When the Word Elizabethan appears it may refer to anything which is related to the Elizabethan Era in the history of England or say in the latter half of the 1500s when there was the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.Similarly When the word Shakespearean appears it resembles anything that is the works of William Shakespeare.
During the wide medieval period, Old English was in use for the English Speaking countries. Old English which is also known as Anglo Saxon is the usher of the modern English Language which was spoken between the 5th and the 12th century in the areas that are now known as Southern Scotland and England.
It was in the only near the end of the medieval period when we could relate the language was very close to so-called Elizabethan or Shakespearean or Early Modern English.
Because of the oddities and complexities inherent in the language of Shakespeare, sometimes his works seem foreign and incomprehensible. However, many people will be surprised to know that William Shakespeare’s English-is technically modern English!
That’s right, the same language spoken by William Shakespeare is still in use today, and the language is distinct from Middle English.
Shakespearean / Elizabethan Words
Contents
One of the well-known thing about Shakespeare is that he had introduced a number of words in the English vocabulary and most of them are still used today. He was successful enough to introduce about 17000 English words in his works out of which 1700 were coined by him only.
He created new words by changing the verb into adjectives or changing the nouns into the verbs, adding prefixes and suffixes, coining the whole new word, and connecting the words that were never used in combination earlier.
Few of the instances of the words he coined are an addiction, assassination, accused, advertising, bloodstained, bedroom, fashionable, gossip, hint, invulnerable, impede, monumental, mimic, negotiate, secure, swagger, and submerge.
Here’s a handy list of some of the more common words used by Shakespeare with the words translated to –
Common Words from the Elizabethan English Dictionary
Some Words Which are More Common Today:
- ABHOR – To reject, disdain
- ABSOLUTE – Without flaw, perfect
- ACKNOWN – aware
- ADDICTION – Tendency, proneness
- BALK – To hesitate, chop; to dispute
- BRAVE – Handsome
- BUCKLER – shield
- CHARACTER – Letter, word
- COIL – Distress, trouble
- COUCH – To go to sleep
- CUNNING – Clever, sharp
- DELATION – Accusation
- DESERVING – Merit, reward
- DRAW – To bring near, call to
- EGAL – Equal
- EMBOSS – To track with the intent to kill
- EXPEDIENCE – Quickness
- FANCY – To desire
- FEAR – To scare, frighten
- FRONT – To oppose, affront, object
- GAST – Scared, aghast
- GRAVE – To inter, bury
- HEAVY – Sad, painful, mournful
- HONEST – Pure
- INHERIT – Given; to accept or believe
- INTPINSE – Impossible to untangle
- JUDICIOUS – Fair, equitable
- KNAP – To hit, strike
- KNAVE – A young boy, a servant
- LAND – Yard
- LAPSED – Shocked, overcome
- MAD – Crazy, wild
- MATE – To confuse; to match
- NOTE – Bill, list; to take note of
- O’ER-RAUHOT, O’ER WROGHT – Overcome
- OUGHT – Privy to, promised
- PAINFUL – Difficult, hard to do
- PALL – To wrap up
- PARTICOAT – To cover in colorful fabric
- PERPEND – To think of, consider
- QUAINT – Beautiful, ornate
- QUAKE – To shake, tremble
- QUICKEN – To bring to life, bring to one’s senses
- RAPTURE – A fit, ecstasy
- RETIRE – To go to bed, to retreat
- RAVIN – Likely to destroy; hunger
- RESPECT – Forethought, consideration
- SHRIFT – To admit
- SIMULAR – Counterfeit
- STILL – Always, forever
- SUBSCRIPTION – Acquiescence, obedience
- TAKE – To overtake; to enthrall
- TAX – Blame, censure
- TESTY – Worrisome
- TRIGON – A triangle
- UNDERGO – To take on
- UNPREGNANT – Idiotic, inane
- VILE – Disgusting, hateful
- VINDICATIVE – Vengeful
- WALL-EYED – Wide-eyed, angry, surprised
- WANT – To lack YARE – Prepared, ready
- YOUNG – Recent
- ZANY – Idiotic, clownish
That is really fun, However, the words used are almost like a different language.
Common Phrases of Shakespearean / Elizabethan English Dictionary
Some of the notable phrases given by Shakespeare are
1) “All that glitters is not gold” – From Macbeth
2) “Break the Ice” – From The Taming of the Shrew
3) “A Brave New World” – From The Tempest
4) “In my Hearts ” – From Hamlet
5) “Jealousy is a green-eyed monster” – From Othello
6) “The World is my Oyester” – From The Merry Wives of Windsor
7) ” Bated breath” – From the Merchant of Venice
8) ” A dish fit for the Gods ” – From the Julius Caesar
9) “He hath eaten me out of the house and home” – From the Henry IV Part 2
10) ” Laid on with a trowel” – From As You Like It
Common Pronouns Used in Elizabethan English Dictionary
There is a set of pronouns used in the Elizabethan English that we use today also.
The reference of the first person which is I, Me, My, Mine remains the same in today English as well as Elizabethan English.
However the reference of the second person which is You, Your and Yours is quite different from what we use today. As for example
- ” Thou” was used in place of you as a nominative. For Instance, “Thou wast in the other room”.
- “Thee” was used in place of you as an objective. For instance, “I give this to Thee”.
- “Thy” was used in place of Your as a genitive. For instance, “Thy Dagger Floats before thee”
- “Thine” was used in place of Yours as a possessive. For instance, ” What’s mine is thine”.
Common Verb and Prepositions from the Elizabethan English Dictionary
Some of the verb and prepositions that were used in the Elizabethan Era are mentioned below
- Art- are
- dost- do
- doth- Does
- Ere- before
- Hast- Have
- Tis- it is
- Twas- It was
- Wast- were
- Whence- from where
- Wherefore- Why
- Hence- From here
- Oft- Often
- Yea- even
- Ay – yes
- Aught – anything
- Yon, Yonder – That one here
- Would – Wish
- Marry – A mild swear word
- Nay – no
- Hile – Hurry
This Article Will Be Helpful For:
- Modern English to Elizabethan English Translation
- Elizabethan English Translations
- Elizabethan Translator
Modern English To Elizabethan Translator:
To understand what was the language of the day, we should consider the writings of William Shakespeare, who died in 1616. The last of Shakespeare’s works to be printed was finished in 1609. So Shakespeare wrote in “Elizabethan English.” The translators were done with the KJV in 1611. Shakespeare’s works are still being performed all over the English speaking world and hold up in attracting an audience. People still go to watch Shakespeare.
This website may be helpful:
http://www.museangel.net/speak.html
More Info On- Elizabethan Era Language, Literature, Education in Elizabethan Times
