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Contents  Comments  Poems  Plays  Glossary A -L

"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so"

Glossary M - Z

M

MacDONWALD - the leader of the rebel army, an enemy to King Duncan

MADE - having his fortune made

MAGNIFICO - the chief magistrate at Venice

MAGOT-PIE - a magpie, a pie which feeds on magots

MAIL - covered as with a coat of mail

MAIN-COURSE - a sea-term

MAKE - to do up, bar; to do

MALKIN - a familiar name for Mary; hence a servant wench

MALLECHO - mischief

MALCOLM - eldest son of Duncan

MAMMERING - hesitating

MAMMETS - a woman's breasts; a doll

MAMMOCK - to break, tear

MAN FORBID, A - a cursed man

MAN - to tame a hawk

MANAGE - management

MANDRAGORA - or Mandrake a plant of soporiferous quality, supposed to resemble a man

MANKIND - having a masculine nature

MARCHES - frontiers, borders

MARCHPANE - a kind of sweet biscuit

MARGENT - margin

MARRY TRAP - an oath

MARTLEMAS - the Feast of St. Martin which occurs on the 11th of Nov. when the fine weather generally ends; hence applied to an old man

MATCH - an appointment

MATE - to confound, dismay

MEACOCK - tame, cowardly

MEALED - mingled

MEAN - instrument used to promote an end

MEAN - the tenor part in a harmony

MEAN - opportunity, power

MEASURE - reach; a stately dance

MEAZEL - a leper; spoken in contempt of a mean person

MEDAL - a portrait in a locket

MEDICINE - a physician

MEED - reward, hire Merit

MEHERCLE - by Hercules

MEINY - retinue

MELL - to mix, to meddle

MEMORISE - to cause to be remembered

MEPHISTOPHILUS - the name of a familiar spirit

MERCATANTE - a foreign trader

MERELY - simply, absolutely

MESS - a company of four

METAPHYSICAL - supernatural

METE-YARD - measuring-wand

MEW UP - to confine

MICHER - a truant

MICKLE - much

MILL-SIXPENCE - a milled sixpence

MINION - darling or favourite

MINCE - to do anything affectedly

MINCING - affected

MISCREATE - illegitimate

MISDOUBT - to suspect

MISERY - avarice

MISPRISE - to despise; to mistake

MISPRISION - mistake

MISSIVE - messenger

MISTEMPERED - angry

MISTHINK - to think ill of

MISTRESS - the jack in bowling

MOBLED - muffled

MODERN - commonplace

MODULE - a model, image

MOE - and more; of frequent occurrence

MOIETY - a portion

MOME - a stupid person

MOMENTANY - momentary

MONTHS-MIND - a monthly commemoration of the dead, but used ludicrously to mean a great mind or strong desire

MOOD - anger

MOON-CALF - a nick-name applied to Caliban

MOONISH - inconstant

MOP - nod

MORISCO - a Moor

MORRIS-PIKE - Moorish-pike

MORT - death, applied to animals of the chase

MORT-DU-VINAIGRE - a ridiculous oath

MORTAL - fatal, deadly; murderous

MORTIFIED - ascetic

MOSE - a doubtful word, applied to some disease in a horse

MOTION - solicitation; emotion

MOTION - a puppet

MOTIVE - one who moves; that which moves

MOTLEY - or the many-coloured coat of a fool, or a fool

MOTLEY-MINDED - foolish

MOULD - the shape of the wearer

MOUSE-HUNT - a weasel

MOW - to make grimaces

MOY - a coin, probably a moidore

MUCH - int. significant of contempt

MUCH - used ironically

MURE - a wall

MUST - a scramble

MUTINE - to mutiny

MUTINE - a mutineer

N

NAPKIN - a handkerchief

NATURAL - an idiot

NAYWARD - towards denial

NAYWORD - a catch-word, by-word

NEB - the beak

NEELD - a needle

NEIF - hand

NEPHEW - a grandson

NETHER-STOCKS - stockings

NEXT - nearest

NICE - foolish

NICK - score or reckoning

NICK - to brand with folly

NIGHTED - black as night

NIGHT-RULE - nightly solemnity

NINE MEN'S MORRIS - a place set apart for a Moorish dance by nine men

NINNY - a fool, jester

NOBILITY - nobleness

NOBLE - a coin, worth 6shillings & 8 pence (£0.34)

NODDY - a dolt

NONCE - for the nonce, corrupted from 'for then once' - for the occasion

NOOK-SHOTTEN - indented with bays and creeks

NOURISH - a nurse

NOVUM - a game at dice

NOWL - head

NUTHOOK - a hook for pulling down nuts, hence a thief

O

O - a circle

OAR - to row as with oars

OBSEQUIOUS - behaving as becomes one who attends funeral obsequies

OBSEQUIOUSLY - funereally

OBSTACLE - ridiculously used for 'obstinate.'

