The Arden Shakespeare Complete Works

by William Shakespeare

  sallet salad; light piece of armour for the head

  salt sb. salt tears; adj. bitter; salacious, lustful; (of fish) salt- water

  saltiers (?) woodland creatures that leap about, like satyrs

  salute cheer, excite

  sample example

  sanctimonious holy

  sanctimony holiness; something holy

  sanctuarize provide with sanctuary or immunity from punishment

  sand-blind partially blind

  sanded sandy-coloured

  sandy of sand, as used in an hour-glass

  sanguine red, ruddy (the colour of blood); full-blooded

  sans without (Fr.)

  sapient wise

  sarcenet, sarsenet thin, delicate silk

  Sarum ancient city near Camelot

  sate ignored

  Satis quid sufficit Holofernes’s version of ‘satis quod sufficit’ (Lat.= ‘enough is as good as a feast’)

  Saturn (in astrology) planet associated with old age, coldness, melancholy and evil

  sauce season, spice, make hot

  saucy highly seasoned; impudent; sexually bold or carefree

  savagery profuse vegetation

  savour sb. smell; nature; v. smack, smell; sense or relish

  Savoy a great house on the Strand in London

  saw wise saying

  say sb. assay, evidence; kind of silk cloth; v. speak; speak truly or aptly

  ’say’d assayed, tried

  ’Sblood (by God)’s blood (an oath)

  scab rogue

  scaffoldage stage

  scald scabby, scurvy

  scale sb. mark used for measuring distance, height, etc.; v. weigh, judge

  scamble scramble

  scamels an unidentified type of bird

  scandalis’d, scandaliz’d slandered; disgraced

  scantling degree of capacity or ability; sample, specimen

  scantly resentfully

  ’scape, scape sb. escape; escapade, transgression; v. escape

  scarf sling; sash used to indicate rank in the army

  scarre (?) snare

  scathe sb. injury, damage; v. injure

  scattering scattered, disordered

  schedule paper, often a list or summary

  school sb. university; v. teach (a lesson); govern, control

  science (theoretical) knowledge

  scion shoot or cutting from a plant

  sconce small round fort; protective screen; head

  scope target, purpose, aim; permission, opportunity; scope of nature = an event permitted by nature, a natural event

  scorch cut, gash

  score notch on a stick or post to mark an account, hence account; v. cut a notch, hence mark on an account

  scorn, take scorn

  scot small payment; scot and lot = in full

  scotch sb. gash; v. gash

  scour clean out (a pistol) with a ramrod; hurry

  scrimers fencers

  scrip script; shepherd’s bag

  scrippage Touchstone’s coinage for ‘shepherd’s baggage’ (cf.scrip)

  scriptures (written) words

  scroyles scabby scoundrels

  scrubbed dwarfish

  scruple doubt; a third of a dram

  scrupulous full of scruples, hesitant

  scullion kitchen servant of either sex

  sculls schools (of fish)

  scurril, scurrile scurrilous, filthy

  scut tail of a rabbit or deer; female genitals

  scutcheon cheap coat of arms used at funerals

  ’Sdeath (by God)’s death (an oath)

  se offendendo Grave-digger’s version of ‘se defendendo’ (Lat.= ‘in self-defence’)

  sea-coal superior type of coal transported to London by sea

  seam grease

  sea-maid mermaid

  sea-monster creature to whom Laomedon, King of Troy, attempted to sacrifice his daughter Hesione; Hercules rescued her thinking to obtain some horses in payment

  seamy showing the seams; seamy side = inner side (of a garment or glove)

  sear sb. part of a gunlock; v. wrap in a cerecloth (shroud); brand; tickle a’th’ sear = liable to go off (cf. tickle)

  searchers public health officers similar to modern coroners

  searching sharp, strong

  second sb. supporter, as in a duel; adj. representative

  seconds second-rate material

  sect cutting; class, profession; political faction; sex

  sectary adherent of a sect, disciple; sectary astronomical = disciple of astrologers

