Shakespeare words: E

e'er adverb

Short for "ever." You'll see it in phrases like "e'er since" (ever since) or "what goddess e'er she be" (whatever goddess she might be).

"The finest speech e'er heard in court."

e'nshield verb

To protect or cover with a shield. The word appears only once in Shakespeare's works, and its exact form is uncertain—it may be a variant of 'enshielded,' though the stress pattern is unusual.

eager adjective

Sharp and biting, like a cold wind or harsh words. Also means intense and forceful, as in a fierce struggle.

An eager frost that cuts through cloth.

eagle noun

In Shakespeare's world, the eagle was the sacred bird of Jupiter and the symbol of Roman imperial power. When characters invoke it, they're calling to mind majesty and divine authority.

When a character calls the eagle 'Jove's bird,' they're evoking both godly favour and Roman might.

eagle-sighted adjective

Having eyesight so keen and powerful that you can look directly at the sun without flinching. Used to describe someone with extraordinary vision or, more often, exceptional insight and perception.

eagle-winged adjective

Flying high and swift, like an eagle. Used to describe something that moves with speed and power through the air.

The arrow flew eagle-winged across the battlefield.

eale noun

This word appears in early printed texts as a likely corruption or misprint. Editors have debated what it should be—possibly 'ease' or something else entirely. The passage itself is unreliable, appearing in some early editions but not others.

ean verb

To give birth to lambs. Shakespeare uses it mostly in the phrase "eaning time," meaning the season when sheep have their young.

The shepherds prepared for eaning time, when the ewes would deliver their lambs.

eanling noun

A lamb that's a year old or younger. Shakespeare uses it to mean a young, helpless creature.

The shepherd guards his eanling from the wolves.

ear noun

The organ of hearing. Shakespeare uses it in many phrases: "by the ear" means by rumor or hearsay; "at ears" means quarreling; "in ear" means within earshot; "over ears" means drowned or submerged; "shake the ears" means to make do or get through trouble.

Gossip spreads by the ear from mouth to mouth.

ear-bussing adjective

Whispered close, with lips near the ear. Intimate talk meant only for one person to hear.

He leans in with ear-bussing words, secrets no one else should catch.

earl noun

A nobleman who ranks below a marquis and above a viscount. Shakespeare often uses this title for foreign counts or rulers of similar rank.

The earl of Northumberland commands troops from his castle.

earn verb

To get something you deserve. In Shakespeare's time, you earn not just wages but punishment, respect, or a reputation—whatever your actions have made you worthy of.

A loyal soldier earns his general's trust through years of service.

earnest noun

Money given upfront to lock in a deal—like a deposit. Shakespeare loves to pun on this word, since it sounds like "earnest" meaning serious or sincere.

A merchant pays earnest to hold the goods until the full payment arrives.

ears noun

The organs of hearing on the side of the head; also used figuratively to mean 'at odds' or 'in conflict' (as in 'by the ears').

Come, sit down on this flowery bed, While I gently stroke your lovely cheeks, And stick musk-roses in your smooth, shiny hair, And kiss your big, pretty ears, my sweet joy.

earth noun

The ground or soil beneath us. In Shakespeare's time, it could also mean a person's land, property, or country—what made someone wealthy and powerful. Sometimes it meant the human body itself, seen as a temporary vessel of flesh and bone.

She owns vast estates—her earth is the most coveted in the kingdom.

earth-vexing adjective

Causing trouble or distress to human life. Something that vexes or disturbs the world we live in.

War and famine are earth-vexing plagues that touch every soul.

earth'd verb

Put in the ground; buried. Often used to describe a body laid to rest.

The king was earth'd in the cathedral, far from home.

earthly adjective

Of or belonging to the ground. In Shakespeare, it can also mean pale or lifeless—the color and look of death.

earthy adjective

Crude and physical rather than spiritual or refined. Heavy with base matter and appetite.

He mocked her earthy nature—all body, no soul.

ease noun

Comfort, peace of mind, or freedom from pain and worry. Also used for leisure or idleness—doing nothing, which Shakespeare sometimes treats as a moral failing.

He lives at ease while his servants labor.

easeful adjective

Peaceful and restful. Free from pain or trouble.

An easeful sleep after a long journey.

easily adverb

Without strain or trouble. In Shakespeare, it often means doing something with comfort and natural grace — not forcing it.

He will bear you easily — carry you without struggle or complaint.

easiness noun

A relaxed willingness to give in or go along with something. It can mean indifference, readiness to comply, or soft-hearted leniency.

A ruler's easiness with rebels invites more rebellion.

easy adjective

Not hard to do or bring about. Also means willing to give in, accommodating, or not strict—someone who doesn't push back.

An easy path to the river; an easy man to persuade.

easy-held adjective

Not bound by rules or duty. Free to do as you please.

eat verb

To consume or destroy by gnawing, corroding, or penetrating inward. Often used figuratively—to be consumed by something (like promises, worry, or a blade).

His pride eats at him day and night.

ebb verb

To decline or fade away. When something ebbs, it's draining of energy or vitality—like the tide going out. Shakespeare often pairs it with 'flow' to describe how fortune or mood shifts.

His courage began to ebb as the battle turned against him.

ebb'd verb

Declined or wasted away. The energy, health, or vigor has drained out.

A man grown old and ebb'd, his strength nearly gone.

ebon adjective

Black, or dark as ebony wood. Shakespeare uses it for dramatic effect — to describe darkness, grief, or something forbidden.

The night was ebon and cold.

ebrew noun

A person of Jewish faith or descent. This was a common spelling in Shakespeare's time for what we now spell 'Hebrew.'

eche verb

To stretch something out or make it last longer. An old form of 'eke,' as in 'eke out.'

To eche it and to draw it out in length — to spin something thin and make it seem bigger than it is.

echo noun

In Greek mythology, a mountain nymph who pined away for love until only her voice remained. Shakespeare uses her name to evoke the idea of a lonely, fading sound.

ecstasy noun

A state of intense emotion so overwhelming that you lose control of yourself—you might be wild with excitement, confused, or caught in rapture. It can mean joy so extreme it feels like madness, or a complete loss of consciousness.

Hamlet warns Ophelia that love can throw a person into ecstasy.

edge noun

A sword or blade. Also used figuratively for sharpness of appetite, desire, or wit—the keen edge of wanting something. Can mean the brink or border of danger.

edged adjective

Sharp or sharpened. Often used to describe a blade or weapon ready to cut or wound.

He drew his edged sword and advanced toward his enemy.

edward proper noun

A name referring to various historical English kings, particularly Edward III and Edward the Black Prince, invoked in Shakespeare's plays as ancestors and exemplars of English royal power and military glory.