OCCUPATION - persons occupied in business

OCCURENT - an incident

OD's BODY/OD's HEARTLINGS/OD's PITTIKINS/OD's PLESSED -

Od's in these and all similar exclamations is a euphemism for 'God's'

OEILLIAD - an amorous glance

O'ERPARTED - having too important a part to act

O'ER-RAUGHT - overreached; overtasked

OFFERING - challenging

OFFICE - benefit; kindness use;  function

OLD - a cant term for great, as we say fine, or pretty

ONCE - some time

ONEYER - a banker; a doubtful word

OPE - open

OPE - to open

OPEN - plain; public

OPEN - to give tongue as a hound

OPERANT - active

OPINIONED - used ridiculously for pinioned

OPPOSITE - adversary

OPPOSITION - combat

OR - before

ORDER - measures

ORDINANCE - rank, order

ORGULOUS - proud

ORT - leaving, refuse

OSTENT - show, appearance

OSTENTATION - show, appearance

OUNCE  -a beast of prey of the tiger kind

OUPHE - a fairy

OUSEL-COCK - the blackbird

OUT - all out, fully

OUT-LOOK - to face down

OUTWARD - not in the secret of affairs

OUTWARD - outside

OWE - to own

P

PACK - to practise unlawful confederacy

PACK - a number of people confederated

PADDOCK - the second witch's familiar, a toad

PAID - punished

PALABRAS - words; a cant term, from the Spanish

PALE - to enclose

PALL - to wrap as with a pall

PALLED - impaired

PALMER - one who bears a palm-branch, in token of having made a pilgrimage to Palestine

PALMY - victorious

PARCELLED - belonging to individuals

PARD - the leopard

PARITOR - an apparitor

PARLE - talk

PARLOUS - perilous keen, shrewd

PARTED - endowed, gifted

PARTIZAN - a pike

PASH - the face

PASH - to strike violently, to bruise, crush

PASS - to practise; to surpass expectation

PASSANT - a term of heraldry, applied to animals represented on the shield as passing by at a trot

PASSING - surpassingly, exceedingly

PASSION - to have feelings

PASSIONATE - to suffer

PASSY-MEASURE - a kind of dance

PASTRY - the room where pastry was made

PATCH - a mean fellow

PATCHED - dressed in motley

PATCHERY  -trickery

PATH - to walk

PATHETICAL - affected, hypocritical

PATIENT - to make patient; to compose

PATINE - the metal disc on which the bread is placed in the administration of the Eucharist

PATTERN - to give an example of; afford a pattern for

PAUCA VERBA - few words

PAUCAS - few; a cant word

PAVIN - a dance

PAX  -a small image of Christ

PAY - to despatch

PEAK - waste away

PEAT - a term of endearment for a child

PEDASCULE - a pedant, schoolmaster

PEER - to peep out

PEIZE - to balance, weigh down

PELTING - paltry

PENTHOUSE LID - eyelid (a penthouse is a lean-to with a sloped roof)