  secure adj. over-confident; v. comfort; make over-confident; protect

  securely with (false) confidence

  security over-confidence

  See, the the Holy See, the diocese of the Pope

  seeded grown, matured

  seedness state of being sown

  seeing what one sees, appearance

  seel sew up (the eyelids of a hawk in training)

  seeming sb. appearance; likelihood; deception, falseness; adj. apparent; adv. in a seemly manner

  seen qualified

  seld seldom

  self selfsame; relating to oneself, one’s own

  semblable sb. likeness; adj. matching

  semblative similar in appearance to

  Seneca Roman Stoic philosopher and writer of tragedies

  sennet fanfare of trumpets or cornets

  se’nnight, seve’night, seven- night, sev’n-night week

  sense senses; sexual awareness; mind; adder’s sense = senses ‘as deaf as an adder’ (proverbial); to the sense = to the quick

  senseless insensate, unresponsive; unconscious

  sensible able to sense, having sensation; able to be sensed, material, evident

  sensibly perceptibly; being alive and sensitive; with feeling

  sentence opinion; decision, ruling; memorable saying

  sententious memorable, using choice words; the Nurse’s word for ‘sentence’

  Septentrion north

  sequel that which follows

  sequent sb. follower; adj. following, subsequent; successive

  sequester sb. sequestration, removal; v. remove, divorce

  sequestration removal, isolation; loss of property; (?) sequel, result

  sere sb. dried-up condition; adj. dry

  sergeant arresting officer

  serpigo a skin disease popularly linked with venereal disease

  servant lover

  servanted to in the service of

  service food served at table

  set sb. twelve hours on a clock face; adj. seated; (of eyes) closed; lacking spontaneous wit; v. sit; put up a stake (in gambling); compose music for words; close (the eyes of the dead); set a match = plan a robbery; set hand = formal handwriting

  setter thieves’ informant

  several sb. individual; particular; adj. different, various; individual, distinct; personal, (one’s) own

  severally individually

  sewer chief servant, in charge of setting the table

  ’Sfoot (by God)’s foot (an oath)

  shadow shade or shady spot; illusory image, picture; actor; spirit; ghost

  shaft or a bolt on’t, make a do it somehow

  shag rough, untrimmed

  shales husks, pods

  shame natural modesty

  shame-fac’d, shamefaced shy; full of shame

  shard piece of broken pottery; cow-pat

  shark up snatch indiscriminately, as a shark its food

  shearman one involved in the manufacture of cloth

  sheaved composed of sheaves (of straw)

  sheep-biter dog or wolf that bites sheep, hence dangerous, sanctimonious person

  sheep-biting dangerous, sanctimonious (cf. sheep-biter)

  sheer pure

  shent rebuked, scolded

  sherris sherry

  shift sb. expedient, trick; trickery; smock; v. make do, improvise, live on one’s wits; cha
nge (clothing); make shift = use tricks or resourcefulness to achieve a purpose

  ship-tire elaborate head-dress shaped like a ship or sails

  shive slice

  shoal area of shallow water

  shock throw into confusion, meet force with force

  shog be going; shog off = come away

  shoon shoes

  shot payment; account, bill; marksman, gunner

  shotten (of a fish) having shot its roe (shed its eggs), lank

  shoughs shag-haired dogs

  shoulder-shotten having dislocated shoulders

  shove-groat shovel-board, a game of propelling coins across a smooth board

  shrewd sharp; cunning, mischievous, wicked

  shrewdly sharply; sorely

  shrieve sheriff; shrieve’s fool see fool

  shrift sacrament of Confession, hence confession, absolution or confessional

  shrill-gorged shrill-sounding

  shrine statue, icon

  shrive hear confession and grant absolution

  shroud sb. guard, protection; ropes of a ship’s mast; v. hide, take cover

  shuffle shift, make do; smuggle; cheat

  Si fortuna me tormenta, spero me contenta see Si fortune (etc.)

