Word families

Shakespeare often refers to the heart. But he also uses this word to help create other words, such as unheart, heart-sore, and heartless. How many such derived words are there, and how are they used? Type HEART into the search-box and you will see.

We use the term word-family to identify the set of words that contain the same basic element. They will be part of a compound word (as in heart-sore), accompanied by a prefix (as in unheart) or a suffix (as in heartless), or used in different ways (e.g. as a noun and a verb). In this section we list all the words in the canon (in the modern English version) that have family resemblances so you can see which words Shakespeare exploited in this way, and which he did not. Words that are not included (such as the and Horatio) are described on the further information page here.

When there are several family members, we group them into themes, showing the directions in which Shakespeare used a word. Where these occur, they are listed under the main heading. The names of the themes, taken along with their family members, we hope are self-explanatory, but more illustration can be found on the further information page here.
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PACE
DANCE
FAST
SLOW
PACIFY
PACK
ANIMAL
CONTAINER
OBJECT
NOT
PACTION
PADDLE
PADDOCK
PAGAN
PAGE [paper]
PAGE [person]
PAGEANT
PAIL
PAIN
DISEASE
EMOTION
PAINT
ACTION
COLOUR
GOOD
PEOPLE
PAIR
GAME
PALACE
PALATE
PALE [colour]
PART OF BODY
PEOPLE
STATE
PALE [fence]
ACTION
OBJECT
PALFREY
PALISADO
PALL [cover ]
ACTION
CLOTHING
PALL [fail]
PALLET
PALM [hand]
PALM [tree]
PEOPLE
PALPABLE
STATE
PALSY
PALTRY
PALY
PAMPER
PAMPHLET
PAN
OBJECT
PART OF BODY
PEOPLE
PANCAKE
PANDER
PANEL
ACTION
PANG
NOT
PANNIER
PANSY
PANT
PANTALOON
PANTHEON
PANTHER
PANTRY
PEOPLE
PAP
PAPER
PART OF BODY
BUILDING
PARABLE
PARADISE
AMOUNT
PARADOX
PARAGON
NOT
PARALLEL
NOT
PARAMOUR
INTENSITY
PARAPET
PARAQUITO
PARASITE
PARCEL
APPEARANCE
PEOPLE
PARCH
PARCHMENT
OBJECT
PARD
PARDON
PEOPLE
NOT
PARE
FOOD
OBJECT
PARENT
PARISH
PEOPLE
PARITOR
PARK
DIRECTION
NOT
PARLE
PLACE
PARLOUR
PARLOUS
PARMACITY
PARRICIDE
PARROT
PEOPLE
PARSLEY
PARSON
PART
ACTION
AMOUNT
APPEARANCE
DEATH
OBJECT
PEOPLE
RELATIONSHIP
SPEECH
STATE
TIME
PARTAKE
PARTIAL
INTENSITY
NOT
PARTICIPATE
PARTICLE