PERDU - lost

PERDURABLE - durable

PERDY - a euphemism for Par Dieu

PERFECT - certain

PERFECT - to inform perfectly

PERIAPTS - charms worn round the neck

PERJURE - a perjured person

PERSEVER - to persevere

PERSPECTIVE - a telescope, or some sort of optical glass

PEW-FELLOW - a comrade

PHEEZE - to comb, fleece, curry

PIA-MATER - the membrane covering the brain; the brain itself

PICK - to pitch, throw

PICKED - chosen, selected

PICKERS - (and stealers), the fingers, used ridiculously

PICKING - insignificant

PICKT-HATCH - a place noted for brothels; Merry Wives of Windsor

PIED - motley-coated; wearing the motley coat of a jester

PIELED - shaven

PLIGHT - pitched

PILCHER - a scabbard

PILL - to pillage

PIN - a malady of the eye; the centre of a target

PINFOLD - a pound, a place to confine lost cattle

PIONED - digged

PLACKET - a petticoat-front

PLAIN SONG - a simple air

PLAITED - intricate

PLANCHED - made of boards

PLANTATION - colonising, planting a colony

PLAUSIVE - plausible

PLEACHED - interwoven

POINT - a lace furnished with a tag by which the breeches were held up

POINT-DE-VICE - faultless

POISE  - balance; doubt

POLLED - bare

POMANDER - a perfumed ball

POMEWATER - a kind of apple -

POOR-JOHN a herring

POPINJAY - a parrot

PORT - pomp, state

PORT - a gate

PORTABLE - bearable

PORTANCE - conduct, behavior

POSSESS - to inform

POTCH - to push violently

POTENT - a potentate

POUNCET-BOX - a box for holding perfumes

POWER - forces; army

PRACTISE - wicked stratagem

PRACTISANT - a confederate

PRANK - to dress up

PRECEPT - a justice's summons

PRECIOUSLY - in business of great importance

PREGNANCY - fertility of invention

PREGNANT - fertile of invention; ready; obvious

PRENOMINATE - to name beforehand, to prophesy

PRE-ORDINANCE - old-established law

PRESENCE - the presence-chamber; high bearing

PREST - ready

PRETENCE - design

PRETEND - to portend; to intend

PREVENT - to anticipate

PRICK - the mark denoting the hour on a dial

PRICK - to incite; to choose by pricking a hole with a pin opposite the name

PRICK-SONG - music sung in parts by note

PRICKET - a stag of two years

PRIDE - heat

PRIG - to steal

PRIME - rank; lecherous

PRIMER - more-important

PRIMERO - a game at cards

PRINCIPALITY - that which holds the highest place

PRINCOX - a coxcomb

PRISER - a prize-fighter

PROCURE - to bring

PREFACE - (interj.) much good may it do you

PROFANE - outspoken

PROGRESS - a royal ceremonial journey

PROJECT - to shape or contrive

PROMPTURE - suggestion

PRONE - ready, willing

PROOF - strength of manhood

PROPAGATE - to advance, to forward

PROPAGATION - obtaining

PROPER-FALSE - natural falsehood

PROPERTIED - endowed with the properties of

PROPERTIES - scenes, dresses etc. used in a theatre

PROPERTY - to take possession of

PROPOSE - to suppose, for the sake of argument; to converse

PROPOSE - conversation

PROROGUE - to defer

PROVAND - provender

PROVISION - forecast

PUCELLE - a virgin, the name given to Joan of Arc

PUDENCY - modesty

PUGGING - thieving

PUN - to pound

PURCHASE - to acquire, win

PURCHASE - gain, winnings

PUT - to compel

PUTTER-ON - an instigator

PUTTER-OUT - one who lends money at interest

PUTTING-ON - instigation

PUTTOCK - a kite

Q

QUAIL - to faint, be languid, be afraid to cause to quail

QUAINT - curiously beautiful

QUAKE - to cause to quake or tremble

QUALIFY - to moderate

QUALITY - those of the same nature; rank or condition

QUARREL - a suit, cause

QUARRY - game; a heap of game

QUART D'ECU - a quarter crown

QUARTER - the post allotted to a soldier

QUAT - a pimple; used in contempt of a person

QUEASY - squeamish, unsettled

QUELL - murder

QUENCH - to grow cool

QUERN - a hand-mill

QUEST - enquiry, search, inquest, jury

QUESTRIST - one who goes in search of another

QUICK - so far gone in pregnancy that the child is alive

QUICKEN - to come to life

QUIDDIT - a subtle question

QUIDDITY/QUILLET - quidebet; a subtle case in law

QUINTAIN - a post for tilting at

QUIP - sharp jest; a taunt

QUIRE - to sing in concert

QUIT - to requite, respond

QUIT - past tense of the verb to quit, quitted

QUITANCE - requital

QUIVER - active

QUOTE - to note

R

RABATO - a ruff

RABBIT-SUCKER - a weasel

RACE - breed; inherited nature

RACK - wreck

RACK - to enhance the price of anything; to drive as clouds

RAG - a term of contempt applied to persons

RAKE - to cover

RAPT - transported with emotion; deeply absorbed

RAPTURE - a fit

RASCAL - a lean deer

RASH - quick, violent

RATE - opinion, judgment

RATE - to assign, to value; to scold

RATOLORUM - a ludicrous mistake for Rotulorum

RAUGHT - past tense of reach

RAVIN - ravenous

RAVIN - to devour

RAWLY - inadequately

RAWNESS - unprovided state

RAYED - arrayed, served

RAZED - slashed

REAR-MOUSE - the bat

REBATE - to deprive of keenness

REBECK - a three-stringed fiddle

RECEIPT - money received

RECEIVING - capacity

RECHEAT - a point of the chase to call back the hounds

RECORD - to sing

RECORDER - a flute

RECURE - to cure, recover

RED-LATTICE - suitable to an ale-house, because ale-houses had commonly red lattices

