Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does 'artless' mean?
What does 'artless' mean?
- Complex
- Clever
- Simple (correct)
- Mysterious
What is the meaning of 'bawdy'?
What is the meaning of 'bawdy'?
- Elegant
- Silent
- Dignified
- Vulgar (correct)
What does 'beslubbering' mean?
What does 'beslubbering' mean?
Drooling
Define 'bootless'.
Define 'bootless'.
What is the meaning of 'churlish'?
What is the meaning of 'churlish'?
What does 'cockered' mean?
What does 'cockered' mean?
Define 'clouted'.
Define 'clouted'.
What does 'craven' mean?
What does 'craven' mean?
What is the meaning of 'currish'?
What is the meaning of 'currish'?
Define 'dankish'.
Define 'dankish'.
What does 'dissembling' mean?
What does 'dissembling' mean?
What is the meaning of 'doghearted'?
What is the meaning of 'doghearted'?
Define 'droning'.
Define 'droning'.
What does 'errant' mean?
What does 'errant' mean?
What is the meaning of 'fawning'?
What is the meaning of 'fawning'?
Define 'fobbing'.
Define 'fobbing'.
What does 'forward' mean?
What does 'forward' mean?
What is the meaning of 'frothy'?
What is the meaning of 'frothy'?
What does 'gleeking' mean?
What does 'gleeking' mean?
Define 'goatish'.
Define 'goatish'.
What is the meaning of 'gorbellied'?
What is the meaning of 'gorbellied'?
What does 'impertinent' mean?
What does 'impertinent' mean?
What is the meaning of 'infectious'?
What is the meaning of 'infectious'?
Define 'jarring'.
Define 'jarring'.
What does 'loggerheaded' mean?
What does 'loggerheaded' mean?
What is the meaning of 'lumpish'?
What is the meaning of 'lumpish'?
What does 'mammering' mean?
What does 'mammering' mean?
Define 'mangled'.
Define 'mangled'.
What is the meaning of 'mewling'?
What is the meaning of 'mewling'?
What does 'paunchy' mean?
What does 'paunchy' mean?
What is the meaning of 'ill-nurtured'?
What is the meaning of 'ill-nurtured'?
Define 'puking'.
Define 'puking'.
What does 'puny' mean?
What does 'puny' mean?
What is the meaning of 'qualling'?
What is the meaning of 'qualling'?
Define 'rank'.
Define 'rank'.
What does 'reedy' mean?
What does 'reedy' mean?
What is the meaning of 'roguish'?
What is the meaning of 'roguish'?
Define 'ruttish'.
Define 'ruttish'.
What does 'saucy' mean?
What does 'saucy' mean?
What is the meaning of 'spleeny'?
What is the meaning of 'spleeny'?
Define 'spongy'.
Define 'spongy'.
What does 'surly' mean?
What does 'surly' mean?
What is the meaning of 'tottering'?
What is the meaning of 'tottering'?
Define 'unmuzzled'.
Define 'unmuzzled'.
What does 'vain' mean?
What does 'vain' mean?
What is the meaning of 'venomed'?
What is the meaning of 'venomed'?
Define 'villainous'.
Define 'villainous'.
What does 'warped' mean?
What does 'warped' mean?
What is the meaning of 'wayward'?
What is the meaning of 'wayward'?
Define 'weedy'.
Define 'weedy'.
What does 'yeasty' mean?
What does 'yeasty' mean?
What is the meaning of 'base-court'?
What is the meaning of 'base-court'?
Define 'bat-fowling'.
Define 'bat-fowling'.
What does 'beef-witted' mean?
What does 'beef-witted' mean?
What is the meaning of 'beetle-headed'?
What is the meaning of 'beetle-headed'?
Define 'boil-brained'.
Define 'boil-brained'.
What does 'clapper-clawed' mean?
What does 'clapper-clawed' mean?
What is the meaning of 'clay-brained'?
What is the meaning of 'clay-brained'?
Define 'common-kissing'.
Define 'common-kissing'.
What does 'crook-pated' mean?
What does 'crook-pated' mean?
What is the meaning of 'dismal-dreaming'?
What is the meaning of 'dismal-dreaming'?
Define 'dizzy-eyed'.
Define 'dizzy-eyed'.
What does 'dread-bolted' mean?
What does 'dread-bolted' mean?
What is the meaning of 'earth-vexing'?
What is the meaning of 'earth-vexing'?
Define 'elf-skinned'.
Define 'elf-skinned'.
What does 'fat kidneyed' mean?
What does 'fat kidneyed' mean?
What is the meaning of 'fen-sucked'?
What is the meaning of 'fen-sucked'?
Define 'flap-mouthed'.
Define 'flap-mouthed'.
