term referring to a head. Literally a large type of apple. The term likens a head to a large round object, but it is meant to be more humorous than insulting.
Costermonger - (KOST-er-mong-er) one who sells produce, particularly fruits and vegetables. The term comes from 'costard-seller' or someone who sells apples.
Co-supreme - (KO soo-PREEM) a ruler who has an equal partner in the rule of the realm. A rare arrangement in history, so it is used figuratively for the most part.
Cote - (KOHT) a little cottage or dwelling. Also a verb meaning to overtake or to run past, from the way dogs would sometimes outrun their prey in rabbit chasing.
Cot-quean - (KOHT-kween) an effeminate man, a man who pays entirely too much attention to household affairs that should be considered the province of women.
Couch down - (kowch DOWN) to assume a lower position by crouching, huddling down, or lying down flat. Can be pictured as an act of cowardice, depending upon the context.
Couched - (KOWCHD) said, spoken. To describe how words are couched is to describe how they were spoken, in attitude, tone, or mood.
Coulter - (KOHL-ter) the blade mounted on the front of a plow, used to part the soil and help turn it over, making it more useful for sowing seed.
Counsel-bearer - (KOWN-sil bair-er) one who carries private messenges. Literally one who carries counsel, or advice, from one person to another.
Counsel-giver - (KOWN-sil giv-er) advisor, one who gives counsel to others. The implication is of a teacher or mentor, one who supplies wisdom to those who make decisions.
Counsel-keeper - (KOWN-sil keep-er) one who holds a secret. Refers to someone's confidant, but does not imply whether or not this person will keep the secrets so entrusted.
Counsel-keeping - (KOWN-sil keep-ing) able to keep secrets. A counsel-keeping person is the sort that one feels confident in telling their secrets.
Counter-caster - (KOWN-ter kas-ter) someone who tends to figure out a course of action with the help of "counters" or people well-versed in math. A term of contempt.
Counterchange - (KOWNT-er-chaynj) the return of respect in equal measure, a reciprocal show of regard. A counterchange is a diplomatic sort of thing in which to engage.
Counterfeited - (KOWNT-er-fiht-id) faked, portrayed as something it is not; as a noun, something that pretends or is depicted as something it is not; as a verb, to create a false copy or something, or to pretend to be something other than the truth.
Counterfeiting - (KOWNT-er-fiht-ing) pretending or faking. Anything that pretends to be something it is not or depicts something other than what it truly is.
Counterfeitly - (KOWNT-er-fiht-lee) in a counterfeit manner, pretending to feel emotions one is not feeling. Speaking a cause counterfeitly is to promote a cause one does not believe in.
Countermand - (KOWNT-er-mand) to go against, to prevent, or to otherwise attempt to put a halt to an action or command. Also a noun meaning a command that contradicts another command.
Countermine - (KOWNT-er-myn) a passage dug under a mountain or a fortress specifically to counter enemies who attempt to tunnel into the facility.
Counterpoint - (KOWNT-er-poynt) a quilted blanket or coverlet that is the topmost later of the bedcovers. Also sometimes known as a "counterpane."
Counterpoise - (KOWNT-er-poyse) something that carries the same weight as its opposite, often figurative. A verb meaning to oppose or rival, or to otherwise offset.
Counter-reflect - (KOWNT-er re-flekt) a reflection that comes from a reflection, similar to looking at a mirror within a mirror, implying something that has rebounded twice to return to its original target.
Counter-seal - (KOWNT-er seel) to give an additional seal or sign of authenticity, generally to give it greater import and show the value of the document or to agree with the original writer.
Countervail - (KOWNT-er-vail) to be the match of, to be the pair, to be the perfect balance for something or someone else.
Country base - (KUNT-ree bayse) a chasing game played by boys in the country involving running from base to base.
Country matters - (KUNT-ree mat-ters) a term for sexual intercourse which incorporates a pun on a crude term for a part of female anatomy.