RED-PLAGUE - erysipelas

REDUCE - to bring back

REECHY - smoky, dirty

REFELL - to refute

REFER - to reserve to

REGIMENT - government

REGISTER'D - recorded

REGREET - a salutation

REGREET - to salute

REGUERDON  - requital

RELATIVE - applicable

REMEMBER - to remind

REMORSE - pity

REMORSEFUL - full of pity, compassionate

REMOTION - removal

REMOVED - sequestered, remote

RENDER - to describe you

RENDER - account

RENEGE - to renounce, to deny

REPAIR - to renovate, comfort

REPEAL - to reverse the sentence of exile; Two Gentlemen of Verona

REPROOF - confutation

REPUGN - to resist

REQUIEM - mass for the dead, so called because it begins with the words Requiem eternam dona eis, Domine

RESOLVE - to satisfy; to dissolve

RESPECT - consideration

RESPECTIVE - respectful, thoughtful

RESPECTIVE - corresponding

RESPECTIVELY - respectfully

RETAILED - handed down

RETIRE - retreat

RETIRE - to draw back

REVERB - to echo

REVOLT - a rebel

RIB - to enclose as within ribs

RID - to destroy

RIFT - to split to split

RIFT - a split

RIGGISH - wanton

RIGOL - a circle

RIPE - drunk

RIVAGE - the shore

RIVAL - a partner

RIVALITY - equal rank

RIVE - to fire

ROAD - the high road; applied to a common woman

ROISTING - roistering, violent

ROMAGE - unusual stir

RONVON - a term of contempt applied to a woman

ROOD - the crucifix

ROOK - a cheater

ROPERY - roguery

ROPE-TRICKS - tricks such as are played by a rope-dancer

ROUND - to whisper; to become great with child to finish off

ROUND - a diadem

ROUND - unceremonious

ROUNDEL - a dance or song

ROUNDURE - an enclosure

ROUSE - carousal

ROYNISH - mangy

RUBIOUS - ruddy

RUDDOCK - the redbreast

RUMP-FED RUNYON - a fat-rumped scabby creature

RUSH - to push

RUSHLING - rustling

S

SACRIFICIAL - reverent, as words used in religious worship

SACRING-BELL - the little bell rung at mass to give notice that the elements are consecrated

SAD - serious

SADLY - seriously

SADNESS - seriousness

SAFE - to make safe

SAG - to hang down

SALT - lascivious

SALT - taste

SANDED - marked with yellow spots

SANS - without

SAUCY - lascivious

SAW - a moral saying

SAY - silken

SAY - assay, taste, relish

SCAFFOLDAGE - the gallery of a theatre

SCALD - scurvy, scabby

SCALE - to weigh in scales

SCALL - a scab, a word of reproach

SCAMBLE - to scramble

SCAME - probably a misprint for sea-mel, sea-mew

SCAN - to examine subtly

SCANT - to cut short, to spare

SCANT - scanty, short scarcely

SCANTLING - a small portion

SCAPE - to escape

SCAPE - a sally

SCATHE - injury

SCATHE - to injure

SCATHFUL - destructive

SCONCE - the head

SCOTCH - to bruise or cut slightly

SCRIMER - a fencer

SCROYLE - a scabby fellow

SCULL - a shoal of fish

SCURVY - scabby; (metaph.) mean

SEAL - to set one's seal to a deed; hence, to confirm

SEAM - fat

SEAMY - showing the seam or sewing

SEAR - scorched, withered

SEAR - to stigmatise

SEARCH - to probe; hence, to apply a healing remedy

SEATED - fixed, confirmed

SECT - a slip or scion; a political party

SECURELY - inconsiderately

SEEL - to close

SEELING - closing, blinding

SEEMING - seemly, becomingly

SEEMING - outward manner and appearance

SEEN - versed, instructed

SELD - seldom

SELF-BOUNTY - native goodness

SEMBLABLY - alike

SE'NNIGHTS - seven nights

SENIORY - seniority

SENNET - a flourish of trumpets

SEPULCHRE - to bury

SEQUESTRATION - separation

SERE - dry

SERJEANT - a bailiff

SERPIGO - a cutaneous disease

SERVICEABLE - 'serviceable vows' - vows that you will do her service, or be her servant

