Glossary of hard to understand Shakespeare terms A-Z
    A B C D E F G H I J H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

      A
      ABATE: to shorten
      ABATEMENT: diminution
      ABHOR: protest; disgust
      ABRIDGEMENT: a short play
      ABROOK: abide
      ABSEY-BOOK: a primer

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      B
      BACCARE: keep back
      BALKED: heaped
      BALLOW: a cudgel
      BANK: to sail by the banks
      BARM: yeast
      BARN: a child
      BARNACLE: a shellfish, can also produce a sea bird of the same name
      BASE: a game, sometimes called Prisoners' base
      BASES: a long, embroidered mantle worn by knights on horseback
      BASTA: enough
      BASTARD: raisin wine
      BATE: flutter like a bird
      BAT-FOWLING: catching birds with a clap-net by night
      BATLET: a small bat, used for beating clothes
      BAVIN: worthless object
      BAWCOCK: a fine fellow
      BAWD: procurer
      BAY: space between the main timbers of the roof
      BEADSMAN: one who prays for others
      BEARING-CLOTH: ornate cloth which children were christened in
      BEAT: to flutter like a bird; meditate
      BEAVER: lower part of a helmet
      BEETLE: a mallet
      BEING: dwelling
      BE-METE: to measure
      BE-MOILED: soiled with dirt
      BERGOMASK: a folk dance
      BETEEM: pour out
      BETID: happened
      BEZONIAN: beggar
      BIGGEN: a night-cap
      BILBO: a sword from Bilboa, Spain
      BILBOES: fetters or stocks
      BILL: a bill-hook, a weapon
      BIRD-BOLT: a bolt to be shot from a crossbow at birds
      BISSON: blind
      BLENCH: flinch
      BLENT: blended
      BLOOD-BOLTERED: smeared with blood
      BOB: to ridicule or harass
      BODGE: to botch, bungle
      BODIKIN: a corrupt word used as an oath. 'Od's Bodikin,' God's little Body
      BOITIER VERT: green box
      BOLLEN: swollen
      BOLTED: sifted, refined
      BOLTER: a sieve
      BOLTING-HUTCH: a hutch in which meal was sifted
      BOMBARD: a barrel, a drunkard
      BOMBAST: padding
      BONA-ROBA: a harlot
      BOOTLESS: without boot; useless
      BOOTS: bots, a kind of worm
      BORE: calibre of a gun
      BOSKY: covered with underwood
      BOSOM: wish, heart's desire
      BOTS: worms which infest livestock and horses
      BOURN: a boundary
      BRACE: armour for the arm
      BRACH: a female hound
      BRAID: lie
      BRAVERY: finery; boastfulness
      BRAWL: a folk dance
      BREAST: voice
      BREATHING: exercising
      BREECHING: liable to be whipped
      BREED-BATE: antagonist, quarrelsome
      BREESE: loose lipped
      BRIBE-BUCK: a dollar given with presents
      BROCK: a contemptuous term that means
      BROKE: procure
      BROKEN: having lost teeth
      BROTHERHOOD: trading company
      BROWNIST: follower of Brown, the founder of the Independents
      BRUIT: rumour
      BRUSH: assault
      BUCK: lye for washing clothes in
      BUCK-BASKET: the basket that carries the laundry
      BUCKING: washing
      BUCK-WASHING: washing in lye
      BUG: a spectre
      BULLY-ROOK: a bragging cheater
      BURGONET: a type of helmet
      BUTT-SHAFT: light arrow for used for target practice
      BUXOM: obedient
      BY'RLAKIN: by our little Lady: an oath

