List of words used by Shakespeare's works, along with their meanings

List of words along with their meanings.

 

Beseech: To earnestly request or implore

Perchance: Perhaps or maybe

Erewhile: Formerly or previously

Quaint: Strange or peculiar

Thine: Possessive form of "your" or "yours"

Yon: Short for "yonder," referring to something distant

Hark: Listen or pay attention

Mirth: Joyful amusement or happiness

Prithee: A contraction of "I pray thee," used to request or ask

Whence: From where or from what source

Eke: To supplement or add to

Haply: By chance or perhaps

Nigh: Near or close

Hie: To hurry or hasten

Anon: Soon or shortly

Tarry: To delay or linger

Wench: A young woman, often implying flirtatiousness

Sundry: Various or diverse

Doff: To remove or take off (like a hat)

E'en: Short for "even," used in poetry and archaic speech

Fain: Willingly or gladly

Henceforth: From now on or in the future

Oft: Often

Zounds: An exclamation, a euphemistic oath (short for "God's wounds")

Hither: To this place or here

Alack: An exclamation of regret or disappointment

Ope: To open

Wot: To know or be aware of

'Tis: A contraction of "it is"

'Twas: A contraction of "it was"

Wilt: A contraction of "will" and "you"

Wot: To know or be aware of

Ere: Before

Forsooth: In truth or indeed

Pray: To request or ask

Thine: Possessive form of "your" or "yours"

Thee: Objective form of "you"

Thy: Possessive form of "your"

Unto: To or towards

Ne'er: A contraction of "never"

Prithee: A contraction of "I pray thee," used to request or ask

Soft: Gentle or quiet

Yea: Yes

Zephyr: A gentle breeze

Whence: From where or from what source

Peradventure: Perhaps or maybe

Harken: Listen or pay attention

Thine: Possessive form of "your" or "yours"

Quoth: Said or spoke (archaic past tense of "say")

Wot: To know or be aware of

'Twixt: Between

Betimes: Early or promptly

Anon: Soon or shortly

Tarry: To delay or linger

Scepter: A symbol of authority or rule

Perforce: By necessity or forcefully

Wherewithal: The means by which

Apace: Quickly or swiftly

Ofttimes: Often

Eftsoons: Immediately or soon afterward

Whilom: Formerly or once

Chide: To scold or reprimand

Eft: Afterward or again

Writ: Written (past tense of "write")

Erewhile: Formerly or previously

Whence: From where or from what source

Hie: To hurry or hasten

Methinks: It seems to me

Wot: To know or be aware of

Forsooth: In truth or indeed

Anon: Soon or shortly

Harken: Listen or pay attention

Prithee: A contraction of "I pray thee," used to request or ask

'Tis: A contraction of "it is"

'Twas: A contraction of "it was"

Wilt: A contraction of "will" and "you"

Ope: To open

Soft: Gentle or quiet

Thee: Objective form of "you"

Thine: Possessive form of "your" or "yours"

Unto: To or towards

Zephyr: A gentle breeze

Peradventure: Perhaps or maybe

Marrow: Inner essence or substance

Ne'er: A contraction of "never"

Yea: Yes

Pray: To request or ask

Betimes: Early or promptly

Thine: Possessive form of "your" or "yours"

E'en: Short for "even," used in poetry and archaic speech

Ere: Before

Quoth: Said or spoke (archaic past tense of "say")

Thither: To that place or there

Whilom: Formerly or once

Zephyr: A gentle breeze

'Twill: A contraction of "it will"

Thence: From there or from that place

Prithee: A contraction of "I pray thee," used to request or ask

Eft: Afterward or again

Anon: Soon or shortly

Methinks: It seems to me

'Gainst: Against

Sooth: Truth or reality

Thine: Possessive form of "your" or "yours"

'Twere: A contraction of "it were"

Morn: Morning

Thitherward: Towards that place