SETEBOS - the name of a fiend

SETTER - one who watches travellers to give information to thieves

SEVERAL - land which is not common but appropriated

SHAME - to be ashamed

SHAME - modesty

SHARDS - shreds, broken fragments of pottery

SHARDS - the wing cases of beetles; hence 'sharded,' and 'shard-borne,'

SHARKED - snatched up, as a shark does his prey

SHEEN - brilliancy

SHEER - pure; unmixed

SHENT - rebuked, blamed; hurt

SHERIFF'S-POST - a post at the door of a sheriff, to which royal proclamations were fixed

SHIPMAN's CARD - a compass-card

SHIVE - slice

SHOT - the reckoning at an ale-house

SHOUGHS - shaggy dogs

SHOULDERED - plunged

SHOVEL-BOARD - game played by sliding metal pieces along a board at a mark

SHREWD - mischievous

SHRIFT - confession; absolution

SHRIVE - to confess

SHRIVING-TIME - time for confession

SHROUD - to enshroud oneself, cover oneself up

SIDE-SLEEVES - loose hanging sleeves

SIEGE - seat; stool; rank

SIGHT - an aperture in a helmet

SIGHTLESS - invisible; unsightly

SIGN - to give an omen

SILLY - simple, rustic

SIMULAR - counterfeit, feigned

SINGLE - feeble

SIR - a title applied to a bachelor of arts at the Universities

SITH - since

SITHENCE - since

SIZES - allowances

SKAINS-MATES - scapegraces

SKILL - to be of importance

SKILLESS - ignorant

SKIMBLE-SKAMBLE - rambling, disjointed

SKINKER - a drawer of liquor

SKIRR - to scour

SLACK - slacken

SLAVE - to turn to slavish uses

SLEAVE - floss-silk

SLEDDED - sledged

SLEIDED - untwisted, raw, applied to silk (Gower)

SLEIGHTS - artifices

SLIPPER - slippery

SLIPS - a kind of noose, or leash; a piece of base money

SLIVER - to slice

SLIVER - a slice

SLOPS - loose breeches

SLUBBER - to slur over

SMIRCHED - smeared, soiled

SMOOTH - to flatter

SMOOTHED - flattered, fawned upon

SNEAP - taunt, sarcasm

SNEAPED - pinched

SNECK-UP - go hang!

SNUFF - anger ;'to take in snuff' is to take offence

SOFTLY - gently

SOIL - spot, taint

SOLICIT - solicitation

SOLICITING - temptation

SOLIDARE - a small coin

SOLVE - solution

SOMETIMES - formerly

SOOTH - truth; conciliation

SOOTH - true

SOREL - a buck of the third year

SORRIEST - most sorrowful

SORRY - sorrowful, dismal

SORT - a company; rank, condition; lot; 'In a sort,' in a manner

SORT - to choose to suit;to consort

SOT - fool

SOUL-FEARING - soul-terrifying

SOWL - to lug, drag

SOWTER - name of a dog

SPECIALLY - a special contract

SPED - settled, done for

SPEED - fortune

SPENT - exhausted

SPERR - to bolt, fasten

SPIAL - spy

SPILL - to destroy

SPILTH - spilling

SPLEEN - violent haste; used of the lightning flash

SPRAG - quick

SPRING - shoot, bud; beginning

SPRINGHALT - stringhalt, a disease of horses

SPRITED - haunted

SPURS - roots of trees

SQUANDERED - scattered

SQUARE - to quarrel

SQUARE - the front part of a woman's dress; stomacher

SQUARE - equitable

SQUARER - quarreller

SQUASH - an unripe peascod

SQUIER a square or rule

SQUINY - to squint

STAGGERS  -a disease in horses, attended with giddiness: hence any bewildering distress