PARTICULAR
PARTISAN
PARTNER
RELATIONSHIP
PARTRIDGE
PARTY
PASH
PASS
ACTION
DEATH
INTENSITY
OBJECT
PEOPLE
STATE
PASSION
EMOTION
NOT
PASSIVE
PASSPORT
PASSY-MEASURES
PAST
AMOUNT
PREVIOUS
STATE
PASTE
FOOD
STATE
PASTERN
PASTIME
PASTOR
PASTORAL
TYPE
PASTRY
PASTURE
PASTY
PAT
PATCH
PEOPLE
PATE
COLOUR
HAIR
MIND
SHAPE
PATEN
PATENT
PATERNAL
PATH
TYPE
NOT
PATHETICAL
PATIENCE
NOT
PATRICIAN
PATRIMONY
PATRON
ACTION
PEOPLE
PATTERN
PAUNCH
PAUSE
PEOPLE
PAVE
NOT
PAVILION
PAVIN
PAW
PAWN
ACTION
PAX
PAY
ACTION
GOOD
INTENSITY
NOT
PEA
BEINGS
PLANT
TIME
PEACE
PEOPLE
STATE
NOT
PEACH [charge]
SPEECH
PEACH [fruit]
PEACOCK
PEAK
PEAL
PEAR
PEARL
PEASANT
PEAT
PEBBLE
PECK [amount]
PECK [bite]
PECULIAR
PEDANT
SIZE
PEDIGREE
PEDLAR
PEEL
PEEP
ACTION
GAME
PEER [noble]
INTENSITY
PEER [see]
INTENSITY
PEEVISH
STUPIDITY
PEG
NOT
PEISE
PELF
PELICAN
PELLET
PELL-MELL
PELT
PEN [shut]
PEN [write]
CONTAINER
OBJECT
PAINTING
PENALTY
PENANCE
PENCE
PENDANT
PENETRATE
NOT
PENITENCE
PENNON
PENNY
PEOPLE
VALUES
PENSION
PEOPLE
PENSIVE
PENT
BUILDING
PENURY
PEOPLE
PLACE
STATE
NOT
PEPPER
CONTAINER
FOOD
PERADVENTURE
PERCEIVE
NOT
PERCH [measure]
PERCH [sit]
ACTION
PERCHANCE
PERCUSSION
PERDIE
PERDITION
PERDY
PEREGRINATE
PEREMPTORY
PERFECT
NOT
PERFIDIOUS
PERFORCE
PERFORM
EMOTION
PEOPLE
NOT
PERFUME
PEOPLE
PERHAPS
PERIAPT
PERIL
PERIOD
PERISH
PERIWIG
APPEARANCE
PERJURE
PERK
PERMANENT
PERMIT
PERNICIOUS
PERORATION
PERPEND
PERPENDICULAR
PERPETUAL
STATE
PERPLEX
PERSECUTE
PEOPLE
PERSEVER
PERSIST
PERSON
RESEMBLANCE
PERSPECTIVE
PERSPICUOUS
PERSUADE
PERT
PERTAIN
PERTURBATION
PERUSAL
PERVERSE
PEST
DISEASE
PET
PETAR
PETITION
PEOPLE
PETTICOAT
PETTITOES
PETTY
PEW
RELATIONSHIP
PEWTER
PEOPLE
PHANTASMA
PEOPLE
PHEASANT
PHEAZAR
PHEEZE
PHILOSOPHY
PEOPLE
PHLEGMATIC
PHOENIX
PHRASE
NOT
PHYSIC
PEOPLE
SUPERNATURAL
PHYSIOGNOMY
PIA MATER
PIBBLE-PABBLE
PICK
OBJECT
PART OF BODY
PEOPLE
STATE
NOT
PICKLE
FISH
PICTURE
INTENSITY
PIE [bird]
TYPE
PIE [food]
PIECE
ACTION
CLOTHING
EQUIPMENT
INTENSITY
PAINTNG
STATE
PIER
PIERCE
ACTION
PART OF BODY
PIETY
PIG
FOOD
TYPE
PIGEON
SIZE
TYPE
WEAK
PIGHT
APPEARANCE
PIGMY
PIGNUT
PIKE [fish]
PIKE [weapon]
TYPE
PILCHER [fish]
PILCHER [weapon]
PILE
VALUE
PILFERING
PILGRIM
PILL [rob]
PILL [tablet]
PILLAR
PILLICOCK
PILLORY
PILLOW
TYPE
PILOT
PIN
ACTION
GAME
PART OF BODY
PLACE
NOT
PINCH
APPEARANCE
