Authors: William Shakespeare
243
still-soliciting
constantly entreating, self-seeking
248
tardiness in nature
natural slowness
249
history
account (of an action)
252
regards … point
irrelevant concerns
263
respect and fortunes
status and wealth
266
Most choice forsaken
most desirable when rejected
267
seize upon
take possession of (legal term)
268
be it lawful
provided it is lawful
269
their
may refer to either the gods or to Lear and Burgundy
270
inflamed
glowing, ardent
271
thrown … chance
cast to my luck (gambling metaphor)
273
wat’rish
well-watered (with rivers)/wet, feeble
274
unprized
unvalued (may play on a sense of “priceless”)
275
though unkind
though they are cruel (or “lacking in natural familial affection”)
276
where
somewhere, place
280
grace
favor (with connotations of “divinely sanctioned mercy”)
280
benison
blessing
283
washèd
i.e. wet with tears
286
as … named
by their true names
287
your professèd bosoms
i.e. the love you claim to have for him
287
commit
entrust; perhaps with connotations of “confine (to prison)”
289
prefer
advance, promote
292
study
concern, endeavor
294
At fortune’s alms
as a charitable gift from fortune
294
scanted
stinted, withheld/slighted, neglected
295
are … wanted
deserve to be deprived of the love you have failed to show (to others)
296
plighted cunning
secret cunning/deceitful promises
297
Who … derides
those who hide their faults will in the end be shamed and mocked
300
nearly
closely
307
grossly
obviously
308
ever
always
309
slenderly
slightly
310
The … rash
even at his best and healthiest he was impulsive
311
look
expect
312
long-engrafted condition
long-implanted tendencies
312
therewithal
in addition to that
313
choleric
irascible, hot-tempered, impulsive/bilious; one of the four “humors” or temperaments thought to be related to an excess of bile in the constitution
315
unconstant starts
unpredictable fits
317
compliment
etiquette, ceremony
318
sit together
i.e. get together, confer
319
carry
maintain, manage
319
disposition
frame of mind
320
last surrender
recent yielding (of authority)
320
offend
harm
322
i’th’heat
immediately
Act 1 Scene 2
1.2
Location: the Earl of Gloucester’s residence
2
Wherefore
why
3
Stand in
endure/stand still under
4
curiosity
scruples, fussiness
4
nations
i.e. society
5
moonshines
months
6
Lag of
behind (i.e. younger than)
6
base
illegitimate (also low/unworthy/dishonorable)
7
dimensions
physical proportions
7
compact
composed
8
generous
noble
8
true
well-proportioned/authentic, true to his father’s likeness
9
honest madam’s issue
a legitimate child
11
Who
i.e. we bastards who
11
take
require/receive
12
More … quality
a more complex creation and more vigorous disposition
14
fops
weak fools
15
Got
conceived
18
As
the same as
19
speed
succeed
20
invention
scheme
21
to th’legitimate
advance to (or “take over”) the place of the legitimate son; editors sometimes emend this to “top the legitimate”
23
choler
anger
23
parted
departed
24
Prescribed
restricted, limited
25
exhibition
an allowance, maintenance
26
gad
spur of the moment
28
up
away
32
terrible dispatch
fearful and hasty stowing away
37
for
as for
38
o’erlooking
reading
44
essay or taste
test
45
policy … age
policy of revering the old (
policy
also suggests the “strategic cunning” of the elderly)
46
the … times
i.e. our youth, our prime
46
fortunes
inheritance
47
relish
savor, enjoy
47
idle
useless
48
fond
foolish
49
sways
rules
49
as … suffered
only insofar as it is allowed to do so
58
casement
window
58
closet
private room
59
character
handwriting
60
matter
subject matter
61
in … that
given the contents
61
fain
willingly
67
at perfect age
being mature
67
declined
old/ill
72
sirrah
sir (used to social inferiors and children)
72
apprehend
arrest
73
Abominable
often, popularly, "inhuman, unnatural" (from the incorrect belief that the word was derived from the Latin
ab homine
, i.e. “away from man”)
77
run … course
proceed securely
77
where
whereas
77
proceed
perhaps with legal connotations (in keeping with apprehend and testimony)
80
pawn down
pledge
81
feel
test, feel out
82
pretence
intention, purpose
84
meet
suitable
85
auricular assurance
i.e. by hearing for yourself
86
have your satisfaction
resolve yourself of any doubt
89
wind … him
insinuate yourself into his confidence for me
89
frame
devise, arrange
90
unstate … resolution
give up my rank and wealth to be resolved on this matter
92
presently
immediately
92
convey
manage, undertake
93
withal
therewith
94
late
recent
95
wisdom of nature
human reason/natural science
96
scourged
punished
96
sequent effects
subsequent events
101
bias of nature
natural inclination (a bowling image: the
bias
refers to the curving path taken by a weighted ball)
104
it … nothing
i.e. it will advantage you
108
excellent foppery
supreme foolishness
109
surfeits
excesses
110
disasters
misfortunes
111
on
i.e. by
112
treachers
traitors
113
spherical predominance
the dominant influence of a particular planet at one’s birth
115
divine
celestial, supernatural
115
evasion
shuffling excuse
116
whoremaster
i.e. lecherous, whore-using
116
goatish
lustful
117
charge
responsibility
117
compounded
had sex
118
the dragon’s tail
the constellation Draco
118
Ursa Major
(constellation of) the Great Bear (or Plough)
119
rough
cruel, violent
120
maidenliest
most virginal
121
firmament
sky, heavens
121
bastardizing
conception out of wedlock
122
Pat
on cue
122
catastrophe
conclusion
122
comedy
play
122
my cue
could also mean “designated role”
123
Tom o’Bedlam
i.e. a madman (from the Saint Mary of Bethlehem hospital in London, an institution for the insane)
124
divisions
conflicts, discords (plays on the sense of “musical variations”)
124
Fa … mi
Edmund hums a musical scale to himself
127
this
the
130
succeed
follow
131
unhappily
unluckily, by misfortune
136
countenance
bearing, demeanor/facial expression
139
forbear
avoid
140
qualified
cooled, lessened
141
mischief … person
harm caused by your presence
142
allay
abate, calm
144
have … forbearance
i.e. restrain yourself and stay away from him
146
fitly
at an appropriate time
148
abroad
out of the house
151
meaning
intention
153
image and horror
horrific true picture
154
anon
soon
155
serve
help/trick, deceive
159
practices
plots
160
wit
intelligence, ingenuity
161
meet
fitting
161
fashion fit
shape to my purposes