The river has flowed three times without stopping; And the old people, the foolish records of time, Say it happened like this just before Our great-grandfather, Edward, grew ill and died.

effect noun

A result or consequence of something. Also: the outward sign of a feeling or state—what you see or hear as proof that something is really happening. Or: something you own or possess that came to you through your own action.

The storm's effects were visible in every broken window.

effectless adjective

Producing no result or impact. Something that fails to accomplish what it was meant to do.

An effectless threat—no one believed he'd follow through.

effectual adjective

Producing the intended result or having real power to accomplish something. In Shakespeare, it often means compelling or conclusive—words or arguments that actually persuade or settle a matter.

Her effectual plea moved the king to spare her brother's life.

effectually adverb

In actual fact; really. When something is true in reality, even if it seems otherwise on the surface.

His eye looks open, but effectually he's blind.

effeminate adjective

Weak, soft, or unmanly—lacking the toughness expected of men. Shakespeare uses it to mock someone as womanish or self-indulgent, though he sometimes means it kindly as simply tender or gentle.

A warrior called effeminate would be seen as shamefully weak.

effigies noun

A figure or statue made to look like a person. In Shakespeare's time, these might be carved in wood or stone, painted, or dressed in cloth—anything meant to stand in for the real thing.

They burned effigies of the king in the street to show their anger without harming him.

effuse verb

To pour or spill out. Often used of blood or other liquid flowing from a wound or vessel.

Blood effuses from the gash.

effusion noun

A pouring out or spilling of something, especially blood or tears. Shakespeare often uses it to mean the actual shedding of blood in violence or loss.

The battlefield was littered with effusion of blood.

eftest adjective

Most convenient or suitable. Dogberry mangles the word, probably meaning to say 'fastest' or 'most apt'—Shakespeare's way of showing his character's muddled speech.

eftsoons adverb

In a moment; very soon. Shakespeare uses it for that immediate sense of something about to happen right now.

Eftsoons the messenger returns with news from the battlefield.

egal adjective

Equal in rank, value, or standing. The word is archaic and rare even in Shakespeare's time.

egg noun

A worthless thing, or a contemptuous insult for a young person. Shakespeare uses it to belittle someone as insignificant or contemptible.

"What, you egg!" — meaning a dismissive jab at someone young and foolish.

egg-shell noun

The hard outer shell of an egg. Shakespeare uses it to mean the egg itself, or sometimes to describe something fragile and easily broken.

As delicate as an egg-shell.

eglantine noun

A wild rose with fragrant leaves and small pink or white flowers. Shakespeare loved it for its sweet smell.

The eglantine grew thick along the garden wall, releasing its perfume into the evening air.

egma noun

A rustic or uneducated person's mangled way of saying 'enigma'—a puzzle or riddle. Shakespeare uses it as a comic mistake, showing a character trying for something grand and missing.

A country bumpkin insists there's no egma, no riddle—he got the word all wrong.

ego et rex meus phrase

A Latin phrase meaning 'I and my king.' Shakespeare uses it to show a character speaking formally or asserting loyalty to the crown, often with a touch of ceremony or self-importance.

egregious adjective

Extreme or outstanding in size, quality, or degree. In Shakespeare's day, it could mean remarkably great without the negative sense we often attach to it now.

egyptian noun

A gypsy or wandering thief. Shakespeare uses it as a type character — someone seen as exotic, dangerous, and lawless. The word carries the prejudice of the era.

An 'egyptian thief' was a stock villain in tales of adventure and theft.

eight noun

A line of verse with eight syllables. Often paired with six-syllable lines in ballads and popular songs—a rhythm you'd recognize from nursery rhymes and folk tunes.

eight-penny adjective

Cheap and worthless. In Shakespeare's time, eight pence was a pittance—so calling something 'eight-penny' meant it was trivial or beneath notice.

A guard hired for eight-penny wages might not stay loyal in a crisis.

eisel noun

Vinegar. A sour liquid used in cooking and cleaning, often made from wine that has turned.

He wiped the wound with eisel to keep it clean.

either pronoun

One or the other of two people or things. In Shakespeare's time, it could mean each of two as well.

Either of you could lead the army.

eke verb

To make something last by stretching it thin—to add just enough to get by. Often used as 'eke out': to supplement what you have with small additions.

They eked out their supplies through the winter.

elbow verb

To nudge or prod someone by touching their arm, usually to get their attention or move them along. Shakespeare uses it as a physical way to prompt action.

Go, pluck him by the elbow.

eld noun

Old age, or the people who lived long ago. Shakespeare uses it to mean either the condition of being very old, or ancient times and the people who inhabited them.

The wrinkles of eld marked his face.

elder adjective, noun

Older or more senior. As an adjective, it means further along in years or rank. As a noun, it means an older person—often someone with authority or wisdom, like a senator or council member.

The elder statesman gave his counsel first.

elder-gun noun

A toy gun made from a hollowed elder branch. It's a harmless plaything, not a real weapon.

eldest adjective

The oldest. Used for the firstborn child or the earliest of a group. In Shakespeare's time, the eldest often had special rights to inherit property.

The eldest son stood to inherit the family estate.

elect verb

To choose or pick someone out from a group. In Shakespeare's time, it often meant selecting someone for a position of honor or power.

The nobles elect a new king from among the royal family.

element noun

One of the four basic substances — earth, water, air, and fire — that ancient thinkers believed made up all matter. More broadly, any essential part or component of something. Shakespeare also uses it to mean the air or sky itself, or the natural world around us.

"The elements of whom your swords are tempered" — the materials that make up the steel.

elf verb

To knot or tangle something, especially hair. Elves were believed to do this mischievously at night.

Sleep-tossed hair might be elfish, or deliberately elved by prankster spirits.

elf-locks noun

Tangled, matted hair. People once believed elves twisted it into knots while you slept—a superstition Shakespeare's audience would have recognized.

Her elf-locks hung wild and uncombed after days of illness.

elf-skin noun

A scornful term for a scrawny, frail-looking man. The insult compares him to something insubstantial or unnatural.

eliad noun

A flirtatious or meaningful glance, often between lovers. The word points you toward illiade, which carries the same meaning.

ell noun

A unit of measurement equal to 45 inches, or about a yard and a quarter. Used for cloth and other goods.

The tailor measured out three ells of silk for the gown.

elm noun

A tall tree often used in vineyards to support climbing vines. In Shakespeare, calling someone an elm was an insult — it meant they were a weak or useless prop, unable to hold anything up.

else conjunction

Otherwise; if not. Used to introduce a consequence or alternative—something that will happen if the first thing doesn't. Can also mean "anything other than" or "any other place."