STAIN - to disfigure

STALE - a decoy; a gull; a prostitute

STALE - to make stale, deprive anything of its freshness

STAND UPON - to be incumbent on

STANIEL - an inferior kind of hawk

STARK - stiff

STARKLY - stiffly

STATE - a canopied chair

STATION - attitude; act of standing

STATIST - a statesman

STATUA - a statue

STATUE - image, picture

STATUTE - security, obligation

STATUTE-CAPS - woollen caps worn by citizens

STAY - a cheque

STEAD - to profit

STEELED s -et or fixed

STERNAGE - steerage, course

STICKLER - an arbitrator in combats

STIGMATIC - a deformed person

STIGMATICAL - deformed

STILL - constant

STILL - constantly

STILLY - softly

STINT - to stop

STITHY - a smith's forge

STITHY - to forge

STOCCADO - a stoccata; or a thrust in fencing

STOCK - a stocking

STOMACH - courage, stubbornness; appetite, inclination

STONE-BOW - a cross-bow for throwing stones

STOUP - a cup

STOUT - strong, healthy

STOVER - fodder

STRACHY - a word of doubtful meaning

STRAIGHT - immediately

STRAIN - lineage; disposition

STRAITED - straitened

STRANGE - foreign; coy; reserved; marvellous; new

STRANGENESS - coyness; reserve

STRANGER - foreigner

STRAPPADO - a kind of punishment

STRICTURE - strictness

STROSSERS - trousers

STUCK - a thrust of a sword

STUCK IN - corruption of stoccata

STUFF - baggage; material, substance

STUFFED - filled, stored

STY - to lodge as in a sty

SUBSCRIBE - to yield; to succumb

SUCCUBUS -a female demon that was supposed to have sexual intercourse with a man while he slept

SUCCESS - issue, consequence; succession

SUCCESSIVE - succeeding

SUCCESSIVELY - in succession

SUDDEN - hasty, rash

SUDDENLY - hastily

SUFFERANCE - suffering

SUGGEST - to tempt, entice

SUGGESTION - temptation, enticement

SUITED - dressed

SULLEN - doleful, melancholy

SUMPTER - a horse that carries provisions on a journey

SUPPOSE - a trick; imposition

SUPPOSED - counterfeit

SURCEASE - to cease

SURCEASE - cessation; end

SURPRISE - to capture by surprise

SUR-REINED - over-worked

SUSPECT - suspicion

SUSPIRE - to breathe

SWABBER - a sweeper of the deck of a ship

SWARTH - black

SWARTH - quantity of grass cut down by one sweep of the scythe

SWASHER - swaggerer

SWASHING - dashing, smashing

SWATH - the same as 'swarth'

SWATHLING - swaddling

SWAY - to move on

SWEAR - to adjure

SWEAR OVER - to out-swear

SWIFT - ready, quick

SWINGE-BUCKLER - a bully

T

TABLE - a tablet, note-book

TABLE-BOOK - note-book

TABLES - the game of backgammon; a note-book

TABOUR - a small side-drum

TABOURER - a player on the tabour

TABOURINE - tambourine, drum

TAG - the rabble

TAINT - tainted

TAINTURE - defilement

TAKE - to infect, blast, bewitch

TAKE IN - to conquer

TAKE OUT - to copy

TAKE UP - to borrow money, or buy on credit; to make up a quarrel

TAKING - infection; malignant influence

TAKING UP - buying on credit

TALE - counting, reckoning

TALL - strong, valiant

TALLOW-CATCH - a lump of tallow

TANG - twang, sound

TANG - to sound

TANLING - anything tanned by the sun

TARRE - to excite, urge on

TARRIANCE - delay

TARTAR - Tartarus

TASK - to tax; challenge

TASKING - challenging

TASTE - to try

TAWDRY-LACE - a rustic necklace

TAXATION - satire;sarcasm

TAXING - satire

TEEN - grief

TELL - to count

TEMPER - to mix

TEMPERANCE - temperature

TEMPERED - mixed

TEMPEST -TOST - blown off course by storms at sea

TEND - to attend to

TENDER - to hold, to esteem; to have consideration for

TENT - to probe as a wound

TENT - a probe for searching a wound

TERCEL - the male of the goshawk

TERMAGANT - a ranting character in old plays

TESTED - pure, assayed

TESTERN - to reward with a tester, or six-pence

THANE - title for a Scottish nobleman, equivalent to a baron

THARBOROUGH - a constable

THEME - one of the main ideas in a work of literature - what the author wants you to think about