Couplement - (KUP-ul-ment) an archaic way to say a couple or a pair of something. The sun and the moon are a couplement, as are a king and a queen, or a set of twins.
Couplet - (KUP-let) a couple of something, often a couple of lines of poetry. Sometimes it refers specifically to a pair of chicks, or two young creatures.
Courb - (KORB) to hold something back, to restrain, to prevent a thing from happening or continuing. An alternate spelling for "curb".
Course - (KORSE) a way of doing something or of following a plan; the normal way of doing things; the path something normally travels, like the path of river; sometimes, the lower sail of a ship. As a verb, to chase or to hunt.
Courser - (KORSE-er) a horse, especially one known for its speed. A courser would make a fine racehorse or possibly make a good animal to use in jousts.
Coursing - (KORSE-ing) chasing or running after. Coursing comes from a term in hunting where human hunters would set their hounds to run down rabbits.
Court holy-water - (kort HOH-lee wah-ter) fine words like flowerly flattery or beautiful promises that ultimately turn out to have no real truth behind them.
Court of guard - (KORT ov GARD) the guard room or guard house. Essentially, this is the place, wherever it is, that the guards spend their time when not on duty at their posts.
Court-cupboard - (KORT KUP-bord) a cabinet, a place where food or other items, especially items associated with the kitchen and with cooking are stored.
Courtesan, Courtezan - (KORT-ih-sahn, KORT-ih-zahn) a prostitute or a woman known for promiscuous behavior. It may be a woman who walks the streets or one who associates with the higher classes in a bordello.
Court-Hand - (KORT-hand) the official style of writing, longhand, writing for formal documents. This is the way a scribe or functionary would write treaties or other important documents.
Courtier - (KORT-ee-er) one who courts the favor of a woman, most likely seeking her hand in marriage. It could also describe someone who pursues an ideal.
Cousin-german - (KUHZ-in JER-man) a way to say "first cousin", a relative who is the son or daughter of a parent's brother or sister.
Coverture - (KOV-ert-ur) something that covers or protects, like the darkness of night, or clothing, or a canopy of canvas or tree limbs. In general, a thing that provides cover.
Cower - (KOW-er) to physically lower oneself by squatting, kneeling, or bending down. It does necessarily mean a show of cowardice.
Cowish - (KOW-ish) lacking resolve, cowardly, unable to settle on a firm decision. Being cowish is not a virtuous trait to have.
Cowl-staff - (KOWL staf) a pole slung from the shoulder, thick enough to hold a heavy load suspended from it. These are carried by two people, one on each end with the load in the middle.
Cox - (KOX) a substitute word for "God", a way to avoid taking the Lord's name in vain, which was stronger cursing in Shakespeare's day.
Coxcomb - (KOX-cohm) the hat of a fool; the head of something; or a foolish head, someone not especially intelligent. The final definition is an insult.
Coy - (KOY) to stroke or caress, or to show hesitance to do something; gentle and kind, or reluctant to speak, distant, and stand-offish.
Coystrill - (KOY-stril) groom, one who cares for (someone else's) horses. It can also be a general term for someone of low birth or status.
Coz - (KOZ) an affectionate abbreviation or diminuition of the word "cousin". It's somewhat similar to calling a brother "bro" or a sister "sis".
Cozen-german - (KOZ-en GER-man) a way to say "first cousin", a relative who is the son or daughter of a parent's brother or sister. Alternately, it could mean a conman of German extraction.
Crabbed - (KRABD) irritable or easy to anger, much the same as the word "crabby" is used today. In this case, it can apply to situations or circumstances that are unpleasant.
Crab-tree - (KRAB tree) an archaic name for a crab-apple tree, a sort of apple tree that produces small and bitter fruit. Not generally eaten, but the wood has various uses.
Crack-hemp - (KRAK hemp) a criminal who has committed crimes that deserves hanging, or a criminal that is already on the way to be hung in the near future.