Believe me, or else you'll regret it.

elue noun

The Elbe River in Germany. Shakespeare's texts sometimes spell it this way in older printed editions.

elvish adjective

Marked or changed by fairies or supernatural forces, usually for the worse. In Shakespeare's time, people believed elves could leave invisible marks on a person at birth, especially to cause harm or oddness.

A child born twisted or strange might be called elvish-marked.

elysium noun

In Greek mythology, the peaceful place where blessed souls go after death. It means a state of perfect happiness or paradise.

He spoke of love as if it were elysium—a place where all pain ceased.

emballing verb

To invest with the ball as a symbol of royal power. Shakespeare uses it with a suggestive double meaning.

embarquement noun

A blocking or holding back of something — a restraint or obstacle. In Shakespeare's time, the word often carried the weight of an official ban or seizure.

embassade noun

A diplomatic mission or assignment. Someone sent as an ambassador to carry out official business for a ruler or state.

When you shamed me during my mission as ambassador.

embassador noun

An official envoy or messenger sent to represent a ruler or state in a foreign court. Shakespeare's spelling of what we now call an ambassador.

The king sends his embassador to negotiate peace with France.

embassage noun

A message or errand sent from one person to another, often formal or important. Shakespeare uses it to mean both the task itself and the communication that carries it.

He carried the king's embassage to the enemy camp.

embassy noun

A message or errand, often one of love or negotiation. In Shakespeare's time, it could mean the official mission of an ambassador, or simply any important message someone carries between people.

She sent loving embassies to him through her servant.

embattle verb

To arrange soldiers into battle formation, ready to fight. Armies embattle when they line up for combat.

We shall embattle by the second hour.

embay'd adjective

Trapped or enclosed in a bay, with no clear way out to open water. Shakespeare uses it to describe a ship or fleet hemmed in by the curve of the coastline.

The navy found itself embay'd, unable to break through to the sea.

ember-eves noun

The night before an Ember day — a day set aside by the church for fasting and prayer. Ember days fell four times a year, and the eve was the vigil leading up to them.

emblaze verb

To display or show off something proudly, as if it were a coat of arms. To make something's importance or worth visible.

The king emblazed his victory with banners across the city.

embodied adjective

Bound to someone so completely that you feel like one person with them. A way of saying your lives and wills are joined together.

I've pledged myself to you so fully that I'm yours completely, as if we were a single being.

emboss verb

To corner or trap something—whether a hunted animal or, in figurative speech, a person or idea. To push into a tight spot with no escape.

The hunters emboss the deer at the cliff's edge.

embossed adjective

Swollen or puffed up, often from disease or injury. In hunting, it can mean frothing at the mouth from exhaustion or rage.

A boar so embossed from the chase it foamed like the sea.

embounded adjective

Locked in or hemmed in. Trapped within limits or boundaries.

embowel verb

To rip out someone's insides, literally or as a figure of speech for stripping away everything valuable. Shakespeare uses it for violent gutting or, more often, for devastating loss.

The storm embowels the ship of its cargo and crew.

embrace verb

To accept something willingly and with open arms—a friend, an idea, or even a hardship. In Shakespeare, it often means to take something on gladly, or to resign yourself to what you cannot change.

She embraced the chance to prove herself, though she feared the outcome.

embrasure noun

An embrace or act of hugging someone. Shakespeare sometimes uses the word to mean the physical closeness of two people holding each other.

The lovers met in a tender embrasure after months apart.

embrue verb

To stain or soak something with blood. Shakespeare uses this word when violence leaves a mark—literal or figurative.

His sword was embrued with the blood of his enemies.

eminence noun

High status or superiority, especially the kind that demands respect and recognition. To give someone eminence is to acknowledge their rank and honor them accordingly.

Present him eminence—show respect for his rank and authority.

emmanuel noun

A religious invocation written at the top of documents like deeds and letters, meant as a blessing or protection. It comes from the biblical name meaning "God with us."

The merchant began his contract with Emmanuel, hoping divine favor would guide the agreement.

emmew verb

To shut up or confine. The word is an old variant spelling—you'll find the same meaning under ENEW.

empale verb

To pierce or stab with a sharp weapon or stake. An older spelling of impale.

emperial adjective

A mangled word for 'imperial'—Shakespeare's character mispronounces it, usually when talking about an emperor or his power. It's a comedy moment that shows the speaker's pretension or confusion.

A clown might say 'emperial' when he means to impress with talk of the emperor's throne.

emperor noun

A ruler with supreme power over an empire or territory. In Shakespeare, sometimes used more loosely to mean any supreme commander or leader.

The emperor of Rome commands all the legions.

empery noun

Supreme power or absolute rule over a territory. It can mean the rank or title of emperor itself, or the land and people under that one person's complete control.

emphasis noun

Strong feeling or force behind words—the weight you give to what you say. In Shakespeare, a character might speak with such emphasis that their emotion fills the whole room.

empiric noun

A doctor or healer who relies only on trial and error, without real training or knowledge. Shakespeare uses it as an insult—someone pretending to have medical skill but actually just guessing.

You call yourself a physician? You're nothing but an empiric.

empiricutic adjective

Quackish or based on untested guesswork rather than real knowledge. Shakespeare coins this word to mock the fake cures peddled by charlatans.

employ verb

To send someone on a task or mission. In Shakespeare's time, this often meant dispatching a person to carry out an errand or assignment.

I will employ you to deliver this letter to Rome.

employment noun

Work or service for someone. It can also mean the purpose or use you put something to.

empoison verb

To ruin or destroy something completely. The word carries the idea of corruption spreading through and wrecking what was good.

The betrayal empoisoned their friendship beyond repair.

empress noun

A woman who rules an empire, or the wife of an emperor. She holds supreme power or is married into it.

Cleopatra was empress of Egypt, commanding armies and kingdoms.

empty-hearted adjective

Without feeling or compassion. Emotionally cold or indifferent.

An empty-hearted ruler watches his people suffer and does nothing.

emulate verb

To try to match or surpass someone else, driven by ambition or rivalry. To compete with someone by copying their success or trying to do better.

He wants to emulate his father's courage in battle.

emulation noun

Jealous rivalry or competitive spite—wanting what someone else has or resenting their superiority. It's the bitter side of ambition, driven by grudge rather than genuine admiration.

The two generals' emulation turned the court into factions, each side bitter against the other's success.

emulator noun

Someone who puts you down or speaks badly of you. In Shakespeare's time, to emulate could mean to rival or compete, but an emulator was often one who did so by belittling others.

