Glossary
(M) = Marlowe’s coinage; n noun, v verb, adj adjective, adv adverb, imp imperative.
abject (v) lower, degrade annoy (n) injury, (v) injure
abortive useless, imperfect; as produced by abortion anon soon
abstract epitome antic hay grotesque rustic dance
aby pay for arbitrament control, judgement
accidental abnormal argent silvery-white
accomplishment fulfilment of vows argin earthwork to protect infantry
adamant magnet, proverbially hard stone argosy large trading vessel
admire wonder, marvel at armado warship
adventure risk arras cloth curtain
advertised informed artier artery
affect (n, v) love, desire artisan practitioner
affecter lover assafoetida strong smelling resinous gum, used in medicine
affection emotion asseize possess by force
against in preparation for astonied astounded
airy (i) thin, light, (ii) lofty, ethereal astracism stars (? bright stars near Aldebaran)
alarm, alarum call to arms attemptless without attempting (M)
Alcoran the Koran
Almain German avail (n) advantage
alongst parallel to avaunt (imp) begone
amain at full speed or power avouch prove
ambergris an aromatic aware (v) beware
an if aweful awe-inspiring
anagrammatized made into anagrams axletree axis
balk neglect dressed, (v) (i) challenge, (ii)
balsamum medicinal balm flout
ban curse brawn muscle
bands bonds breeching beating
bandy exchange blows (from tennis) brent burnt
brigantine pirate ship
bane poison broil battle
banquet (i) banquet, meal of many dishes, (ii) snacks brook tolerate
brown bill foot soldier with bronzed spear
bark boat
barrier armed combat brunt attack
basilisk (i) fabulous serpent whose breath or looks could kill, (ii) large cannon buckled grappled, fought
buckler shield
bug bugbear
bastone cudgel bulk trunk, body
batten grow fat bulwark projecting earthwork at right angles to fort
beard confront
beaten embroidered burgonet light, visored helmet
behoof benefit buzz murmur
belike in all likelihood, perhaps by’r Lady by our Lady (the Virgin Mary)
benighted overtaken by darkness
beseem become, accord with one’s position cabinet study, private room
betimes in good time, quickly calor natural heat
bever snack camp army
bewray reveal canker parasitic worm (hence, corruption)
bickering skirmish, fight
bill (i) prescription, advertisement, (ii) weapon, a halberd, (iii) deed canonize celebrate (as with a saint)
canvass discuss, consider
bind gird carbonado cooked strip of meat
bolt fetter case (i) a pair, (ii) vagina
bombard a kind of cannon which fired large stones casemate underground chamber
cassia fragrant shrub
boot give advantage, help cast (v) (i) conjecture, plan, (ii) vomit
bootless useless
boss fat woman cates exotic food
bottle bundle cavaliero high earthwork forming fortification for cannon
bottle-nosed big-nosed
brain-pan skull cazzo diabole (Italian) vulgar oath of contempt (cock devil)
brake (n) thicket, bush
brave (adj) excellent, splendidly censure criticism, judgement
centric central conceit imagination, intellect, thought, conception
certify inform
chafer portable grate conceive register in the mind
challenge (v) claim concoct digest
champian level, open conduct (i) leadership, (ii) escort
changeling fairy child conference conversation
channel (i) gutter, sewer, (ii) neck, throat congé (French) deferential bow
conster construe
chaplet garland consummate (adj) (i) perfect, (ii) continued without cessation
characters (i) writing, description, (ii) magic symbols
contemn despise
charge (v) command content agreed
charming spell-casting continent (n) space, ground, (adj) connected, bordering
chary carefully
chitterlings pig’s intestines, used for sausages contributory tributary
control (i) challenge, (ii) rebuke, (iii) govern
chop jowl
circuit judicial circuit controlment rebuke
clang sound, note corpo di dio (Italian) God’s body
clap pat, stroke corse corpse, body
clean completely counterbuff rebuff
cleft (i) vulva, (ii) cloven foot counterfeit (n) imitation
clift cliff counterfort brace strengthening wall from within
clog heavy weight that impedes motion
countermand revoke by a contrary command
close (adj) secret
closet chamber countermine (i) deep underground tunnel, (ii) counterplot
clout centre of a target in archery
coil tumult, fuss
coll embrace, hug countermure make impregnable by wall within fortification
colour (i) pretext, (ii) military banner
counterscarp wall of fortification ditch
comfit sweet
commence graduate countervail equal
compact (v) made, composed coz kinsman
compass (n) range, (v) reach, achieve, win cozen cheat, deceive
crazed cracked, rotten
competitor partner crest helmet
complice confederate crisis critical day of an illness
comprise comprehend cross (n) coin with a cross on it, (v) obstruct, thwart
concave cavity
concealed occult crossbiting swindling
crownet bracelet distained dishonoured
cull pick, select distempered troubled, disturbed
cullion rascal dollar large silver coin
culverin long cannon dolour misery