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      C
      CADDIS: worsted galloon that resembles a caddis worm
      CADE: a cask
      CAGE: prison
      CAIN-COLOURED: red (applied to hair)
      CAITIFF: a captive, a slave; hence, a witch
      CALCULATE: prophesy
      CALIVER: hand-gun
      CANARY: wine brought from the Canary Islands
      CANDLE-WASTERS: people who sit up all night and drink
      CANKER: a caterpillar
      CANSTICK: candlestick
      CAPOCCHIA: someone who is simple
      CARACK: a large cargo ship
      CARBONADO: meat scotched for broiling
      CARKANET: a necklace
      CATLING: cat-gut
      CAUTEL: deceit
      CAUTELOUS: insidious
      CAVALERO: a cavalier, gentleman
      CERTES: for certain
      CESS: reckoning
      CHAMBERER: effeminate man
      CHANSON: a song
      CHARACTERY: handwriting
      CHARGE-HOUSE: a free-school
      CHARLES' WAIN: Constellation called the Big Dipper or Ursa Major
      CHARNECO: a sweet wine
      CHAUDRON: entrails
      CHEQUE: falconry term that means to go after improper game
      CHERRY-PIT: game played with cherrystones
      CHEVERIL: kid leather
      CHEWIT: cough
      CHILDING: pregnant
      CH'ILL: vulgar for I will
      CHOPIN: shoe or clog
      CHUCK: term of endearment that means chicken
      CHUFF: an aggressive jester or clown
      CINQUE PACE: folk dance
      CITTERN: guitar
      CLACK-DISH: a beggar's dish
      CLAP I' THE CLOUT: to shoot an arrow into the bull's eye of the target
      CLAW: to flatter
      CLEPE: to call
      CLIFF: musical clef
      CLING: to starve
      CLINQUANT: sparkling
      CLIP: to hold or hug
      CLOUT: the bulls-eye on a target
      COAST: to advance
      COBLOAF: large loaf
      COCK: a boat
      COCK-AND-PIE: an oath
      COCKNEY: a cook
      COCK-SHUT-TIME: twilight when chickens roost
      COG: to swindle
      COGNIZANCE: badge or medal
      COLLIED: darkened, blackened
      COLT: to defraud
      COMBINATE: betrothed
      COMMONTY: used ludicrously for comedy
      COMPLEXION: passion
      COMPOSE: agree
      CONCUPY: concubine
      CONDUCT: escort
      CONFECT: to make up into sweetmeats
      CONTRACTION: a marriage contract
      CONVERTITE: a convert
      CONVIVE: eat together
      CONY-CATCH: cheat or pilfer
      CORANTO: a lively jig
      CORINTH: brothel
      CORINTHIAN: a man who frequents a brothel
      CORKY: dry like cork
      CORRIVAL: rival
      COSTARD: the head
      COSTER-MONGER: mercenary
      COTE: a cottage; overtake
      COT-QUEAN: effeminate man
      COUPLEMENT: union; sex
      COURT HOLY-WATER: flattery, compliments
      COVENT: convent
      COVER: set the table for dinner
      COWISH: cowardly
      COX MY PASSION: euphemism for 'God's Passion.'
      COY: fondle or play with
      COZEN: cheat
      COZIER: a tailor
      CRACK: to boast
      CRANK: a long winding passage
      CRARE: a large cargo ship
      CRAVEN: a dunghill cock
      CREDENT: credible
      CRESCIVE: increasing
      CRESTLESS: not entitled to bear arms, lowborn
      CROSS: a piece of money, formerly stamped with a cross
      CROW-KEEPER: someone who scares crows out of farmer's fields
      CROWNER: coroner
      CRY AIM: urge on
      CUISSES: armor that covers the thighs
      CURSTNESS: shrewishness
      CURTAL: a docked horse

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      D
      DANSKER: a Dane
      DAUB: to disguise
      DAY-WOMAN: a dairy-maid
      DEARN: lonely
      DEBOSHED: debauched, drunken
      DEFEATURE: disfigurement
      DENAY: denial
      DENIER: the 12th part of a French sol coin
      DIG-YOU-GOOD-DEN: wish you a good evening
      DILDO: the chorus of a song
      DINT: stroke
      DISCASE: to undress
      DISME: tenth or tithe
      DISTRACTION: a detached troop or company of soldiers
      DOFF: put off with an excuse
      DOLT: a small Dutch coin
      DOWLAS: a coarse sack
      DOWLE: swirl of a feather
      DRAB: a whore
      DRABBING: whoring
      DROLLERY: a puppet-show