Crafty-sick - (KRAF-tee SIK) a crafty-sick person is someone who is only pretending to be ill, whether for sympathy or to play a trick or run a con on someone.
Crafty-swearing - (KRAF-tee SWAIR-ing) making sly promises of the kind where the soul of the promise might be broken without technically breaking the promise at all.
Crannied - (KRAN-need) split, cracked, or in some way physically and visibly broken. Something with a hole in it that doesn't belong can also be considered crannied.
Crants - (KRANTS) a leafy or flowery garland or wreath. Crants is a singular term, so it's proper to say a crants when referring to only one.
Crare - (KRAIR) a small water vehicle used for trading. Not one of the top boats of a fleet, used by merchants who don't generally have enough money to afford better.
Crasing, Crazing - (KRAYZ-ing) barely missed, or richochet. A bullet's grazing can mean where it grazed a target, leaving a mark but not necessarily killing a target.
Craven - (KRAYV-en) cowardly, without courage. Also, someone who evinces cowardly behavior. The word can also be used as a verb, meaning to make someone exhibit cowardly or fearful behavior.
Craze - (KRAYZ) to harm, break down, crack up, or shatter. Objects can certainly be crazed, but it's possible to craze things like a person's voice, meaning that person's voice has been lost from overuse or sickness.
Creak - (KREEK) a verb meaning to cause something to make a creaking or squeaking sound, as in to creak the floorboards when walking upon them.
Credence - (KREED-ense) heartfelt trust and confidence in another. To give credence to another person the same as saying one has faith in them.
Credent - (KREED-ent) believing, credulous, trusting; likely to happen; believable, trustworthy. The exact meaning must be learned from the context.
Credulous - (KRED-u-lus) very willing to accept or ready to accept; naïve and much too trusting for one's own good. The exact meaning must be learned from the context.
Crescive - (KREES-siv) increasing, growing. It could mean literally becoming larger, or it could also mean growth in the manner of a child, in which the subject changes and matures as it grows.
Cresset - (KRESS-et) a signal light, usually a flaming torch. It can also be a basket meant to carry fire that serves as portable light.
Crest-fallen - (KREST fall-en) emotionally crushed by a defeat or a setback. It alludes to a rooster whose crest once stood tall with pride, but now a mishap has cause that crest to fall in dejection.
Crest-wounding - (KREST woond-ing) harming to the reputation of the family. The family crest is an emblem that represents the family. A crest-wounding action is something that hurts or defaces the family name.
Crewel - (KROO-el) made from crewel, a fabric of soft smooth yarn. Crewel yarn was often used to create embroidery for clothing or other fine objects.
Croak - (KROHK) to make a low rough sound. It is not necessarily the noise a frog makes. It is used at least once in Shakespeare to refer to a stomach rumbling.
Crone - (KROHN) a very old woman, withered with age. Witches are often described as such. It is not generally an insult, though not exactly a term of respect, either.
Crook-back - (KROOK bak) hunchbacked, or someone who has a hunched back. A descriptive term that has sense passed out of usage in favor of hunchbacked.
Crooked-pated - (KROOK-ed PAYT-id) with a deformed skull. It refers to someone whose head is misshapen, usually through some kind of congenital condition.
Cross-gartered - (KROSS GART-erd) with garters (belts) crisscrossing on the legs. The look is similar to pictures of the sandals Roman soldiers were reputed to wear, with thick crossed laces running up the calf.
Cross-gartering - (KROSS GART-er-ing) garters (belts) crisscrossing on the legs. The look is similar to pictures of the sandals Roman soldiers were reputed to wear, with thick crossed laces running up the calf.
Crossly - (KROSS-lee) in a way that goes against current hopes or plans. To go crossly against good fortune means that good luck has turned to bad, or that circumstances have worked against good fortune.
Cross-row - (KROSS roh) an archaic way of saying a row of all the letters. Today, it would simply be termed as an alphabet. Cross-row has passed out of usage.