An emulator spreads rumors to damage your reputation.

emulous adjective

Driven to match or outdo someone else. Can mean admirably ambitious—wanting to prove yourself worthy—or jealously competitive, depending on context.

An emulous student might study hard to match her teacher's skill, or scheme to knock her rival down.

enact verb

To perform or carry out. In Shakespeare's time, it often means to decree or make law, but also to act out a part on stage or accomplish a deed.

He enacted the role of Julius Caesar before the court.

enacture noun

The carrying out or performance of something. What actually happens when words or plans become real action.

The difference between what the laws say and their enacture in daily life.

enamell'd adjective

Covered with a smooth, glossy, hard surface. Shakespeare uses this to describe things that shine or gleam naturally—like polished metal or a glazed finish.

Her enamell'd eyes caught the light like jewels.

enceladus noun

A giant from Greek mythology, one of the Titans who fought against the gods. Shakespeare uses the name as a reference to monstrous size or strength.

Like Enceladus buried under a mountain, he lies trapped and raging.

enchafed adjective

Heated up and angry. Picture something churning with rage — a person furious, or a river wild with turbulence.

The storm-swollen river, enchafed and dangerous, swept everything in its path.

enchant verb

To captivate someone completely, as though casting a spell. You hold them utterly fascinated, drawing them in as if by magic.

Her beauty and wit enchanted everyone in the room.

enchantment noun

A title of respect or fear used to address someone—especially a powerful or dangerous person. It conveys awe mixed with dread.

Stand back—that's the king's enchantment, not to be trifled with.

enchas'd verb

Decorated with jewels or precious stones set into the surface. The word suggests something valuable is embedded or inlaid to make it shine.

A sword enchased with rubies caught the firelight.

enclog verb

To get in the way of something or slow it down. Think of it like putting a heavy weight on a wheel.

Debt and worry enclog his efforts to leave town.

encompass verb

To trick or outwit someone. To get the better of someone through cunning or deceit.

He tried to encompass me, but I saw through his scheme.

encompassment noun

Talking around something instead of getting straight to the point. A roundabout way of discussing a subject.

encounter noun

A meeting between two people, whether friendly or hostile. Shakespeare also uses it to mean the way someone greets or addresses another person — their manner and tone.

A chance encounter in the street can change everything.

encounterer noun

Someone who is bold or eager to step forward and engage. In Shakespeare's time, it often carries a charge—someone who pushes into action or confrontation without holding back.

encrimson'd adjective

Stained or colored deep red, like crimson dye. Shakespeare invented this word by adding a prefix to crimson, and writers have used it ever since.

Blood encrimson'd the battlefield.

encumber'd adjective

Weighed down or made awkward by something in the way. Often used of arms crossed or held in a way that prevents free movement.

An encumber'd fighter can't swing his sword easily.

end noun

The extremity or furthest point of something—at arm's end means at arm's length. Also: the finish or conclusion of something, or death. When something is at an end, it's done and finished.

He held the sword at the stave's end to keep his enemy at distance.

end-all noun

The final, decisive blow or action that settles everything. A stroke that finishes things completely.

He spoke of his plan as the be-all and end-all of their troubles.

endart verb

To shoot or thrust something with the speed and force of a dart. The word captures the sudden, piercing motion of a projectile.

His glance would endart through the crowd like an arrow.

endeared adjective

Made more valuable or precious to someone. To be endeared to a person is to be held dear by them, bound to them by affection or obligation.

To be endeared to a king meant the king treasured you above others.

ender noun

The thing that brings something to an end or closes it off. In Shakespeare, often used to mean death—the final ending of a life.

You are my ender, the one who will finish my story.

ending noun

Death, or the final moment of life. In Shakespeare's time, how you died—peacefully or violently, honored or ashamed—mattered as much as the fact of dying itself.

A noble ending in battle was considered far better than a quiet death in bed.

endurance noun

The ability to put up with something difficult or painful. In Shakespeare, it often means the act of bearing or tolerating hardship, imprisonment, or suffering without breaking.

She couldn't take any more — her endurance had reached its limit.

endure verb

To remain or last in a place or condition. When Shakespeare uses it this way, he means something stays put—a feeling, a state, a physical thing—without change.

Her pure mind endures in that poisoned place.

enemies noun

people who are opposed to, hostile toward, or in conflict with another person or group

Please, everyone, stand up. I know you two are rivals: How did this peaceful harmony come about, That hatred is so far from jealousy, To sleep in hatred and fear no conflict?

enemy noun

The devil, or any power working against you. In Shakespeare's time, the devil wasn't just a religious idea—he was a real spiritual opponent, a personal adversary.

Resist the enemy's temptations and hold out against sin.

enew verb

To force a bird into water, or to confine it. This is an old falconry term that appears in Shakespeare texts, though sometimes misprinted or amended by later editors.

enfeoff verb

To give up control or power to someone else. In Shakespeare's time, this often meant handing over property or authority in a formal, legal way.

He enfeoffed his lands to his son before departing for war.

enfoldings noun

Garments or clothing. The layers of fabric that wrap around the body.

She shed her heavy enfoldings and stood bare to the morning air.

enforce verb

To drive or push with force, either physical or through pressure and persuasion. Shakespeare uses it for everything from literal motion (an object thrown) to pressing someone to act, or urging them to feel or do something strongly.

The storm enforced us from our safe harbor onto the open sea.

enforced adjective

Forced or compelled against someone's will. In Shakespeare, often means sexually violated or assaulted.

An enforced marriage where the bride had no choice.

enforcedly adverb

By force or because you have no choice. You're doing something against your will, not freely.

He enforcedly smiled at his rival, though it pained him.

enforcement noun

The act of forcing someone to do something against their will, or breaking in on them without permission. A kind of violent compulsion.

enfranched verb

To give someone the right to vote or to grant them citizenship and legal freedom. In Shakespeare's time, this meant admitting someone to full membership in a community or state.

The new law enfranched all property owners, no matter their birth.

enfranchise verb

To set someone free—either from political control or from being locked up. In Shakespeare, it usually means freeing a person or group from oppression or captivity.

The king will enfranchise the prisoners held in the tower.

enfree verb

To set someone free or give them liberty. The word emphasizes releasing someone from bondage or constraint.

engage verb

To promise or commit yourself to something, or to bind someone else by a promise. Can also mean to trap or entangle—to get yourself stuck in a situation.

I'm engaged to appear at the feast, whether I want to or not.

engagement noun

A promise or commitment you've made to someone. Something you've pledged to do or see through.