PART OF BODY
PINE [mood]
STATE
TIME
PINE [tree]
PINION
STATE
PINK [colour]
PINK [decoration]
NOT
PINNACE
PINT
AMOUNT
CONTAINER
PIONED
PIONEER
PIOUS
NOT
PIP
PIPE
DRINK
PART OF BODY
PEOPLE
TYPE
PIPPIN
PIRATE
PISMIRE
PISS
ANIMAL
PISTOL
PEOPLE
STATE
PIT
GAME
OBJECT
TYPE
PITCH [black]
OBJECT
PITCH [place]
MIND
OBJECT
PITH
NOT
PITTANCE
PITTIE-WARD
PITY
EXCLAMATION
PART OF BODY
STATE
NOT
PIZZLE
PLACE
BIRTH
DEATH
HOME
PUBLIC
RANK
SPORT
WRITING
NOT
PLACKET
PLAGUE
STATE
NOT
PLAIN
GOOD
MUSIC
PLAINT
PLAINTIFF
PLAIT
PLANCHED
PLANE [tree]
PLANET
PLANK
PLANT
ACTION
PLACE
TIME
TYPE
NOT
PLASH
PLASTER
PEOPLE
PLATE
EQUIPMENT
PLATFORM
PLATTED
PLAUSIBLE
NOT
PLAY
ACTION
PEOPLE
PLACE
RELATIONSHIP
PLEA
EMOTION
PEOPLE
PLEACHED
TYPE
PLEASE
PEOPLE
STATE
NOT
PLEBEIAN
PLEDGE
PLENTY
PLIANT
PLIGHT
PEOPLE
STATE
PLOD
PEOPLE
PLOT [land]
TYPE
PLOT [plan]
PEOPLE
TYPE
NOT
PLOUGH
OBJECT
PEOPLE
STATE
PLUCK
PEOPLE
STATE
NOT
PLUM
FOOD
PLANT
PLUME
STATE
PLUMMET
PLUMP
PLUNGE
PLURAL
PLY
POCKET
POCKY
POEM
POINT
DIRECTION
OBJECT
STATE
POISE
BALANCE
POISON
ACTION
PEOPLE
POKE [pocket]
POKING-STICK
POLE [earth]
POLE [shape]
OBJECT
STATE
POLECAT
POLICY
PEOPLE
NOT
POLISHED
NOT
POLITICIAN
POLL
ANIMAL
POLLUTE
NOT
POLTROON
POMANDER
POMEGRANATE
POMEWATER
POMMEL
POMP
POND
TYPE
PONDER
PONIARD
PONTIFICAL
POOL
TYPE
POOP [fool]
POOP [ship]
POOR
FISH
STATE
POP
POPE
POPINJAY
POPPERING
POPPY
POPULAR
POPULOUS
PORCH
PORE
PORK
PEOPLE
PORPOISE
PORRIDGE
PORRINGER
PORT [bearing]
PORT [opening]
EVENT
STATE
PORTEND
PORTER
TYPE
PORTION
AMOUNT
GOOD
INTENSITY
NOT
PORTRAIT
POSE
POSIED
POSITION
ACTION
MIND
SPEECH
STATE
POSITIVE
POSSESS
ACTION
PEOPLE
STATE
NOT
POSSET
POSSIBLE
NOT
POST [send]
ACTION
ANIMAL
INTENSITY
PEOPLE
POST [wood]
PEOPLE
TYPE
POSTERIOR
POSTERITY
POSTERN
POSTSCRIPT
POSTURE
POSY
POT
DRINK
PEOPLE
TYPE
POTATO
PART OF BODY
POTCH
POTENT
PEOPLE
STATE
NOT
POTHECARY
POTHER
POTION
POTTLE
POUCH
POULTICE
POUNCET
POUND [confine]
POUND [money]
AMOUNT
POUND [weight]
POUR
POUT
POVERTY
POWDER
EQUIPMENT
POWER
ACTION
POX
PRABBLE
PRACTIC
PRACTISE
DEATH
GOOD
PEOPLE
NOT
PRAETOR
PRAISE
INTENSITY
NOT
PRANCE
PRANK
PRAT
PRATE
PEOPLE
TYPE
PRATTLE
PRAWN
PRAY
INTENSITY
OBJECT
PREACH
PEOPLE
PREAMBULATE
PRECEDENT
PRECEPT
PRECINCT
PRECIOUS
INTENSITY
PLANT
STATE
PRECIPICE
PRECIPITATION
PRECISE
PRE-CONTRACT
PRECURSE
PREDECEASE