curious exquisitely crafted or embellished doom (n) judgement, (v) judge, sentence
curse excommunicate doubt (v) fear
curst virulent, harsh doubtful perplexing, ambiguous
curtain wall connecting fortifications drave drove
drench (n) dose, draught, (v) drown
curtle-axe cutlass
cutpurse pick-pocket drift purpose
droop be miserable
dalliance idle delay, sexual play ducat Venetian gold coin
damp mist, vapour dumps melancholy thoughts
date period of time dusky dim, obscure
dated having a predetermined end Dutch fustian gibberish
daunt control
dazzle blind earn grieve
declined turned away ebon black
defy formally renounce allegiance ecstasy frenzy
descried charted écu French crown coin
despite scorn, contempt effect meaning, gist
device handiwork egregious distinguished
devoir duty ell 45 inches
diadem crown emboss decorate
diametarily diametrically empale encircle
digested endured, got over empery empire, rule
dirge mass for the dead empyreal empyrean
discomfit defeat, rout enamelled richly painted
discoursive protracted, wide-ranging enchased adorned
engine (i) instrument, (ii) siege weapon
dismissed redeployed
dismount throw down from a gun-carriage engineer maker of military hardware
dispensive subject to dispensation (M?) English counter worthless coin, token
disport pastime, entertainment enlarge free
dispo
sition planetary situation enow enough
disquiet (adj) unquiet, restless entertain receive, take into service, welcome
dissever shatter, blow up
distain stain enthral enslave
entreat persuade flagitious wicked
entreated treated fleer jeer
envy (n) hatred, malice, (v) hate fleet drift, float
epitome summary flout mock
erect elevate (to the throne) foil (n) metal placed behind a jewel to accentuate its brilliance, (v) (i) defile, (ii) defeat
erst before, formerly
essay try, attempt
estate rank, station
eternize immortalize follower servant, retainer
events outcomes fond foolish
exclaim (n) exclamation forslow waste
excruciate torment forward (adj) eager, precocious
exequies funerals fraught freight, cargo
exhaled turned into a fiery vapour fray (v) frighten
exhibition stipend French crown (i) coin of the reign of Henri III, (ii) the pox
exigent exigency, extremity
expedition speed frolic (v) play, (adj) frolicsome
expert experienced front confront
exquisite excruciating fruition enjoyment
full restored to full strength
faced (i) outfaced, derided, (ii) trimmed furniture armour, weapons
furtherer helper, abetter
fact action, crime fustian (i) flax cloth, (ii) nonsense
factious seditious
factor agent gat got
faggot bundle of wood gear business
faint faint-hearted gentry rank of gentleman
falchion sword glaive broadsword
falconet small cannon glass mirror
false (v) betray, violate glass-windows spectacles
familiar evil spirit, attendant glorious boastful
fancy (v) love gloze flatter, dissimulate
fatal fated, fateful gramercy thank you
favour (i) face, (ii) love-token gratulate salute, welcome
favourless without beauty gravel perplex, confound
fear (v) frighten graving sculpture
feeling (adj) (i) sincere, (ii) sensual grief pain, suffering
fell cruel gripe seize tenaciously
fence (v) protect, defend groat coin of small value (4d)
field-piece field-gun groom menial, servant
figure likeness, image guerdon reward
file defile guilder Dutch coin
gull trick imperial imperious
gum aromatic resin (in perfume and sacrifice) import imply, signify
imprecation prayer
incense incite, set on fire
halberd long-handled weapon incontinent immediate, (adv) immediately
halcyon kingfisher
hale drag, draw incony sweet
hap fortune Indian Moor American Indian
hapless unfortunate
haply perhaps indifferent impartial
happy fortunate influence (astrological) power
haught haughty, lofty insinuate ingratiate
haughty high-minded, heroic insult exult
headed beheaded interdict forbid
heavy sad intolerable incomparable
hebon ebony, the juice of which was considered poisonous invention plot, plan
investion investiture
hempen (i) of a noose of hemp rope, (ii) made of hempen cloth, homespun issue (n) offspring, (v) come out, turn out
hest behest iterating repetition
hippocras spiced wine iwis indeed
hogshead 63-gallon cask
hoise hoist jack upstart
hold (i) bet, wager, (ii) stronghold Jacob’s staff surveying instrument, used for range-finding
horse-bread horse feed
horse-courser horse-dealer
hospital almshouse janizary Turkish infantry-man
hostry hostelry, inn jar fight, quarrel
hoy small trading boat jealous (i) anxious for someone’s well-being, (ii) suspicious
hugy huge
humidum moisture jennet small Spanish horse
humour bodily fluid responsible for health, hence mood jesses leather thongs used to restrain hunting birds
hurdle sledge (to carry condemned to execution) jesture (i) gesture, (ii) jest
jet strut
hurly-burly confusion, commotion jig (i) song and dance, (ii) scurrilous ballad
keel ship
illustrate shed light on kern peasant fighter
imbecility feeble-mindedness, weakness kind (adj) (i) kind, (ii) natural