I'll explain all the promises I've made to you.

engaol verb

To put someone in jail or prison. Shakespeare uses this as a straightforward verb for locking someone up.

The king's men came to engaol the rebels.

engild verb

To cover or fill with golden light. To make something gleam like gold.

The sunrise engilds the tower.

engine noun

A tool, device, or scheme—sometimes a trap or trick. In Shakespeare, it can be a physical machine (like a weapon or rope ladder) or something abstract like a plot or a person used to accomplish a goal.

Her sharp tongue was the engine that won him over.

enginer noun

Someone who designs and builds things — especially military equipment, fortifications, or machines. In Shakespeare's time, this was a skilled, sometimes rare profession.

engirt verb

To surround or encircle someone or something. Can also mean to be trapped or hemmed in by something (literally or figuratively).

The enemy forces engirt the castle on all sides.

england noun

The country of England, a kingdom in the British Isles; used both as a geographical location and as a political entity.

They say he's already in the Forest of Arden, with a bunch of cheerful men. They live there like the old Robin Hood of England: people say that young gentlemen join him every day, and waste time carelessly, just like they did in the golden days.

english adjective

Of or relating to England, its people, or its language.

These young men are cold-hearted, they won't take her: surely, they must be illegitimate Englishmen; the French didn't have anything to do with them.

englished verb

To put something into plain, clear language. To explain or translate something so anyone can understand it.

He englished the difficult legal terms so the common folk could grasp the contract.

englut verb

To swallow up or engulf something completely. The word suggests being consumed or absorbed by something larger.

The sea engluts the ship in darkness.

engraffed adjective

Planted so deeply it's become part of something. Firmly rooted or attached, like a graft that's taken hold.

Love engraffed in the heart stays there for life.

engrafted adjective

Deeply planted or fixed in place, as if grafted like a branch onto a tree. Something engrafted is impossible to remove or shake loose.

His grief was engrafted so deep in his heart that time could not heal it.

engrave verb

To carve or cut deeply into a hard surface like metal or stone. In Shakespeare, often used to mean something is fixed or marked permanently—carved into memory or the heart.

Her face was engraven in his mind forever.

engross verb

To take exclusive possession of something; to monopolize or hoard. Originally it meant to write something out in formal legal script, but Shakespeare uses it to mean controlling or absorbing something entirely—a person's attention, an opportunity, even death itself.

He engrossed all her time, leaving her no moment for anyone else.

engrossment noun

A pile or batch of something gathered together. In Shakespeare's time, it often meant a large amount of goods or money accumulated.

enjoin verb

To order or require someone to do something, often with the weight of a vow or legal duty behind it. When you enjoin someone, you're binding them to an obligation they can't easily escape.

The court enjoined him to keep the peace or face serious consequences.

enjoy verb

To have something and keep it for yourself. In Shakespeare's time, this often means to possess or hold onto property, or to have the benefit of something without losing it.

enjoyer noun

Someone who has or holds something — whether it's land, a title, a right, or a possession. In Shakespeare's time, this often meant owning property or enjoying its benefits.

The enjoyer of the estate lived well on its rents.

enkindle verb

To stir someone up or provoke them into action. You kindle a fire in their mind—set them burning with emotion or desire.

His rival's insult enkindled his rage.

enlard verb

To make fat or plump. In Shakespeare, often used to describe fattening livestock—or, metaphorically, to enrich or make prosperous.

The merchant enlards his purse with good trade.

enlarge verb

To expand or set free. Shakespeare uses it for spreading joy, letting emotion flow, or—rarely—for releasing someone from confinement.

She enlarges her mirth across the room.

enlargement noun

Freedom from confinement or restraint. In Shakespeare, usually means being let out of prison or released from some kind of captivity.

The prisoner begged the king for enlargement so he could see his family again.

enlighten verb

To make something shine or glow. Shakespeare uses it rarely, and mostly in a literal sense—like light falling on a surface and making it bright.

enlink verb

To join or bind together. Shakespeare uses it only once, in a moment of formal or poetic speech.

enmesh verb

To trap or tangle something in a net or web. Can be literal (a fisherman catching his line) or figurative (caught in a scheme or complicated situation).

She was enmeshed in the plot before she realized what was happening.

enmew verb

To shut up or confine, as if locking someone in a cage. The word suggests being trapped or caged in.

enormity noun

Something so shocking or unnatural that it violates basic order. In Shakespeare, it often means a crime or act so wrong it seems monstrous.

The murder was an enormity—a violation of nature itself.

enormous adjective

Out of order; not following the rules or the normal way of things. In Shakespeare's time, this sense comes before the modern meaning of "huge."

His enormous behavior at court shocked the queen.

enow noun

Enough of something—a plural or collective form. You might say it when you've got all you need of a thing.

We have French quarrels enow—meaning we have plenty of them already.

enpatron verb

To take someone under your protection or support as a patron does. You become their sponsor or protector.

By giving me shelter, you've taken me into your care.

enpierced verb

Pierced through; stabbed or wounded. The prefix en- intensifies the basic meaning of pierce.

His heart was enpierced by love and sorrow alike.

enraged adjective

Overwhelmed by intense feeling — love, desire, or grief — so strongly that you're almost out of control. It's the fever of emotion, not just anger.

His heart was enraged with longing for her.

enrank verb

To arrange soldiers in battle formation. A military term for getting troops lined up and ready to fight.

The general enranked his forces before the enemy advance.

enrapt adjective

Completely absorbed or swept up by something — lost in it, unable to look away or think of anything else.

She sat enrapt through the whole performance, not moving once.

enridged adjective

Marked by ridges or furrows, like waves on water. The word appears in texts about the sea's restless surface, though some early printed versions used "enraged" instead.

enrolled verb

Written down officially and recorded, usually on parchment or in a register. Once something was enrolled, it became a legal document.

The contract was enrolled at court, making it binding law.

enrooted adjective

Tangled together so deeply that you can't separate them. Like roots that have grown into each other and become one mass.

His enemies are so tangled up with his friends that he can't tell them apart.

enround verb

To circle around something or someone. To hem in from all sides.

The enemy soldiers enround the castle, cutting off any escape.

enschedul'd adjective

Written down or recorded in writing. Used to describe something that has been officially set down on paper or parchment.

The enschedul'd accounts lay before the treasurer.

ensconce verb

To hide or protect yourself—or something—safely behind a barrier or stronghold. Often used to mean tucking yourself away in a secure, hidden spot.

He ensconced himself in the fort, safe from enemy sight.

enseamed adjective

Soaked or smeared with grease and filth. Used literally for something dirty, or figuratively for something morally corrupt or disgusting.