THEORICK - theory

THEWES - sinews, muscles

THICK - rapidly

THICK-PLEACHED - thickly intertwined

THIRD-BOROUGH - a constable

THOUGHT - anxiety, grief. To ' take thought' is to give way to grief

THRASONICAL - boastful

THREE-MAN BEETLE - a wooden mallet worked by three men

THREE-MAN-SONG-MEN - singers of glees in three parts

THREE-PILE - three-piled velvet

THRENE - lament

THRID - thread; fibre

THROE - to put in agonies

THRUM - the tufted end of a thread in weaving

THRUMMED - made od coarse ends or tufts

TICKLE - ticklish

TIGHT -nimble, active

TIGHTLY - briskly, promptly

TIKE - a cur

TILLY-VALLY - (int.) an exclamation of contempt

TILTH - tillage

TIMELESS - untimely

TINCT - stain, dye

TIRE - attire, head-dress

TIRE - to tear as a bird of prey; hence; metaphorically, to feed

TIRE - to attire, dress

TANG - twang, sound

TOD - to yield a tod of wool

TOKENED -marked with plague spots

TOKENS - plague spots

TOLL - to exact toll; to pay toll

TOO TOO - excessively

TOPLESS - supreme, without superior

TOUCH - touchstone for testing gold; trait;an acute feeling

TOUCHED - pricked

TOUSE - to pull, drag

TOWARD/S - nearly ready

TOYS - trifles, foolish tricks

TRADE - beaten path

TRANECT - a ferry

TRANSLATED - transformed

TRASH - to cheque, as a huntsman his hounds

TRAVAIL - labour, toil

TRAY-TRIP - an old game played with dice

TREACHERS - traitors

TREATIES - entreaties

TRENCHED - carved

TRICK - technically, a copy of a coat of arms; hence, any peculiarity which distinguishes voice or feature

TRICK - to dress up

TRICKED - blazoned

TRICKING - ornament

TRICKSY - elegantly quaint

TRIPLE - third

TROJAN - a cant word for a thief

TROL-MY-DAMES - the name of a game; also called pigeon-holes

TROTH-PLIGHT - betrothed

TROW - to trust, think

TRUE - honest

TRUNDLE-TAIL - a long-tailed dog

TRUSTED HOME - trusted completely or all the way

TUCKET-SONANCE - a flourish on the trumpet

TUNDISH - a funnel

TURLYGOOD - a name adopted by bedlam-beggars

TURN - to modulate

TWANGLING - twanging

TWIGGEN - made of twigs, wicker

TWILLED - retained by woven branches

TWINK - a twinkling

TWIRE - to peep, twinkle

U

UMBERED - stained, dark, as with umber

UNANELED - without extreme unction

UNAVOIDED - unavoidable

UNBARBED - untrimmed

UNBATED - unblunted

UNBOLT - to disclose

UNBOLTED - unsifted unrefined

UNBREATHED - unpractised

UNCAPE - to throw off the hounds

UNCHARGED - undefended, applied to the gates of a city

UNCLEW - to unravel, undo

UNCOINED - unalloyed, unfeigned

UNDERGO - to undertake

UNDERTAKER - one who takes up another's quarrel

UNDER-WROUGHT - undermined

UNEATH - hardly

UNEXPRESSIVE - inexpressible

UNFAIR - to deprive of beauty

UNHAPPILY - censoriously

UNHAPPY - mischievous

UNHATCHED - undisclosed

UNHOUSELE - without receiving the sacrament

UNIMPROVED - unreproved

UNION - a pearl

UNJUST - dishonest

UNKIND - unnatural

UNLIVED - bereft of life

UNMANNED - untamed, applied to a hawk

UNOWED - unowned

UNPREGNANT - stupid

UNPROPER - common to all

UNQUESTIONABLE - not inquisitive

UNREADY - undressed

UNRESPECTIVE - inconsiderate

UNSISTING - unresting

UNSTANCHED - incontinent

UNTEMPERING - unsoftening

UNTENTED - unsearchable

UNTRADED - unused;uncommon

UNTRIMMED - spoiled of grace or ornament

UNTRUE - untruth

UNVALUED - invaluable

UPSPRING REEL - a boisterous dance

URCHIN - the hedge-hog

USANCE - usury

USE - interest; custom

UTIS - riotous merriment, which accompanied the eighth day of a festival

UTTER - to expel, put forth

UTTERANCE - extremity

V

VADE - to fade

VAIL - to lower

VAILING - lowering

VAINNESS - vanity

VALANCED - adorned with a valence or fringe; applied to the beard

VALIDITY - value

VANTAGE - advantage

VANTBRACE - armour for the front of the arm

VARLET - a servant, valet

VAST - properly a waste-place, metaphorically, the dead of night; a gulf

VASTIDITY - immensity

VASTLY - like a waste

VASTY - vast, waste

VAUNT - the van; that which precedes

VAUNT-COURIERS - forerunners

VAWARD - the van, vanguard, advanced guard of an army - metaphorically, the first of anything

VEGETIVES - herbs

VELURE - velvet

VELVET-GUARDS - literally, velvet trimmings; applied metaphorically to the citizens who wore them

VENEW - a bout in fencing, metaphorically applied to repartee and sallies of wit

VENEY - a bout at fencing

VENGE - to avenge

VENTAGES - holes in a flute or flageolet

VERBAL - wordy

VERY - true, real

VIA - (int.) off with you!

