Shakespeare Dictionary - R


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Generate random Shakespearean insults

Shakespeare's word

Meaning (in the sample usage)

#

Reference(s)

Sample usage

recreant

one who yields in combat, and begs for mercy; a mean-spirited, cowardly wretch

9

Mids 3.2

Lear 1.1

Come, recreant; come; thou child; I'll whip thee with a rod

Hear me, recreant!

remotion

removal

2

Lear 2.4

this remotion of the duke and her is practise only.

rere-mice

bats

1

Mids 2.2

Some war with rere-mice for their leathern wings

reservation

exception, condition

5

Lear 2.4

But kept a reservation to be follow'd With such a number.

resolve

explain, clarify

32

Lear 2.4

Resolve me, with all modest haste, which way Thou mightst deserve, or they impose, this usage,

roundly

plainly, bluntly

9

Shrew 1.2

Petruchio, shall I then come roundly to thee / And wish thee to a shrewd ill-favour'd wife?

rubb'd

hindered, impeded (from bowls)

3

Lear 2.2

Whose disposition ... Will not be rubb'd nor stopped

rudesby

rough, unmannerly fellow

2

Shrew 3.2

To give my hand opposed against my heart / Unto a mad-brain rudesby...

Shakespeare Dictionary A-MThe most comprehensive work on this topic is Alexander Schmidt's Shakespeare Lexicon, a typical turn-of-the-century tome, carried out with Teutonic thoroughness. I wonder how the pre-computer-era scholars tackled projects like this; lots of index cards and infinite patience, I suppose.

Incredibly, the book provides EVERY instance of EVERY word, in context, used by Shakespeare. In any event, for anyone who really enjoys Shakespeare, it's fun to pore over this "volume of forgotten lore," read all the occurrences of "housewife", for example, and ponder the subtle differences of meaning from one usage to the next.

You can order the Shakespeare Lexicon and Quotation Dictionary by Alexander Schmidt (a Dover re-print, 1985) from Amazon.com:

(Vol. 1 A-M)     (Vol. 2 N-Z)


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