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      E
      EAGER: harsh
      EANLING: a yeanling, a lamb
      EAR: to plough
      ECHE: to eke out
      EFT: ready, convenient
      EISEL: vinegar
      ELD: old age
      EMPERY: empire
      EMULOUS: jealous
      ENGINE: a machine of war
      ENGLUT: to swallow speedily
      ENGROSSMENT: immoderate acquisition
      ENKINDLE: to make keen
      ENMEW: enclose
      ENSCONCE: to cover as with a fort
      ENSEAMED: fat, rank
      ENSHIELD: hidden
      EPHESIAN: a toper
      EQUIPAGE: attendance
      EREWHILE: in the mean-time
      ESCOT: a man's reckoning
      ESPERANCE: hope, a war-cry
      ESPIAL: a spy or look-out
      ESTIMATION: conjecture
      ETERNE: eternal
      EXIGENT: death, ending
      EXION: action
      EXPOSTULATE: discuss
      EYAS: hawk
      EYAS-MUSKET: small hawk
      EYNE: eyes

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      F
      FACINOROUS: wicked
      FACT: guilt
      FACTIOUS: instant, importunate
      FADGE: to suit
      FAIN: glad
      FAITOR: a traitor
      FAMILIAR: spirit
      FAP: drunk
      FARDEL: a burden
      FARTUOUS: jokingly virtuous
      FEEDER: agent, servant
      FEODARY: manager
      FESTER: to rankle, grow virulent
      FESTINATELY: fastly
      FET: fetched
      FICO: a fig
      FIG: to insult
      FIGHTS: sheets or clothing hung on a ship to conceal the men
      FINELESS: endless
      FIRE-DRAKE: spirit, ghost
      FIRK: chastise
      FIVES: a disease prone to horses
      FLAP-DRAGON: raisins in burning brandy
      FLAW: a gust of wind
      FLESHMENT: fleshing the sword
      FLIRT-GILL: a thin woman
      FLOTE: wave
      FOIL: defeat
      FOIN: fight
      FORDO: kill
      FORESLOW: delay
      FORFEND: to forbid
      FORKED: horned
      FORSPENT: tired, weary
      FOX: a small sword
      FOX-SHIP: cunning ship
      FRAMPOLD: annoying
      FRANK: where the pigs are fed
      FRANKED: fenced or confined
      FRANKLIN: squire
      FRIPPERY: an old-clothes shop
      FRUSH: to hurt or bruise
      FUB OFF: put off
      FULSOME: lustful

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      G
      GAIN-GIVING: misgiving
      GALLIARD: a kind of waltz
      GALLIASSE: ship
      GALLIMAUFRY: funny song
      GALLOWGLASS: infantry of Ireland, and the Highlands of Scotland
      GAMESTER: a partier
      GARBOIL: disarray
      GAST: scared
      GEAR: business
      GECK: a 16th century geek
      GENERAL: commoners
      GIB: tom-cat
      GIGLOT: a wanton girl
      GILT: wealth
      GIMMAL: double
      GING: gang
      GLOSE: comment
      GOOD-YEAR or GOOD-JER: from the French goujere meaning a venereal disease
      GOUT: a drop
      GRAMERCY: many thanks
      GRANGE: farm-house or farm attached to a monastery
      GRIZE: step
      GROUNDLING: one who sits in the pit of a theater
      GULES: red, a term in heraldry
      GULF: the throat
      GUN-STONE: a cannon ball
      GYVE: to fetter

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      H
      HACK: become common
      HAGGARD: a wild hawk
      HAG-SEED: offspring of a hag
      HAIR: small amount
      HALIDOM: holiness
      HALLOWMAS: All Hallows' Day
      HARDIMENT: courage
      HARLOCK: wild mustard
      HARRY: annoy
      HAUNT: company
      HENT: to take away from
      HEST: command
      HILD: held
      HILDING: a paltry fellow
      HIREN: prostitute
      HIT: in agreement
      HOLP: help
      HONEY-STALKS: red clover
      HOODMAN-BLIND: the came of blind man's bluff
      HORN-MAD: crazy
      HOROLOGE: clock
      HOT-HOUSE: brothel
      HOX: to hamstring
      HUGGER-MUGGER: to do something sneakily
      HUNT-COUNTER: follow the scent the wrong way
      HUSBANDRY: management

