Alack - Alas! Unfortunately!
Alarum - Alarm. Trumpet sound
Anew - Again
Anon - Soon
Art - Are
Base - Low, common, not sophisticated or elegant
Canst - Can
Coronet - Crown
Counsel - Give advice/advise
Coxcomb - Fools multi-pointed hat
Coz - Cousin
Cur - Dog
Dotage - Old age
Doth - Does
Dost - Does
Dowry/Dower - Money paid to a husband to encourage him to marry a daughter
E'er - Ever
Ere - Before
Exeunt - Exit (of more than one person)
Flourish - Sound of trumpets
Fut - Contraction of "God's foot" a mild oath
Hadst - Had
Herald - Person bringing news
Hark - Look
Hast - Have
Hath - Have
Hereafter - Afterwards
Ho - An exclamation to gain attention
Is't - Is it?
Jot - a bit, a small amount
Knave - Servant, attendant
Mark - Take note of
Marry - By Mary (a mild oath)
Morrow - Morning
Ne'er - Never
Nuncle - Term of endearment (not necessarily implying a blood relationship)
O'er - Over
Oft - Often
Prithee - I pray thee (I wish you to)
Sirrah - Sir (to a lower social class- can be used as an insult.)
Steward - Attendant, servant
Suit - Case or attempt at persuading
Ta'en - Taken
Thee - You
Thine - Your
Thou - You
Thy - Your
To't - To it
Twill - It will
'tis - It is
Sennet - Series of note heralding a royal entrance
Severally - Separately
Shalt - Shall
Tarry - Wait or delay
Thine - Your
Thy - Your
Wert - Were it
Wherefore - Why?
Whoreson - Lit: Son of a whore
Wilt - Will it
Wit - Understanding, intelligence
Within - Off stage
Woe/Wo - Bad luck
Woo - Attempt to court
Worthy - Honest, true, good
Zounds - God's Wounds (an oath, pronounced zwounds.)
Published on: 09 Dec 2010