An enseamed bed — one stinking of sweat and lust.

ensear verb

To dry up or wither. The word suggests something shrivelled by heat or age, left drained of moisture and life.

The drought will ensear the fields until nothing grows.

ensinewed adjective

Strengthened or made muscular, like sinews have been woven into something. The word carries the sense of being given strength or resilience.

An ensinewed arm ready for battle.

enskied adjective

Placed in heaven or raised to the sky. Used to describe someone or something lifted to a sacred or exalted realm.

Her beauty was so great, it seemed enskied—belonging with the gods, not mortals.

ensteep'd adjective

Submerged or soaked in water. Something that's underwater or deeply immersed.

The ensteep'd meadows after the river flooded.

ensue verb

To follow after or come next. In Shakespeare, it often means what happens as a result—the consequence or outcome.

Let not tomorrow then ensue to-day — don't let tomorrow come after today.

entail noun

A legal arrangement that locks an estate in a family line—you can't sell it or change who inherits it. Cutting the entail meant breaking that chain and freeing the property to be sold.

He wanted to cut the entail so he could sell the land and pay his debts.

entame verb

To bring under control or make submissive. In Shakespeare's time, this word was already becoming old—he uses it to show strength or mastery over something resistant.

The warrior entames the wild horse with patience and firm command.

enter verb

To commit yourself to something—a promise, a fight, a conversation. Also means to formally present a legal case in court, or to teach someone the ways of something.

I am bound by a bond I have entered into on your behalf.

enter-tissued adjective

Woven together; interlaced or intermixed so the strands are inseparable. Shakespeare uses it to describe things—physical or abstract—that are thoroughly tangled or blended.

entertain verb

To keep someone's attention or engage them in conversation. Also to receive or welcome someone, or to take them into your service.

He was entertained as a servant in the household.

entertainer noun

Someone who holds onto a feeling or emotion—keeps it alive in their heart. In Shakespeare's time, this could mean cherishing hope, nursing a grudge, or keeping love burning.

A faithful entertainer of hope, she waits for his return.

entertainment noun

The way you treat or receive someone. It can mean hospitality—food, lodging, a warm welcome—or, more broadly, how you handle a person in your service or under your roof. Sometimes it means simply the time or activity spent with a guest.

entire adjective

Unmixed and pure; without anything added or taken away. Also means genuine and sincere, not false or pretended.

His entire devotion to the cause was plain to see.

entirely adverb

Completely, all the way through. In Shakespeare's time, it can mean without stopping or breaking, or with full heart and sincerity.

He loves Beatrice entirely—with his whole self.

entitled adjective

Having a right or claim to something. If you're entitled to something, you deserve it or have grounds to demand it.

She was entitled to her share of the inheritance.

entranc'd adjective

Knocked unconscious or into a trance-like state. Someone in this condition is unaware and unresponsive.

She lay entranc'd on the ground, as if all life had left her.

entrance noun

A way in or point of entry. Also, a fee paid to gain admission or access to something.

He paid an entrance fee to cross the bridge.

entreasured adjective

Stored up and kept safe, like treasure locked away. Hidden and kept for later.

Gold entreasured in a vault, waiting for the day it's needed.

entreat verb

To ask someone earnestly or urgently for something. Shakespeare uses it for direct pleas, negotiations, or pleading on someone's behalf.

I'll send a bishop to entreat the king for peace.

entreatment noun

A conversation or meeting between two people. Often one where something important is being discussed or negotiated.

The two lords had a private entreatment to settle their dispute.

entrench verb

To cut a deep groove or trench into something. Shakespeare uses it to describe a weapon carving into flesh or material.

The sword entrenched a wound so deep it would not heal.

envenom verb

To poison someone, or to destroy something by making it toxic. Shakespeare uses it both literally (putting poison in food or drink) and figuratively (poisoning a relationship or reputation with lies).

A jealous whisper can envenom a friendship faster than any physical toxin.

envious adjective

Full of spite and malice toward someone. Envious people want to harm others out of resentment, not just wish they had what those others have.

He threw envious glances at his rival, hoping for his downfall.

enviously adverb

With spite or malice. Acting to harm someone out of jealousy or resentment.

He enviously spread rumors to damage her reputation.

envy noun

Malice or ill-will toward someone, often mixed with spite or resentment. To be in someone's envy means to be caught in their hostility.

Keep me safe from his envy and anger.

enwheel verb

To form a circle around something. To encircle or surround.

The soldiers enwheeled the castle to cut off escape.

enwombed adjective

Born from someone's womb; carried in the womb. Shakespeare uses this to mean a child who came from a specific mother.

A mother speaking of her enwombed child—one she carried and gave birth to.

ephesian noun

A drinking buddy or carousing friend—someone you spend your time with in taverns and revelry, not necessarily the most trustworthy companion.

The two Ephesians stumbled out of the alehouse, singing and laughing.

epicure noun

Someone who loves luxury and comfort, especially fine food and drink. An epicure indulges freely in life's pleasures.

The wealthy merchant was known as an epicure who kept the finest wines in his cellar.

epicurean adjective

Devoted to pleasure and fine food. Something epicurean is luxurious and designed for someone with refined taste.

The king's epicurean feasts were legendary throughout the kingdom.

epicurism noun

A love of fine living and rich pleasures. Indulgence in expensive food, wine, and comfort.

He spent his days in epicurism, surrounded by soft silks and the finest wines.

epicurus noun

An ancient Greek philosopher famous for teaching that pleasure and avoiding pain are the highest goods. Shakespeare's time used his name loosely to mean any person devoted to luxury or indulgence.

A man called Epicurus might be shown feasting while others go hungry.

epigram noun

A short, clever poem or saying that ends with a surprising twist or witty observation. The point lands at the end—that's what makes it memorable.

Mercutio's quips are pure epigrams: sharp, unexpected, and perfectly timed.

epileptic adjective

Contorted and ashen, like someone having a seizure. Used to describe a face twisted by intense emotion or physical distress.

His epileptic features showed the agony of his despair.

epithet noun

A word or phrase used to describe someone or something. In Shakespeare, it's often a colorful or apt description—like calling war "bloody" or love "sweet."

"epithets of war" — the vivid words soldiers use to talk about battle.

epitheton noun

A descriptive word or phrase that captures a key quality of something or someone. In Shakespeare's time, it was a common rhetorical trick to paint character and mood with a single striking adjective.

Calling someone 'the bald Caesar' uses an epitheton to fix his appearance in the listener's mind.

epitome noun

A small or condensed version of something larger — the essential thing captured in a tiny form. In Shakespeare's time, often used for a book that summarizes a bigger work.

