Shakespearean Vocabulary Flashcards

Shakespearean Pronouns and Vocabulary

• 'tis: Short form for "it is," commonly used in Shakespearean dialogue.
• 'twas: Contraction meaning "it was," frequently used to convey past tense.
• 'twould: Stands for "it would," implies a conditional or hypothetical situation.
• anon: Means "soon," often indicating a forthcoming event.
• beguile: Refers to the act of cheating, fooling, or charming someone, depending on context.
• betwixt: An archaic term for "between," used to describe position or location.
• bootless: Describes something as "useless," often implying futility.
• for aye: Signifies "forever," denoting an everlasting state or condition.
• forsooth: Used to affirm something as "in truth," indicating honesty.
• hither: Means "here," typically used for directing attention to a specific place.
• intelligence: In this context, refers to "news" or information.
• marry: An exclamation meaning "indeed," often used to emphasize a statement.
• mewed: Means to be "walled up or caged," symbolizing confinement.
• perforce: Implies "forcibly" or "inevitably," indicating an unavoidable situation.
• thither: Means "there," used to indicate a specific location.
• translated: Means "transformed," suggesting a change or conversion.
• troth: Refers to "truth" or a faithful vow, often associated with promises.
• vestal: Indicates a "virgin," often in a religious or sacred context.
• vot'ress: A term for a woman under a vow, usually dedicated to a deity.
• well derived: Indicates someone of "good descent" or noble birth.
• well possessed: Describes someone who is "wealthy" or "rich."
• wherefore: Primarily means "why," often used in philosophical or rhetorical questions.
• whither: Means "where," used to pose questions about direction.
• wont: Means "accustomed," expressing habitual action or familiarity.
• yonder: Refers to "over there," pointing out a distant place.
• you do: Translates to "thou dost" in Shakespearean English.
• he/she/it does: In Shakespearean phrasing becomes "he/she/it doth."
• you gave: Translated to "thou gavest" or "gav'st," showing past action.
• he/she/it gave: In old English translates to "he/she/it gaveth."
• you can: Translates to "thou canst," conveying ability.
• you will: Translates to "thou wilt," indicating future intention.
• you would: Translates to "thou wouldst," expressing condition.
• you hold: Becomes "thou holdst," referring to possession.
• he/she/it holds: In Shakespearean terms translates to "he/she/it holdeth."
• thou: 2nd person singular subject pronoun, equivalent to modern "you."
• thee: 2nd person singular object pronoun, comparable to modern "you."
• thy: Possessive pronoun in 2nd person singular, meaning "your."
• thine: Another form of 2nd person singular possessive pronoun, equivalent to "yours."
• ye: 2nd person plural subject pronoun, modern equivalent being "y'all."