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      I
      IMBARE: bare
      IMMOMENT: unimportant
      IMPETICOS: pocket
      INCARNARDINE: dye red
      INCENSED: incited
      INCH-MEAL: given in portions measured portions of inches
      INCLIP: to hug,hold or
      INCONY: fine, delicate
      IND: India
      INKHORN-MATE: a derogatory term for a learned man
      INLAND: well educated

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      J
      JACK: a mean fellow
      JACK-A-LENT: a puppet thrown at in Lent
      JACK GUARDANT: a jack in office
      JADE: to whip, to treat with contempt
      JAR: the ticking of a clock
      JESS: a strap of leather attached to the talons of a hawk, by which it is held on the fist
      JEST: to tilt in a tournament
      JET: to strut
      JOURNAL: daily

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      K
      KAM: crooked
      KECKSY: hemlock
      KEECH: a lump of tallow
      KEEL: to skin
      KICKSHAW: handmade
      KICKSY WICKSY: slang for wife
      KILN-HOLE: the ash-hole under a kiln
      KIRTLE: a gown

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      L
      LABRAS: lips
      LACED-MUTTON: a courtesan
      LAG: the lowest of the people
      LAKIN: ladykin, little lady, an endearing term applied to the Virgin Mary in the oath, 'By our lakin.'
      LASS-LORN: deserted by a mistress
      LATTEN: made of brass
      LAUND: lawn
      LAVOLTA: a dance
      LEATHER-COATS: a type of apple
      LEECH: a physician
      LEER: countenance, complexion
      LEGERITY: lightness
      LEMAN: a lover
      L'ENVOY: the farewell or moral at the end of a tale or poem
      LETHE: death
      LIBBARD: a leopard
      LIEF: dear
      LIFTER: a thief
      LIMN: to draw
      LINSTOCK: a staff with a match at the end of it used by gunners in firing cannon
      LIST: a margin
      LITHER: lazy
      LOCKRAM: cheap linen
      LOFFE: laugh
      LOTTERY: anything that befall's man by fate
      LUSTIG: lusty
      LYM: slow houng

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      M
      MAGOT-PIE: magpie
      MALKIN: serving wench
      MALLECHO: mischief
      MAMMERING: hesitating
      MAMMETS: a woman's breasts
      MANDRAGORA: or Mandrake a plant that resembles a man
      MARCHPANE: a kind of sweet biscuit
      MARRY TRAP: an oath
      MARTLEMAS: the Feast of St. Martin in November, the year is at its end and thus applied to old men
      MEACOCK: cowardly
      MEAZEL: a leper
      MELL: to mix, to meddle
      MEPHISTOPHILUS: the name of a familiar spirit
      MERCATANTE: merchant, a foreign trader
      MESS: a company of four
      MEW UP: to confine
      MICHER: a truant
      MICKLE: much
      MILL-SIXPENCE: a milled sixpence
      MISCREATE: illegitimate
      MISSIVE: messenger
      MOIETY: a portion
      MOME: fool
      MOON-CALF: nick-name given to Caliban in The Tempest
      MORISCO: a Moor or other dark skinned person
      MORT-DU-VINAIGRE: silly oath
      MOUSE-HUNT: the weasel
      MURE: a wall
      MUST: a scramble

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      N
      NAYWARD: denial
      NEB: the beak
      NEELD: a needle
      NEIF: hand
      NETHER-STOCKS: stockings
      NIGHT-RULE: nightly solemnity
      NINE MEN'S MORRIS: a Moorish dance by nine men
      NODDY: silly fellow
      NOOK-SHOTTEN: dotted with bays and creeks
      NOWL: head