PREDECESSOR
PREDESTINATE
PREDICAMENT
PREDICT
PREDOMINANCE
PREFACE
PREFER
PREFIGURE
PREFIXED
PREGNANT
NOT
PREJUDICATE
PREJUDICE
PRELATE
PREMEDITATE
PREMISE
PRENOMINATE
PRENTICE
PRE-OCCUPY
PREORDAIN
PREPARE
NOT
PREPOSTEROUS
PREROGATIVE
PRESAGE
GOOD
PEOPLE
PRESCRIBE
PRESENT
IMAGE
PEOPLE
PRESERVE
INTENSITY
PEOPLE
STATE
PRESIDENT
PRESS
CONSCRIPTION
IMAGE
INTENSITY
PEOPLE
NOT
PRESUME
PRESUPPOSE
PRESURMISE
PRETEND
PEOPLE
PRETEXT
PRETTY
COLOUR
PREVAIL
NOT
PREVENT
NOT
PREWARN
PREY
PRIBBLE
PRICE
INTENSITY
TYPE
PRICK
ANIMAL
APPEARANCE
MUSIC
TYPE
PRIDE
PRIEST
TYPE
PRIG
PRIME
BIRTH
OBJECT
STATE
PRIMERO
PRIMROSE
PRINCE
STATE
PRINCIPAL
PRINCIPLE
PRINCOX
PRINT
IMAGE
NOT
PRIORITY
PRIORY
PRISON
STATE
TIME
PRISTINE
PRITHEE
PRIVATE
PLACE
PRIVED
PRIVILEGE
PRIZE
INTENSITY
NOT
PROBABLE
NOT
PROBATION
PROCEED
PEOPLE
PROCLAIM
PROCLAMATION
PROCONSUL
PROCRASTINATE
PROCREANT
PROCREATION
PROCURE
DEATH
PEOPLE
PRODIGAL
PRODIGY
PRODITOR
PRODUCE
PROFANE
PEOPLE
PROFESS
PEOPLE
PROFFER
PEOPLE
PROFICIENT
PROFIT
STATE
NOT
PROFOUND
PROGENY
PROGNOSTICATE
PROGRESS
PROHIBIT
PROJECT
PROLIXITY
PROLOGUE
PROLONG
PROMISE
PEOPLE
STATE
PROMONTORY
PROMOTION
PROMPT
PEOPLE
PRONE
PRONOUN
PRONOUNCE
PROOF
ACTION
DISEASE
EMOTION
INTENSITY
OBJECT
STATE
NOT
PROP
ACTION
PROPAGATE
PROPEND
PROPER
NOT
PROPERTY
NOT
PROPHET
PEOPLE
PROPINQUITY
PROPORTION
PROPOSE
PEOPLE
PROPOUND
PROPRIETY
PROPUGNATION
PROROGUE
PROSCRIPTION
PROSE
PROSECUTE
PROSELYTE
PROSPECT
PROSPER
PROSTITUTE
PROSTRATE
PROTECT
PEOPLE
PROTEST
PEOPLE
PROTRACT
PROUD
INTENSITY
MIND
PART OF BODY
STATE
NOT
PROVE
PROVENDER
PROVERB
PROVIDE
MIND
PEOPLE
NOT
PROVINCE
PROVISO
PROVOKE
PEOPLE
NOT
PROVOST
PROVULGATE
PROWESS
PRUDENCE
PRUNE [cut]
NOT
PRUNE [food]
PRY
STATE
PSALM
PUBLIC
PEOPLE
NOT
PUBLISH
PUDDER
PUDDING
TYPE
PUDDLE
PUDENCY
PUFF
PUGGING
PUISNY
PUISSANCE
INTENSITY
PUKE
CLOTHING
PULING
PULL
PULLET
PULPIT
PULSE
PUMP
PUMPION
PUN
PUNCH
PUNISH
ACTION
PUNK
PUNTO
PUNY
PUPIL
PUPPET
SIZE
PUPPY
PUR
PURBLIND
PURCHASE
ACTION
PURE
INTENSITY
PEOPLE
NOT
PURGE
PEOPLE
PLACE
NOT
PURIFY
PURITY
PURL
PURLIEU
PURLOIN
PURPLE
APPEARANCE
PURPORT
PURPOSE
PEOPLE
NOT
PURSE
ACTION
PEOPLE
PURSENT
PURSUE
PEOPLE
PURSY
PURVEYOR
PUSH
GAME
PUSILLANIMITY
PUT
ACTION
PEOPLE
PUTREFY
PUTTOCK
PUZZLE
PYGMY
PYRAMID
PYRAMIS
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