Frequently Encountered Words (FEW)

Several of the content-carrying words in Shakespeare are used so often that we find it helpful to approach them in the manner of a language-teaching phrase-book, singling them out so that readers can more easily develop an intuition about how they are used. We have selected 100 of these words, in particular senses, in the list below, and chosen quotations for them which illustrate several grammatical contexts. We like to think of these words as a preliminary word-list which captures some of the character of basic Early Modern English vocabulary.

Readers who familiarize themselves with these items will be many times repaid by a smoother reading of the texts.
It is important to note that a number of these words are also used in other, less frequent, senses in Shakespearean English. We make a reference to any such senses after each entry below. These senses will all be found in their alphabetical place in the Glossary.

afeard (adj.)
afraid, frightened, scared

Cym IV.ii.94 [Cloten to Guiderius] Art not afeard?

1H6 IV.vii.86 [Lucy to all] A phoenix that shall make all France afeard

Mac I.iii.95 [Ross to Macbeth] Nothing afeard of what thyself didst make

MND III.i.107 [Bottom alone, of his companions] This is a knavery of them to make me afeard

anon (adv.)
soon, shortly, presently

Ham III.ii.272 [Hamlet to Ophelia] You shall see anon how the murderer gets the love of Gonzago’s wife

1H4 II.iv.31 [Prince Hal to Poins, of Francis the drawer] do thou never leave calling ‘Francis!’, that his tale to me may be nothing but ‘Anon’

apace (adv.)
quickly, speedily, at a great rate

AYL III.iii.1 [Touchstone to Audrey] Come apace

E3 III.i.37 [King John to all, of his confederates] are marching hither apace

RJ III.ii.1 [Juliet alone] Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds

apparel (n.)
clothes, clothing, dress

Ham III.ii.45 [Hamlet to Players] one suit of apparel

Ham I.iii.72 [Polonius to Laertes] For the apparel oft proclaims the man

apparel (v.)

arrant (adj.)
downright, absolute, unmitigated

Ham III.i.129 [Hamlet to Ophelia] We are arrant knaves all

H5 IV.vii.2 [Fluellen to Gower, of the French behaviour] 'tis as arrant a piece of knavery ... as can be offert

KL II.iv.50 [Fool to Lear] Fortune, that arrant