VICE - to screw

VICE - the buffoon in the old morality plays

VIE - to challenge; a term at cards; to play as for a wager

VIEWLESS - invisible

VILLAIN - a lowborn man

VINEWED - mouldy

VIOL-DE-GAMBOYS - a bass viol

VIRGINALLING - playing as on the virginals, a kind of a spinet

VIRTUE - the essential excellence valour

VIRTUOUS - excellent; endowed with virtues

VIZAMENT - advisement

VOLUBLE - fickle

VOLUNTARY - volunteer

VOTARIST - votary, one who has taken a vow

VULGAR - the common people

VULGAR - common

VULGARLY - publicly

W

WAFT - to wave, beckon; to turn

WAFTAGE - passage

WAFTURE  -waving, beckoning

WAGE - to reward as with wages

WAILFUL - lamentable

WAIST - the middle of a ship

WANNION - 'with a vengeance.'

WAPPENED - withered, overworn

WARD - guard; prison

WARDEN - a large pear used for baking

WARDER - truncheon

WARN - to summon

WASSAIL - a drinking bout; festivity

WAT - a familiar word for a hare

WATCH - a watch light

WATCH - to tame by keeping constantly awake

WATER-GALL - a secondary rainbow

WATER-RUG - a kind of dog

WATER-WORK - painting in distemper

WAX - to grow

WAXEN - perhaps, to hiccough

WEALTH - weal, advantage

WEAR - fashion

WEATHER-FEND - to defend from the weather

WEB AND PIN - the cataract in the eye

WEE - small, tiny

WEE - to think

WEED - garment

WEET - to wit; know

WEIGH OUT - to outweigh

WELKIN - the sky

WELKIN - sky-blue

WELL-LIKING - in good condition

WELL SAID - (int.) well done!

WEND - to go

WESAND - the wind-pipe

WHELK - a weal

WHELKED - marked with whelks or protuberances

WHEN - an exclamation of impatience

WHEN AS - when

WHERE - whereas

WHERE - a place

WHIFFLER - an officer who clears the way in processions

WHILE-ERE - a little while ago

WHILES - until

WHIP-STOCK - handle of a whip

WHIST - hushed, silent

WHITE - the centre of an archery butt

WHITELY - pale-faced; a doubtful word

WHITING-TIME - bleaching time

WHITSTER - bleacher

WHITTLE - a clasp knife

WHOO-BUB - hubbub

WHOOP - to cry out with astonishment

WICKED - noisome, baneful

WIDOW - to give a jointure to

WIDOWHOOD - widow's jointure

WIGHT - person

WILD - weald

WILDERNESS - wildness

WIMPLED - veiled, hooded

WINDOW-BARS - lattice-work across a woman's stomacher

WINDRING - winding

WINTER-GROUND - to protect (a plant) from frost

WIS - in the compound 'I wis,' certainly

WISH - to commend

WISTLY - wistfully

WIT - knowledge, wisdom

WITHOUT - beyond

WITS - five; the five senses

WITTOL - a contented cuckold

WITTY - intelligent

WOMAN-TIRED - hen-pecked

WONDERED - marvellously gifted

WOOD - mad

WOODCOCK - a simpleton

WOODMAN - a forester, huntsman; a cant term for a wencher

WOOLWARD - shirtless

WORD - to flatter or put off with words; to repeat the words of a song

WORLD - 'To go to the world' is to get married. A ' woman of the world' is a married woman

WORM - a serpent

WORSER - worse

WORSHIP - to honour

WORTH  -wealth; fortune

WORTS - cabbages

WOT - to know

WOUND - twisted about

WREAK - vengeance

WREAK - to avenge

WREAKFUL - revengeful, avenging

WREST - an instrument used for tuning a harp

WRIT - gospel; truth

WRITHLED - shrivelled

WROTH - calamity, misfortune

WRUNG - twisted, strained

WRY - to swerve

X

XANTHIPPE - Socrate's scolding wife

Y

YARE - ready; being understood

YARELY - readily

YAW - out of control

Y-CLAD - clad

Y-CLEPED - called; named

YEARN - to grieve; vex

YELLOWNESS - jealousy

YELLOWS - a disease of horses

YEOMAN - a sheriff's officer

YIELD - to reward To report

YOND - and yonder

YOUNKER - tyro

Z

ZANY - a clown; gull

 

 

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