That brief poem is the epitome of the whole tragedy.

equal adjective

Perfectly balanced or fair. In Shakespeare, it often means impartial or just—treating both sides the same without favor.

Equal scales of justice weigh both the rich man and the poor.

equinoctial noun

The imaginary line that runs around the middle of the Earth, dividing it into northern and southern halves. In Shakespeare's time, it was also called the equinoctial line.

Ships sailing toward the equinoctial had to prepare for different weather and stars.

equinox noun

The moment when day and night are equally long. Shakespeare uses it to describe balance, fairness, or a turning point—especially when two things are evenly matched or a situation shifts.

Like an equinox between two seasons, neither side had the advantage.

equipage noun

Outfit or gear—originally military equipment and supplies, but used more broadly for anything that gets you outfitted or ready. A show of fine trappings or display.

A soldier in full equipage carried sword, armor, and standard.

equivalent adjective

Equal in strength, value, or effect. Matching in power or force.

His wit proved equivalent to hers in every exchange.

equivocal adjective

Deliberately unclear or double-meaning. When something is equivocal, you can read it more than one way—often because someone wants to hide their real meaning.

His equivocal answer left us unsure whether he'd agreed or refused.

erebus noun

The deepest darkness—the underworld, hell, or any place of shadow and despair. In Shakespeare's time, it meant the gloomy pit where the dead go.

The murderer fears Erebus waits for him after death.

ergo conjunction

Therefore; for that reason. A formal way to say one thing follows logically from another.

He is a fool, ergo his advice is worthless.

eringo noun

A sugared sweet made from sea holly root. People in Shakespeare's time ate it as a treat and believed it sparked desire.

A vendor might call out: 'Eringo root — the lover's sweet!'

ern verb

To earn; to gain or deserve something through work or merit.

errant adjective

Traveling from place to place; roaming without a fixed destination. Knights errant in stories wander in search of adventure and wrongs to right.

An errant knight rode through the forest seeking noble deeds.

erroneous adjective

Wrong in a way that misleads or causes harm. Acting against what's right or lawful.

An erroneous choice that led him into treachery.

error noun

A wrongdoing or sin. Not a simple mistake, but a genuine transgression—a moral failing or breaking of what's right.

His error was trusting the wrong counsel, and it cost him dearly.

erst adverb

A long time ago; in the past. Shakespeare uses it to give weight to something that happened before.

He erst was a bold soldier, but age has worn him down.

escape noun

A witty remark or clever quip that breaks free from normal conversation. Sometimes used to mean an outrageous act or transgression that crosses the line.

escapen verb

To get away or break free from something. In Shakespeare's time, this word sometimes appears in old printed editions with different spellings, but the meaning stays the same.

eschew verb

To avoid or stay away from something deliberately. You steer clear of it.

He eschews fancy clothes and wears plain wool instead.

escot verb

To pay someone's bill or share of costs. In Shakespeare's time, to 'escot' someone meant to cover their reckoning at an inn or tavern.

How are they escoted? — Who's paying for their drinks?

esile noun

Vinegar, or a sour wine. Shakespeare uses it for cheap, harsh wine or the bitter liquid itself.

esperance noun

Hope. The word was the battle cry and family motto of the Percys, a powerful English noble family, so it carries weight and dignity when characters invoke it.

espial noun

The act of catching sight of someone or spotting them. A spy or person doing the spotting.

The guards feared espial of their secret meeting by the queen's agents.

espouse verb

To marry or join together. Shakespeare often uses it figuratively—to commit yourself completely to something, as if it were a marriage.

"espoused to death" means bound to death like a spouse.

esquire noun

A gentleman of good social standing in England, ranking just below a knight. In Shakespeare's time, it was a mark of respectability and property.

A country gentleman might sign himself 'John Smith, esquire' to show his status.

essa'y noun

A test or attempt to see if something works or is true. In Shakespeare's time, people used this word for any kind of trial—whether of a person's courage, a metal's quality, or an idea's worth.

His first essay in battle showed he had real courage.

essence noun

The core of who or what someone is—their fundamental nature or being. Shakespeare uses it to mean both the fact of existing and the irreducible quality that makes a person themselves.

She is my essence—without her, I'm not really myself.

essential adjective

Real and genuine, not imaginary or pretended. What truly exists or matters, rather than what merely seems to.

The essential difference between the twins was their nature, not their appearance.

essentially adverb

At heart; in what something really is, stripped of anything added or fake. It means truly or fundamentally.

establish verb

To secure property or money for someone — usually in a legal way that guarantees they'll have it for life, or pass it to their heirs. It's about making a settlement official and permanent.

He established a fortune upon his daughter so she'd be provided for after he died.

estate noun

Your condition or situation in life — how things stand with you. Also means your rank or social standing, or your property and wealth.

"What thinks he of our estate?" — What does he make of our situation?

esteem noun

Your judgment of someone's worth or reputation. The respect and approval others hold for a person. In Shakespeare, it often means how highly someone is valued in the world's eyes.

A prisoner held in low esteem has little hope of mercy.

esteeming verb

To consider something valuable or worthwhile. When you esteem something, you hold it in high regard.

He esteemed her wisdom above all other counsel.

estimable adjective

Worthy of respect and admiration. Someone or something estimable deserves to be valued highly.

She showed estimable courage in standing up for what was right.

estimate noun

Your worth or reputation — how much people value you. In Shakespeare, it often means your standing or good name in society.

A man of noble estimate commands respect wherever he goes.

estimation noun

What someone thinks something or someone is worth—their value or reputation. In Shakespeare, it can also mean a guess or judgment about something.

The king's estimation of the young knight rose after his brave deed.

estridge noun

An ostrich. The large flightless bird was known to Shakespeare's audience mainly from stories and exotic descriptions, since they lived in Africa and the Middle East.

et bonum quo antiquius eo melius

A Latin phrase meaning that good things improve with age. Shakespeare uses it to praise old things—wine, friendships, traditions—as inherently more valuable than new ones.

et tu, brute interjection

Latin for "you too, Brutus?" Caesar's cry of betrayal when he sees his friend among the assassins. It's become shorthand for feeling stabbed in the back by someone you trusted.

When his best friend voted against him, he muttered 'Et tu, Brute?' under his breath.

eternal adjective

Lasting forever, or so intense it feels like it will. Shakespeare uses it to describe things that horrify him so deeply they'd be remembered always—or to mock someone for being eternally stuck in a childish state.

eterne adjective

Lasting forever; eternal. Shakespeare uses it for things that never die or end—beauty, fame, love, the soul.