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      O
      OEILLIAD: an amorous glance
      ORGULOUS: proud
      ORT: leaving, refuse
      OSTENT: show, appearance
      OUNCE: a beast of prey of the tiger kind
      OUPHE: a fairy
      OUSEL-COCK: the blackbird

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      P
      PADDOCK: a toad
      PASH: the face
      PASSANT: a term of heraldry, applied to animals represented on the shield as passing by at a trot
      PASSY-MEASURE: a folk dance
      PAX: a small ../Image of Christ
      PEAT: a term of endearment for a child
      PEIZE: to balance, weigh down
      PERDU: lost
      PERIAPTS: charms worn round the neck
      PEW-FELLOW: friend
      PHEEZE: to comb, fleece, curry
      PIA-MATER: the membrane covering the brain, the brain itself
      PIONED: digged
      PLACKET: a petticoat-front
      PLAITED: intricate
      PLEACHED: interwoven
      POINT: a lace furnished with a tag by which the breeches were held up
      POINT-DE-VICE: faultless
      POLLED: bare
      POMANDER: a perfumed ball
      POMEWATER: a kind of apple
      POOR-JOHN: a herring
      POPINJAY: a parrot
      POUNCET-BOX: a place where women kept their perfumes
      PRANK: to dress up
      PREST: ready
      PUCELLE: a virgin, the name given to Joan of Arc
      PUTTOCK: a kite

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      Q
      QUART D'ECU: a quarter crown
      QUERN: a hand-mill
      QUILLET: a small case in the courts

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      R
      RABBIT-SUCKER: the weasel
      RASCAL: a skinny, underfed deer
      REAR-MOUSE: the bat
      REBECK: a three-stringed fiddle
      RECHEAT: the point of a chase where the hounds are called back
      RED-PLAGUE: erysipelas
      REECHY: smoky, dirty
      REGREET: to salute
      REQUIEM: mass for the dead
      RIGGISH: wanton
      RIGOL: a circle
      RIPE: drunk
      RIVAGE: the shore
      ROISTING: violent
      ROMAGE: unusual stir
      RONVON: a term of contempt applied to a woman
      ROYNISH: mangy
      RUDDOCK: redbreast

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      S
      SACRING-BELL: the little bell rung at mass to give notice that the elements are consecrated
      SAY: silken
      SCAFFOLDAGE: gallery of a theatre
      SCANTLING: small portion
      SCONCE: the head
      SCOTCH: to bruise or cut slightly
      SCRIMER: a fencer
      SCROYLE: scabby fellow
      SEAL: confirm
      SEAM: fat
      SECT: political party
      SEEN: instructed
      SELD: seldom
      SELF-BOUNTY: native goodness
      SEMBLABLY: resemblance
      SENNET: a flourish of trumpets
      SEPULCHRE: bury
      SERE: dry or cook
      SETEBOS: the name of a fiend
      SETTER: one who watches travellers to give information to thieves
      SHEER: pure
      SHENT: blamed
      SHIVE: slice
      SHOT: the reckoning at an ale-house
      SHOUGHS: shaggy dogs
      SHRIFT: confession
      SHRIVE: confess
      SHRIVING-TIME: time for confession
      SIMULAR: counterfeit
      SIR: a title applied to a bachelor of arts at the Universities
      SITHENCE: since
      SKIMBLE-SKAMBLE: up in arms
      SKINKER: liquor cabinet
      SKIRR: scour
      SLEAVE: floss-silk
      SLOPS: loose fitting pants
      SMIRCHED: smeared or dirty
      SNEAP: sarcastic
      SNEAPED: pinched
      SNECK-UP: calm down, hang on
      SOLIDARE: a small coin
      SOOTH: truth
      SOREL: a three year old buck
      SOWL: pull or drage
      SPERR: fasten, buckle down
      SPLEEN: violent haste
      SPRAG: quick
      SPURS: trees roots
      SQUARER: someone who likes to quarel
      SQUIER: a square
      STANIEL: inferior hawk
      STATUTE-CAPS: woolen caps worn by citizens
      STEELED: set
      STERNAGE: course
      STICKLER: arbitrator in combats
      STIGMATIC: deformed person
      STIGMATICAL: deformed
      STONE-BOW: a cross-bow used for releasing stones
      STOVER: fodder or fuel for a stove
      STRAPPADO: form of punishment
      STROSSERS: pants
      SUMPTER: a horse that carries provisions on a journey
      SUR-REINED: over-worked
      SWARTH: black
      SWARTH: what is cut with one sweep of the scythe