Crossway - (KROSS-way) a crossroad, a place where two roads meet. Often used as a meeting place or as a landmark to direct another to a destination.
Crotchet - (kroh-SHAY) in this case, not weaving a scarf, but a passing wishful thought, generally a strange or fantastical one that can't come to pass in reality.
Crowflower - (KROH-flow-er) a certain flower, but the exact type of flower referred to is unknown. Thought by some to be the flower known as the "ragged robin."
Crowner - (KROWN-er) an archaic word for coroner, someone who looks into the death of someone else to determine whether the cause was unnatural.
Crownet - (KROWN-et) literally a crown or a coronet, but it can also mean someone who wears such a crown, who is not quite a king -- a noble or a prince. As an adjective it can mean wreathed around, like a crown of flowers.
Crudy - (KRUD-ee) thick, curdled, congealed. A crudy thing has a thick and heavy feeling to it. It is not necessarily a liquid, but could be something else that can be described as thick and heavy.
Crupper - (KRUP-per) a leather strap on a horse's saddle, used to make sure the saddle doesn't slip to one side or the other while the rider is mounted.
Crusado - (kroos-AH-doh) a gold coin in use by Portugal in Shakespeare's time. A cross was stamped upon its face, hence the name. The coin was worth about 3 shillings in English money.
Cruzado - (krooz-AH-doh) a gold coin in use by Portugal in Shakespeare's time. A cross was stamped upon its face, hence the name. The coin was worth about 3 shillings in English money.
Crystalline - (KRISS-tahl-lyn) like crystal in appearance, transparent or translucent. Crystal was a fairly expensive material, so for something to appear to be made of it suggested great worth.
Cub-drawn - (KUB drawn) extremely hungry. It refers to a cubs who drain their mother of milk due to their ravenous natures.
Cubiculo - (kewb-IK-u-loh) a small bedroom or chamber for resting. It comes from the Latin, roughly meaning a room in which to lie down.
Cubit - (KEWB-it) a unit of measurement used to count length or distance, around 20 inches or 50 centimeters. The length was derived originally by measuring a man's arm from the tips of his fingers to his elbow.
Cuckold - (KUK-old) a man whose wife is unfaithful, or a verb meaning to shame a man by sleeping with his wife. A man with an unfaithful wife was generally a subject for jokes and ridicule.
Cuckold-mad - (KUK-old mad) driven insane by an unfaithful wife. To have an unfaithful wife was a great shame to any man in Elizabethan England, and such a situation subjected him to much ridicule.
Cuckold-maker - (KUK-old may-ker) a man who seduces women who are already married. Such a man is often despiced, given that it was a great shame for any man to have an unfaithful wife.
Cuckoldy - (KUK-old-ee) a descriptive word meaning one who wife has been unfaithful. A man who has an unfaithful wife is known as a "cuckold", which is a term of mockery.
Cuckoo-bud - (KUK-oo buhd) a type of flower, specifically a buttercup. It may have been chosen in this passage because its name sounds a bit like "cuckold".
Cuckoo-flower - (KUK-oo flow-er) wildflowers that appear around the time when cuckoos begin to call, hence the flower named after the bird.
Cuffs, go to - (KUHFS, goh too) end up in a fight. An augument that will go to cuffs is going to be an argument that will end up in fist-fighting.
Cuish, Cuisse - (KWEESH, KWEESE) a piece of armor that protects the leg of a warrior. It comes from the French word "cuisse", which means "thigh".
Cull - (KUHL) to select or choose. The people or objects picked can be culled, or chosen, or a group can be "culled out" of a larger group.
Cullion - (KUHL-yun) a rascal, a lowly person who is likely to get into trouble or cause trouble. It's a word used to disparage another person.
Cullison - (KUHL-ih-son) a badge, emblem, or some other way to recognize a person of authority or of high-birth. Commonly used to establish rank or prove identity.