What does 'fly-bitten' mean?
What does 'fly-bitten' mean?
What is the meaning of 'folly-fallen'?
What is the meaning of 'folly-fallen'?
Define 'fool-born'.
Define 'fool-born'.
What does 'full-gorged' mean?
What does 'full-gorged' mean?
What is the meaning of 'guts-gripping'?
What is the meaning of 'guts-gripping'?
Define 'half-faced'.
Define 'half-faced'.
What does 'hasty-witted' mean?
What does 'hasty-witted' mean?
What is the meaning of 'hedge-born'?
What is the meaning of 'hedge-born'?
Define 'hell-hated'.
Define 'hell-hated'.
What does 'idle-headed' mean?
What does 'idle-headed' mean?
What is the meaning of 'ill-breeding'?
What is the meaning of 'ill-breeding'?
Define 'knotty-pated'.
Define 'knotty-pated'.
What does 'milk-livered' mean?
What does 'milk-livered' mean?
What is the meaning of 'motley-minded'?
What is the meaning of 'motley-minded'?
Define 'onion-eyed'.
Define 'onion-eyed'.
What does 'plume-plucked' mean?
What does 'plume-plucked' mean?
What is the meaning of 'pottle-deep'?
What is the meaning of 'pottle-deep'?
Define 'pox-marked'.
Define 'pox-marked'.
What does 'reeling-ripe' mean?
What does 'reeling-ripe' mean?
What is the meaning of 'rough-hewn'?
What is the meaning of 'rough-hewn'?
Define 'rude-growing'.
Define 'rude-growing'.
What does 'rump-fed' mean?
What does 'rump-fed' mean?
What is the meaning of 'shard-brone'?
What is the meaning of 'shard-brone'?
Define 'sheep-biting'.
Define 'sheep-biting'.
What does 'spur-galled' mean?
What does 'spur-galled' mean?
What is the meaning of 'swag-bellied'?
What is the meaning of 'swag-bellied'?
Define 'tardy-gaited'.
Define 'tardy-gaited'.
What does 'tickle-brained' mean?
What does 'tickle-brained' mean?
What is the meaning of 'toad-spotted'?
What is the meaning of 'toad-spotted'?
Define 'weather-bitten'.
Define 'weather-bitten'.
What does 'apple-john' mean?
What does 'apple-john' mean?
What is the meaning of 'baggage'?
What is the meaning of 'baggage'?
Flashcards are hidden until you start studying
Study Notes
Shakespearean Insults Overview
- A collection of unique insults used by Shakespeare featuring diverse vocabulary and creative phrases.
- Insults range from derogatory descriptors to more humorous and imaginative expressions.
Types of Insults
- Adjectives: Many insults are formed by adjectives that describe traits (e.g., "Artless" means simple).
- Compound Words: Some entries are creative combinations of words that evoke vivid imagery (e.g., "Bat-fowling" implies bird-killing).
Example Insults and Their Meanings
- Artless: Denotes someone genuine, yet often taken negatively as simple-minded.
- Bawdy: Refers to something vulgar or indecent, highlighting coarse humor.
- Craven: Characterizes an individual as cowardly or lacking courage.
- Churlish: Describes a rude or surly person, emphasizing a lack of manners.
- Bootless: Indicates something that is completely useless or unproductive.
Notable Insult Characteristics
- Many terms evoke strong imagery relating to physical attributes (e.g., "Gorbellied" means big-bellied).
- Emotional descriptors guide the nature of the insults, with terms like "Melancholy" (Spleeny) and "Cruel" (Doghearted).
Historical and Cultural Context
- These insults were part of the Elizabethan vernacular, reflecting societal norms and attitudes of the period.
- Shakespeare’s use of language elevated simple insults to artful expressions, showcasing his mastery of the English language.
Language Features
- Utilization of alliteration and rhyme in some insults adds a poetic quality (e.g., "Loggerheaded" implies thick-headedness).
- Many insults imply a social commentary on character flaws, mobility in social standing, or morality (e.g., "Villainous" for wicked behavior).
Usage of Insults
- Insults often portrayed in witty exchanges within Shakespeare’s plays, highlighting character interactions and conflicts.
- Functioned as a social tool to ridicule or critique behaviors, contributing humor and drama to narratives.
Remarkable Categories
- Physical Characteristics: Focus on body types or demeanor, e.g., "Paunchy" (pot-bellied) or "Weedy" (feeble).
- Social Behavior: Insults targeting personality traits, e.g., "Fawning" (submissive) or "Folly-fallen" (evil).
Conclusion
- Shakespeare's insult lexicon remains a testament to his linguistic creativity, serving as both entertainment and a reflection on human nature and social hierarchies.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
