Shakespeare Insult Kit Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What does 'artless' mean?

Complex

Clever

Simple (correct)

Mysterious

What is the meaning of 'bawdy'?

Elegant

Silent

Dignified

Vulgar (correct)

What does 'beslubbering' mean?

Drooling

Define 'bootless'.

Useless Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'churlish'?

Rude Signup and view all the answers

What does 'cockered' mean?

Spoiled Signup and view all the answers

Define 'clouted'.

Whacked Signup and view all the answers

What does 'craven' mean?

Gutless Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'currish'?

Bad tempered Signup and view all the answers

Define 'dankish'.

Dark Signup and view all the answers

What does 'dissembling' mean?

False-show off Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'doghearted'?

Cruel Signup and view all the answers

Define 'droning'.

Dull Signup and view all the answers

What does 'errant' mean?

Sinful Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'fawning'?

Submissive Signup and view all the answers

Define 'fobbing'.

To deceive Signup and view all the answers

What does 'forward' mean?

Obstinate Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'frothy'?

Foaming Signup and view all the answers

What does 'gleeking' mean?

Scoffing Signup and view all the answers

Define 'goatish'.

Lecherous Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'gorbellied'?

Big-bellied Signup and view all the answers

What does 'impertinent' mean?

Disrespectful Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'infectious'?

Contagious Signup and view all the answers

Define 'jarring'.

Harsh Signup and view all the answers

What does 'loggerheaded' mean?

Thick-headed Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'lumpish'?

Clumsy Signup and view all the answers

What does 'mammering' mean?

Hesitating Signup and view all the answers

Define 'mangled'.

Distorted Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'mewling'?

Whimper Signup and view all the answers

What does 'paunchy' mean?

Pot-bellied Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'ill-nurtured'?

Ill-bred Signup and view all the answers

Define 'puking'.

Disgusting Signup and view all the answers

What does 'puny' mean?

Undersized Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'qualling'?

Cower Signup and view all the answers

Define 'rank'.

To complain Signup and view all the answers

What does 'reedy' mean?

Stinky Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'roguish'?

Wicked Signup and view all the answers

Define 'ruttish'.

Horny Signup and view all the answers

What does 'saucy' mean?

Disrespectful Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'spleeny'?

Melancholy Signup and view all the answers

Define 'spongy'.

Squishy Signup and view all the answers

What does 'surly' mean?

Gruff Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'tottering'?

Stumbling Signup and view all the answers

Define 'unmuzzled'.

Free from restraint Signup and view all the answers

What does 'vain' mean?

Worthless Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'venomed'?

Poisoned Signup and view all the answers

Define 'villainous'.

Wicked Signup and view all the answers

What does 'warped' mean?

Distorted Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'wayward'?

Disobedient Signup and view all the answers

Define 'weedy'.

Feeble Signup and view all the answers

What does 'yeasty' mean?

Frivolous Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'base-court'?

Inferior Signup and view all the answers

Define 'bat-fowling'.

Bird-killing Signup and view all the answers

What does 'beef-witted' mean?

Stupid Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'beetle-headed'?

Dull Signup and view all the answers

Define 'boil-brained'.

Agitated Signup and view all the answers

What does 'clapper-clawed' mean?

Revile- scorned Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'clay-brained'?

Mud-headed Signup and view all the answers

Define 'common-kissing'.

Usual- rejected Signup and view all the answers

What does 'crook-pated' mean?

Dishonest Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'dismal-dreaming'?

Dreadful Signup and view all the answers

Define 'dizzy-eyed'.

Confused Signup and view all the answers

What does 'dread-bolted' mean?

Armed with treaded bolts Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'earth-vexing'?

Troublesome Signup and view all the answers

Define 'elf-skinned'.

Mischievous Signup and view all the answers

What does 'fat kidneyed' mean?

Lubbery-dumb fatty Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'fen-sucked'?

Sucked out of marches Signup and view all the answers

Define 'flap-mouthed'.

Hanging-lips Signup and view all the answers

What does 'fly-bitten' mean?

Marked by flies Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'folly-fallen'?

Evil Signup and view all the answers

Define 'fool-born'.

Begotten a fool Signup and view all the answers

What does 'full-gorged' mean?

Full-gut Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'guts-gripping'?

Nerve-annoy Signup and view all the answers

Define 'half-faced'.

Wretched looking Signup and view all the answers

What does 'hasty-witted' mean?

Easily-angered Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'hedge-born'?

Counterbalance Signup and view all the answers

Define 'hell-hated'.

Dislike-evil Signup and view all the answers

What does 'idle-headed' mean?

Lazy Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'ill-breeding'?

Ignorant Signup and view all the answers

Define 'knotty-pated'.

Difficult to understand Signup and view all the answers

What does 'milk-livered' mean?

Cowardly Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'motley-minded'?

Heterogeneous Signup and view all the answers

Define 'onion-eyed'.

Watery eyes Signup and view all the answers

What does 'plume-plucked' mean?

Feather Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'pottle-deep'?

2 quarts deep Signup and view all the answers

Define 'pox-marked'.

Pock marks Signup and view all the answers

What does 'reeling-ripe' mean?

Staggering person Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'rough-hewn'?

Unruly-cut Signup and view all the answers

Define 'rude-growing'.

Primitive Signup and view all the answers

What does 'rump-fed' mean?

Buttocks Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'shard-brone'?

Glass-harbor Signup and view all the answers

Define 'sheep-biting'.

Timid Signup and view all the answers

What does 'spur-galled' mean?

Irritated Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'swag-bellied'?

Plunder-bellied Signup and view all the answers

Define 'tardy-gaited'.

Sluggish Signup and view all the answers

What does 'tickle-brained' mean?

Delight Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'toad-spotted'?

Repulsive Signup and view all the answers

Define 'weather-bitten'.

Worn Signup and view all the answers

What does 'apple-john' mean?

Withered apple core Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'baggage'?

Immoral Signup and view all the answers

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

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Description

Explore the colorful world of Shakespearean insults with this flashcard quiz. Each card presents a word along with its definition, adding a fun twist to learning the Bard's vocabulary. Perfect for literature lovers and those looking to spice up their language.