Culverin - (KULH-vur-in) a small cannon with a long barrel. Used, of course, in battle as artillery for destroying regiments and knocking down structures.
Cumber - (KUM-ber) burden or weigh down, usually in the figurative sense. From the word "encumber", which has the same general meaning.
Cur - (KUR) a dog, especially a watchdog. It does not have the insulting meaning in these works as it does in some others. It is not a word used as an insult.
Curate - (KYUR-ayt) a parish priest, a priest in charge of a church. A religious figure, and often the sort of person gone to for counsel or for solace.
Curds and whey - (KURDS and WAY) a particular food made from dairy, much like a cheese which has not been pressed. Cottage cheese is a food similar to curds and whey, in that it is a type of cheese that does not have all of the whey pressed out of it.
Curious-good - (KYUR-ee-ous gud) an object made with a great deal of exquisite detail, something very finely crafted with a view toward artistry.
Curious-knotted - (KYUR-ee-ous not-tid) a word describing something with elaborate patterns of flowers, the work of a talented gardener with access to a great many flowers.
Curled-pate - (KURLD-payt) curly-haired. The word "pate" refers to someone's head, skull, or scalp in Shakespeare's work. An archaic usage that has since been abandoned.
Currance - (KUR-ranse) another way to say "current". It refers to the direction in which something flows, whether it be water, or a developing situation.
Currish - (KUR-rish) likes to start trouble, combative, mean. A currish person is someone who is likely to start a fight because fighting is something he likes to do.
Cursitory - (KUR-sit-oh-ree) done in a rush, usually so quickly as to do a slipshod job. It has the same meaning as the more modern "cursory".
Curst - (KURST) angry or enraged. It could also mean in such as state all the time, describing someone hot-tempered, grouchy, or easy to goad into a fight.
Cur'sy - (KUR see) good manners, good service, hospitable. Sometimes refers to a special good deed done. The word is short for "courtesy" and has the same meaning.
Curtail - (KUR tail) to cut short. This usually applies to a situation, such as a battle curtailed by nightfall, or a speech curtailed by a sudden commotion nearby.
Curtal - (KUR tal) with a tail that's been cut. It can also mean something that is so common as to appear or be spoken of in every household.
Curtle-axe - (KURT-ul ax) a sword used for cutting, rather than stabbing, like a cutlass. A curtle-axe is not an axe at all, under any known circumstances.
Curvet - (kur-VET) a kind of high jump performed by a horse and rider. It can also be used as a verb, always referring to a horse, to mean jump around and generally ask in a frisky manner.
Cushing - (KUSH-ing) another word for a cushion, since fallen out of general usage. The word can be used instead of cushion interchangably.
Custard-coffin - (KUS-terd KOF-in) the shell of crust that is baked around a custard. Sort of a play on words suggesting the crust to be the final resting place of the custard.
Custom-shrunk - (KUS-tom SHRUNK) a loss in business, down in sales or trade. The reason for this does not matter -- it could be from a lack of customers, or it
could be due to thieves or natural disaster. Costrel - (KUS-trel) a person of low repute, a thief, a trouble-maker. There are a lot of words for this in Shakespearean English and few of them can be interpreted as good.
Cutpurse - (KUT-purse) one who makes a living through literally stealing from others. The word comes from one who cuts a whole in purses to let the money out into his own hands.
Cutter - (KUT-ter) an artist who works in his medium by cutting it, such as a sculptor, engraver, wood carver.
Cuttle - (KUT-tul) a knife used by someone to cut purses or pockets in order to steal money. It can also mean someone who pushes other people around or even kills them for some petty reason.
Cyme - (SYME) some kind of plant, perhaps a flower. The context in which it appears makes it seem to be some kind of medicinal plant, perhaps one that induces vomiting. The exact meaning is unclear.
Cynic - (SIN-ik) someone who always sees the flaw in something, often pragmatic to a fault, one who is critical of just about everything.