Read The Taming of the Shrew Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
167
continency
moderation, self-restraint
169
rates
scolds
171
new-risen
newly woken
173
politicly
shrewdly, strategically
175
falcon
i.e. Kate; methods used in training a wild hawk involved continual observation, sleep deprivation and hunger
sharp
keenly hungry
176
stoop
swoops directly to the prey/submits
full-gorged
fully fed
177
looks upon
takes notice of
lure
bait used in training a hawk
178
man
control
haggard
female hawk/wild woman
180
watch her
keep her awake
kites
birds of prey
181
bate and beat
flutter and flap
182
eat
ate
188
hurly
commotion
intend
pretend
190
watch
remain awake
196
charity to show
public duty to reveal it
3
bears … hand
encourages me
4
satisfy
convince
7
resolve
answer
8
I profess
which I practice/claim knowledge of
Art to Love
Ovid’s erotic poem
Ars Amatoria
11
Quick proceeders
apt/rapid students (plays on the scholarly sense of to “proceed” from a bachelor’s to a master’s degree)
15
wonderful
extraordinary
19
such a one
i.e. Bianca
20
cullion
wretch
23
entire
wholehearted
24
lightness
inconstancy/ promiscuity
26
Forswear
reject
31
fondly
foolishly/dotingly
32
unfeignèd
genuine
34
beastly
abominably/lecherously
35
Would … foresworn!
If only the whole world, other than he, would forsake her!
36
that
so that
43
In resolution
determinedly
45
’longeth
belongs
46
ta’en you napping
caught you off guard
51
lusty
lively/eager/merry/lustful
59
eleven … long
i.e. exactly right (alludes to the card game “thirty-one”)
60
charm
silence with a spell
62
dog-weary
exhausted
63
ancient angel
old guardian angel
66
mercatante
merchant (Italian)
pedant
schoolmaster
71
seem
pretend to be
74
let me alone
i.e. rely on me
81
What countryman
where are you from
85
goes hard
is significant
88
stayed
detained
89
For
on account of a
90
published
publicly announced
91
marvel
remarkable
newly come
have only just arrived
93
than so
even than this
94
bills … exchange
money orders, promissory notes
106
and all one
but never mind
111
credit
reputation
undertake
assume
113
Look … should
make sure that you play your part properly
117
repute
consider, esteem
119
make … good
put the plan into action
121
looked for
expected
125
becomes
befits
2
my wrong
injustice I undergo
5
present
immediate
9
meat
food
11
spites
mortifies, vexes
13
who
one who
16
so
so long as
17
neat’s
ox’s
19
choleric
likely to induce choler (anger)
20
broiled
grilled
22
cannot tell
am not sure
32
very
mere
36
sweeting
sweetheart
amort
dispirited
37
what cheer
how are you (in the next line Kate plays on the sense of “food/hospitality” and Petruchio continues the wordplay with
cheerfully
)
38
cold
poor, inadequate
44
pains … proof
efforts are wasted
46
stand
remain
50
to blame
at fault
54
apace
quickly
56
bravely
splendidly
58
ruffs
elaborate starched neck-wear
cuffs
decorative bands sewn onto the sleeves
farthingales
boned petticoats worn underneath the back of the dress
60
knavery
showy adornment
62
ruffling treasure
frilled, lacy clothing
65
bespeak
order
66
porringer
porridge bowl
67
lewd
vile, cheap
filthy
contemptible
68
cockle
cockleshell
69
A … trick
i.e. trinkets, trifles
71
fit the time
is fashionable
73
gentle
mild
78
endured me
permitted me to
85
custard-coffin
pastry crust for custard
90
masquing stuff
clothes fit for a masque (i.e. elaborate, theatrical)
91
demi-cannon
large cannon
92
up and down
in every respect
carved … tart
i.e. slashed to reveal a different fabric beneath (like the slits on tart crusts)
94
censer
perfuming vessel with a perforated lid
99
did
I did
100
mar
ruin
101
hop … home
hop home over every street gutter (
kennel
)
103
make … it
do what you can with it
105
quaint
elegant, skillfully made
106
Belike
perhaps
puppet
i.e. fool
110
yard
yardstick, measuring rod
nail
measure of length for cloth (two and a quarter inches)
112
Braved
defied
113
quantity
scrap
114
be-mete
measure (quibbles on “mete out punishment”)
115
on prating
of prattling like this again
120
stuff
material
124
faced
adorned (Grumio’s next usage puns on the sense of “confront”)
126
braved
provided clothes for/defied
129
Ergo
“therefore” (Latin)
132
The … throat
the note lies outrageously (punning on the sense of a musical note that emanates from the throat)
133
loose-bodied gown
loose-fitting/designed for sexually “loose” women
135
bottom
ball
138
compassed
cut with a curved edge
140
trunk
full, puffed
142
curiously
elaborately/ skillfully
144
bill
the
note
detailing the nature of the dress
146
prove upon thee
i.e. by fighting you
148
an
if
place where
suitable place
150
for thee straight
ready for you now
151
mete-yard
yardstick
152
odds
advantage
155
take … use
take it away and let your master use it how he will (in his response, Grumio interprets
take up
as “pull up” and
use
as “sexual usage”)
158
conceit
idea (puns on “con”—i.e. “vagina”)
159
think for
think
165
of
from
168
mean habiliments
poor, humble clothes
169
proud
bulging
172
peereth
appears/peeps through
176
painted
colored, patterned
178
furniture
clothing
179
lay
blame
180
frolic
be joyous
181
sport us
make merry
186
dinnertime
noon
188
suppertime
i.e. about six
190
what
whatever
191
crossing
contradicting
let’t alone
leave it
2
but
unless
5
Pegasus
i.e. at an inn with the sign of Pegasus, the winged horse of classical mythology
6
hold your own
play your part
7
’longeth
belongs
9
schooled
instructed/practiced (in his part)
11
throughly
thoroughly
12
right
real
16
looked for
expected
17
tall
fine
hold … drink
take this to buy a drink
18
set your countenance
assume the appearance (of a father)
21
stand
show yourself a
22
patrimony
inheritance
23
Soft
wait a moment
28
for
because of
30
stay
delay
32
please … I
are as satisfied as I am
35
one consent
absolute agreement
bestowed
given in marriage
36
curious
particular, awkward
45
pass
confirm
48
know
deem, think
49
affied
betrothed formally
assurance … stand
pledges made as will be agreeable to both parties
52
Pitchers have ears
i.e. there may be eavesdroppers (proverbial)
Pitchers
jugs with large handles (“ears”) on either side