  Si fortune me tormente sperato me contento Pistol’s expression, in a mixture of European languages, of the motto ‘If fortune torments me, hope contents me’

  Sic spectanda fides‘Thus is faithfulness to be shown’ (Lat.)

  sickle shekel, a Hebrew coin

  siege seat, esp. of office or high rank; rank, status; excrement

  sight aperture at the front of helmet; of one’s sight = seeing one

  sightless invisible; unpleasant to look at

  silly simple; defenceless; meagre, trifling

  simple sb. herb used as a medicine; ingredient; adj. unadulterated, pure

  simpleness stupidity, nonsense; plain honesty; purity, state of being unadulterated

  simplicity stupidity

  simular sb. simulator, false representative; adj. specious

  sinfully in a state of sin; sinfully miscarry = die without the last rites

  single adj. alone, unaided; honest, direct; weak; v.(in hunting) select and pursue (an animal from the herd); single bond = (?) a contract without conditions; single ten = ten at cards

  Singulariter nominativo‘in the nominative singular’ (Lat.)

  singularity personal qualities; odd behaviour; remarkable object

  singuled singled out

  sinister left; irregular, wrong

  sink sb. cesspit; v. go down to hell

  sink-a-pace see cinque-pace

  Sinon Greek who tricked the Trojans into receiving a wooden horse containing soldiers who went on to capture Troy

  sirrah term of address to a social inferior

  sir-reverence phrase used to apologize for foul talk; a euphemism for dung

  sister v. closely resemble; neighbour; Sisters Three = the Fates (see Fates)

  Sit fas aut nefas‘be it right or wrong’ (Lat.)

  sith since

  sithence since

  size a gelatinous glaze; allowance of food and drink

  skains-mates cut-throat companions

  skiffed travelled in a skiff (a light boat)

  skill sb. discernment; need, reason; v. matter

  skilless ignorant

  skillet cooking pot

  skimble-skamble incoherent, wild

  skipper light-brained, skipping person

  skirr run hastily

  slab thick and slimy

  slander sb. accusation; disgrace; disgraceful person; v. charge, accuse; disgrace, abuse

  slanderous of accusation; bringing disgrace; ill-reputed

  slave enslave

  sleave a coarse silk

  sledded riding in sledges

  sleeve-hand cuff of a sleeve

  sleided separated into loose threads

  ’Slid (by God)’s (eye-)lid (an oath)

  sliding sin

  ’Slight (by God)’s light (an oath)

  slip sb. cutting or graft from a plant; counterfeit coin; leash; v. unleash (a greyhound)

  slipper slippery

  slippery unstable, treacherous

  slipshod wearing slippers

  sliver split off

  slobbery muddy, slimy

  slop, slops large baggy breeches

  slough old snake-skin

  slovenry slovenliness, dirty untidiness

  slubber smear, stain; carelessly hurry

  smatch smack, whiff

  smatter prattle, chat

  smock petticoat; woman

  smoke sb. fog; v. steam; smoke out, as in fox hunting; beat; disinfect

  smooth sb. flatter, indulge; gloss over; adj. flattering

  smug spruced-up; smooth, unruffled

  sneap sb. snub, reprimand; v. bite, chill

  sneck up an offensive insult

  snipp’d-taffeta jagged silk (slashed to display the lining underneath)

  snuff resentment; in snuff = (of candles) needing to be snuffed;take in snuff = take offence

  sob rest, breather

  sod sodden, boiled

  soiled lively or skittish

  soilure sullying, staining

  sole singular

  solely wholly

  solemnity festal occasion, celebration (often of marriage)

  solicit sb. suit, petition; v. urge, excite

  solidares (?) solidi (Roman coins)

  sometime, sometimes adj. former; adv. formerly, once

  sonance sonorous sound

  sonties, be God’s by God’s saints (an oath)

  sooth sb. truth; appeasement, flattery; adv. truly

  soothe flatter; play along with, indulge

  soothers flatterers

  sop hunk of bread soaked in wine

  sophister clever arguer

  sophisticated adulterated, no longer simple or natural

  Sophy Shah (king) of Persia

  sore four-year-old male deer

  sorel three-year-old male deer

  sort sb. rank; dress; lot; v. accord; find; conclude; keep company (with)