label strip of ribbon for attaching seals to documents magnanimity courage in battle
mail bag containing treasure
Lachryma Christi red wine of southern Italy main overpowering
malgrado (Spanish) in defiance of
lake dungeon manage (n) conduct, (v) tame, control
lance slit open
larded encrusted mark (i) brand, (ii) watch, observe
lares Roman household gods
largess largesse, generous reward marry by Mary (an oath)
latest last mask lurk in darkness, hide
latter last massy solid, weighty
laund glade, open space masty fattened on pig food
lavish (n) prodigious spilling, (adj) insolent, unrestrained mate companion, (v) daunt
maximé maxim
lawn piece of fine linen measures stately dances
leager state of besieging meat food
league (i) unit of distance: 3 miles, (ii) alliance meed merit, reward
meet (adj) appropriate
leman sweetheart members people
lenity pity mends amends, reward
let hinder, prevent meteor atmospheric phenomenon
level (v) (i) aim, (ii) deduce, guess at mettle strength, material
mew capture
libel subversive pamphlet mickle much
liberal (i) well-educated, (ii) generous minion (i) small cannon, (ii) sycophant, (iii) lover, favourite
licentiate graduate
liefest dearest minx slut
linstock stick for holding spill to light cannon miscreants heretics, unbelievers
miss (n) lack of
list (i) desire, (ii) listen mistrust suspect
litter vehicle for one person carried by two servants mithridate (usually) antidote to poison
loadstar, lodestar guiding light moe more
looseness sexual incontinence monument record of achievement
lour frown motion (i) movement, (ii) suggestion, (iii) desire
lown rogue (Scottish or northern dialect form)
mought might
lure imitation bird made of feathers and leather mount earthwork used for fortification
lusty pleasant Muff derogatory term for the Swiss (M?)
muscadel, muscadine, muscatel strong sweet wine pate head
pathetical emotive, persuasive
mustacho moustache patience suffering
mystery secret art paw claw
pedant schoolmaster
native natural pelf money
noisome stinking, offensive pensiveness melancholy
nonce purpose; for the nonce purposely, expressly perfecter more skilled
perforce (i) by violence, (ii) necessarily
nonplus state of bewilderment
nosegay posy pericranion skull (technically, the membrane around it)
noted stigmatized, branded
period (i) end, conclusion, (ii) sentence
occupy possess, have sex with offencious causing offence physic medicine
organon (i) bodily organs or fluids, (ii) philosophical works of Aristotle (Organon) pickadevant short, pointed beard
pickle-herring (i) pickled herring, (ii) an idiot
orient (adj) (i) eastern, (ii) brilliant (of gems) pill (v) plunder
pin nail which secures a clout (q.v.) in archery
orifex orifice,
wound
orison prayers pined tormented
ostler stable-man pioners sappers, those who dig mines
ostry hostelry, inn
otherways otherwise pitch breadth of shoulders
overdare surpass in daring (M) pitchy pitch-black
overthwart across places topics
overwatched (i) tired through constant vigilance, (ii) spied upon placket (i) (slit in) a skirt or petticoat, (ii) vulva
plage region
plain (v) complain
painted colourful plainer plaintiff
pale boundary, fence plate piece of silver
paragon consort platform ground-plan
paramour lover plaud applause
parcel essential part pleasant jocular
parley debate, dispute pleasantness facetiousness
partial (i) unfair, (ii) incomplete pledge drink toast
pash smash to pieces pole-axe halberd
pass care policy cunning
passenger traveller poniard dagger
passing surpassingly port gate
portague Portuguese gold coin rack tear apart, violate
portend prophesy, suggest, foresee racking driven before the wind
portly stately ragged rugged
post (n) messenger, (v) ride fast rampire (n) inner rampart, (v) fortify with ramparts
posy pious motto
pottage (i) porridge, (ii) stew, soup, broth range (v) roam
rankle fester
power army rape abduction
preachment sermonizing rapine theft
precinct area of secure authority raze (i) erase, destroy, (ii) graze
precise puritanical reave take away
precisian puritan, radical protestant rebated blunted
reclaim reform
present(ly) immediate(ly) recreant traitor
prest ready for action rector a university principal
pretty (i) admirable, (ii) amusing recure cure
prevent anticipate, forestall redoubted fearsome
principality princely government reflex shine
refluence flowing back
problem scholastic disputation refreshing refreshment, food
prolocutor herald, spokesman regiment power, authority
proper own regreet greet anew (M)
prorex viceroy remorseful compassionate
protest swear, profess renied apostate
prove test, experience rent rend, tear
provender fodder repair imminent arrival
puissant powerful repeal recall (from banishment)
purchase win repine complain
purgation an emetic repute understand by
pyramid obelisk reserve preserve
resolve (i) determine to achieve, (ii) satisfy, (iii) melt
qualify mitigate
quenchless unquenchable respect particular circumstances
The Complete Plays Page 66