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      T
      TABOUR: a small side-drum
      TAINTURE: defile
      TAWDRY-LACE: a rustic necklace
      TENT: a probe for searching a wound
      TERCEL: a male goshawk
      TERMAGANT: ranting character in old plays
      THARBOROUGH: a constable
      THEWES: sinews
      THICK-PLEACHED: intertwined
      THIRD-BOROUGH: a constable
      THRASONICAL: boastful
      THREE-MAN BEETLE: large mallet worked by three men
      THREE-MAN-SONG-MEN : a trio of singers
      THREE-PILE: trice piled velvet
      THRENE: lament
      THRID: thread
      THROE: agony
      THRUM: the tufted end of a thread in weaving
      TINCT: stain or dye
      TOKENS: places that have been plagued
      TOUSE: drag
      TRANECT: a ferry
      TRAVAIL: work
      TRAY-TRIP: game played with dice
      TROTH-PLIGHT: betrothed
      TROW: trust
      TRUNDLE-TAIL: a long-tailed dog
      TUCKET-SONANCE: medly on the trumpet
      TUNDISH: a funnel
      TURLYGOOD: a name adopted by beggars
      TWIGGEN: made of twigs, wicker
      TWILLED: retained by woven branches

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      U
      UNCAPE: to throw off the hounds scent
      UNEATH: hardly
      UNHOUSELED: not having received the sacrament
      UNION: a pearl
      UNSTANCHED: incontinent
      UPSPRING REEL: a fast-paced dance
      UTIS: festivity lasting eight days

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      V
      VALANCED: adorned with a valence or fringe; applied to the beard
      VANTBRACE: armour for the front of the arm
      VARLET: servant
      VAST: huge, expansive
      VASTIDITY: fast
      VAUNT-COURIERS: scouts, forerunners
      VAWARD: the first of anything
      VEGETIVES: herbs
      VENEY: fencing round
      VINEWED: moldy
      VIZAMENT: advisement
      VOTARIST: someone who has taken a vow
      VULGAR: common; common people

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      W
      WAPPENED: worn
      WARDEN: a pear used in baking
      WASSAIL: merry-making, drinking
      WAT: rabbit
      WATER-GALL: a secondary rainbow
      WATER-RUG: a kind of dog
      WATER-WORK: painting in distemper
      WAX: to grow
      WAXEN: perhaps
      WELKIN: the sky; sky blue
      WEND: to go
      WHIFFLER: officer who clears the way in processions
      WHILE-ERE: small time ago
      WHIP-STOCK: handle of a whip
      WHIST: hushed, silent
      WHITELY: pale-faced. A doubtful word WHITING-TIME: bleaching time
      WHITSTER: bleacher
      WHITTLE: small knife
      WIMPLED: head covered by veil or hood
      WINTER-GROUND: protect plants from frost
      WITTOL: a contented cuckold
      WOMAN-TIRED: hen-pecked
      WONDERED: gifted
      WOOD: mad
      WOODCOCK: a simpleton
      WOODMAN: a hunter or smug for wencher
      WOOLWARD: shirtless
      WORTS: cabbages
      WOT: to know
      WREAK: vengeance
      WREST: an instrument used for tuning a harp
      WRIT: gospel, truth
      WROTH: misfortune
      WRY: swerve

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      X
      XANTHIPPE: Socrate's scolding wife

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      Y
      YARE: ready, being understood
      YARELY: readily
      YAW: out of control
      Y-CLEPED: named
      YELLOWNESS: jealousy
      YELLOWS: a horse disease
      YEOMAN: an officer
      YIELD: to report

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      Z
      ZANY: a clown


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