  sortance accordance; hold sortance = accord

  sotted made a sot (a fool)

  sound faint; fathom

  souse strike; (in hawking) swoop (upon)

  soused pickled

  South Sea the Pacific; South Sea of discovery = a long, frustrating voyage

  sow ingot, block

  sowl seize rougly, drag

  Sowter‘Cobbler’, a dog’s name

  span-counter a children’s game like marbles

  spavin tumour on a horse’s leg- joint

  specialty contract; particular distinction

  spectacles spyglasses (telescopes); eyes

  speculation sight, observation

  speculative of sight

  sped ruined; see speed

  speed sb. fate, lot; v. fare; meet with success; favour; be one’s speed = bring one good fortune; have the speed of = match in speed; overtake; speed you = God speed (favour) you

  speeding sb. fate, lot; success; adj. successful

  spend speak; use up; spend the mouth = be in full cry, as a hunting hound

  sphere (in Ptolomaic astronomy) one of the massive crystalline spheres around the earth in which the planets, stars, etc. were believed fixed; they revolved, generating harmonious music, inaudible on earth

  spherical of a planet

  spigot part of a tap on a barrel

  spill destroy

  spilth spilling

  spin spurt

  spines thorns

  spinners (?) spiders; (?) craneflies

  spinster woman spinning flax or wool

  spital hospital, esp. for the lower classes

  spleen organ supposedly responsible for fierce passion, laughter and melancholy, hence the abstract condition or a fit or bout of any of these moods

  splinted splintered (see splinter)

&nb
sp; splinter apply splints to (a broken limb)

  spoil sb. sacking, carrying off booty; bloody end of a hunt; v. sack, rob, steal

  spongy watery, dripping; full of drink

  spot piece of embroidery; mark on a list; blemish

  sprag smart, quick

  spring bud, shoot, sapling

  springe snare for catching birds

  springhalt muscular disorder in horses causing them to jerk back their legs

  spurn sb. blow, rude rejection; v. kick fiercely

  square sb. measuring rule; breast- piece of a dress; adj. just, fair; v. measure; regulate, direct; square up, adopt a hostile stance; by the square = precisely; square of sense = (?) part of the body or mind

  squarer one who squares for a fight, brawler

  squash unripe pea-pod

  squier square (measuring rule)

  squiny squint

  staff quarterstaff, spear or lance; stanza; set in one’s staff = take up residence

  stagger falter, be unsure

  staggers disease in horses causing staggering; reeling state

  stain sb. blemish; tincture, hint; one whose superiority casts a shadow (stain) on others; v. eclipse

  stair-work furtive business on the back stairs

  stale sb. urine; decoy; whore; laughing-stock, esp. a risible lover; stalemate; v. make stale; cheapen, debase

  stall enthrone; lodge, as in an animal’s stall; stall together = (?) tolerate each other’s presence

  stamp sb. something created or minted; seal, official mark; v. create, manufacture, (of coins) mint; seal, authenticate

  stand stand about; stand still; stand up to; stand in an action = be a party in a legal action

  standard standard-bearer

  standing-bed bed with legs

  standing-bowl bowl with a foot or pedestal

  staniel kestrel

  staple U-shaped rod into which a bolt is shot; pillar (?); fibre from which a thread is made

  stare sb. staring state; v. stand up stiffly

  start sb. outburst; v.(in hunting) drive from cover; frighten

  starting-hole bolt-hole, hiding place

  starve destroy, esp. with cold, freeze; suffer or perish with cold

  state standing position, stance; estate (property, condition or social position); chair of state, throne; court

  states men of rank

  station standing (still), posture

  statist politician, man of affairs

  statute document providing security to a creditor

  statute-caps (?) academic caps; (?) apprentices’ caps

  stave’s staff’s (see staff)

  staves staffs (see staff)

  stay sb. support; ongoing condition; check, interruption; v. support, hold (up); stay by’t = stand up to things, stand one’s ground

  stead help, serve the needs of; stead up = stand in for

  stelled stellar, starry; fixed; (?) portrayed