Your beauty will remain eterne, never fading with time.

ethiop noun

A person from Ethiopia or North Africa. In Shakespeare's time, the word often carried racial connotations and was used to describe someone with dark skin. The term itself isn't inherently offensive, but the context of use in early modern plays often reflected prejudiced attitudes of the era.

eunuch noun

A small flute or pipe that produces sound when you hum through a hole in it, rather than by blowing air alone. The instrument was sometimes called a eunuch flute.

even adjective, adverb, verb

As an adjective: calm, balanced, or level — in mood or in fact. As an adverb: exactly, just now, or used for emphasis. As a verb (rare): to match or balance with someone.

even christian noun

A Christian just like you—a believer in the same faith. Shakespeare uses it to mean someone bound to you by shared religion.

He claims to be an even christian, yet he cheats the poor.

even-handed adjective

Fair and impartial; treating both sides equally without favoring one over the other.

An even-handed judge listens to both arguments before deciding.

even-pleached adjective

Woven together in neat, tight rows. The term comes from gardening—it describes branches or hedges trained and interlaced so they form a smooth, uniform wall.

evening mass noun

A church service held in the afternoon, rather than in the morning. In Shakespeare's time, this would have been a later prayer service, distinct from the main mass of the day.

evenly adverb

In a straight line or direct path, without veering or breaking course.

event noun

The outcome or result of something. What happens as a consequence of actions or circumstances.

Follow him and see how things turn out.

ever adverb

At any time, always, or eternally. Shakespeare uses it to mean "for all time" or "constantly." You'll also see it in questions like "how ever" or "what ever" to mean "in any way" or "no matter what."

"Let me live here ever"—meaning, let me stay in this place forever.

ever-fired adjective

Always burning; perpetually aflame. Shakespeare uses it to describe something that burns without ceasing.

everlasting adjective

Lasting forever; eternal. In Shakespeare's time, it could also refer to a coarse, durable fabric used for official uniforms—the kind sergeants and constables wore.

evermore adverb

Ever again; at any time. Often used with a negative to mean "never again" or "not ever."

every adjective

Each one individually. When Shakespeare uses this with a plural noun, he means all of them taken separately, not as a group.

evidence noun

A witness or group of witnesses. In Shakespeare's time, a person who testifies under oath counts as evidence itself—the witness *is* the proof.

Where are the witnesses who can speak to what happened?

evident adjective

Clear and impossible to doubt. Something you can point to as proof.

We need to find physical proof—something more obvious than what we have now.

evil noun

Sin or wrongdoing. Also: misfortune, suffering, or disease. Shakespeare uses it where we might say 'harm,' 'wickedness,' or 'affliction.'

He confessed to the evil he had committed.

evil-ey'd adjective

Having a malicious, hateful gaze or disposition. Someone looking at you with anger or ill intent.

The villain fixed his evil-ey'd stare on the innocent maiden.

evilly adverb

In a way that's wrong or improper. Also: with reluctance or difficulty, as if something is being done badly or against the grain.

To give a gift evilly is to give it in the wrong spirit or at the wrong moment.

evitate verb

To avoid or stay away from something. You deliberately steer clear of a person, place, or situation.

He evitated his enemy in the street rather than face a confrontation.

exact adjective

Precise and complete, without anything left out or changed. The real thing, not approximate or partial.

The exact wealth of all our states—every penny accounted for.

exacting noun

A demand for payment or service, often enforced harshly. A tax or fee imposed on someone, especially an unjust one.

The king's exacting of tribute left the peasants with nothing.

exactly adverb

In complete detail, leaving nothing out. Also used to mean precisely or in so many words—to say something directly and without hedging.

I exactly begged your pardon—I stated it clearly, holding nothing back.

exalt verb

To feel a surge of pride or triumph. You lift yourself up—mentally and emotionally—into a state of elation.

He exalts at the news of his son's victory, chest swelling with satisfaction.

exalted adjective

High up, or raised above the ground. Can also mean elevated in rank or importance.

The king stood on exalted shores, looking out over his kingdom.

example noun

A case from the past that shows how something was done or what happened before. Shakespeare uses it to mean a precedent—something that came first and set the pattern for what comes after.

The king's first decision became the example that all future rulers had to follow.

exceed verb

To be greater, better, or more intense than something else. To go beyond or surpass.

The fear exceeded the guilt—it was far worse.

excellent adjective

Outstandingly good or impressive. Sometimes used to describe something extreme or excessive, even in a negative way.

excellently adverb

To a great degree; very much. Used to emphasize how strongly someone feels or how much something is true.

I love that plan excellently.

except verb

To object to something or take issue with it. In Shakespeare's time, it was also a legal move—formally stating your disagreement with what someone claimed or proposed.

exception noun

An objection to someone's character or fitness, or strong disapproval of their actions. When you take exception to something, you're saying you don't approve or you find fault with it.

She took exception to his rudeness and refused to speak with him again.

exceptless adjective

Without exception; absolute and complete. It applies to everyone or everything with no leaving anyone or anything out.

excess noun

Money charged as interest on a loan. A lender's profit taken from the borrower beyond the sum lent.

A merchant complains that the moneylender's excess has ruined him.

exchange noun

A swap—giving one thing and getting another in return. Often used in the phrase "in exchange for" to mean trading something of value for something else.

He offered his sword in exchange for safe passage.

excitement noun

Something that spurs you on or pushes you toward action. In Shakespeare's time, often used for what drives soldiers to battle.

The king's promises served as excitements to his soldiers going to war.

exclaim verb

To speak out loudly in anger or protest. Often directed at someone or something you blame—to rail against them or accuse them openly.

He exclaims on Death for taking his friend too young.

exclamation noun

A loud protest or cry of anger. Someone speaking up forcefully to complain or object.

The crowd's exclamation against the king's decree echoed through the streets.

excrement noun

Something that grows out from the body—like hair or a beard. Shakespeare uses it to talk about facial hair as a sign of manly vigor.

excuse noun, verb

As a noun: a reason offered to soften blame or get off the hook. As a verb: to offer reasons that make a fault seem smaller, or to ask to be let off from doing something.

execute verb

To carry out or put into action—to make something real. Also: to kill or put someone to death, especially as punishment.

executing the outward face of royalty—acting like a king to everyone watching

execution noun

The act of carrying out or putting something into practice. In Shakespeare's time, it often meant actually doing or performing something—like using a power or skill you have.

"The execution of his plan was swift and sure."

executioner noun

Someone who kills another person. In Shakespeare, often used for a murderer or assassin rather than an official performer of legal sentences.

The executioner crept toward his victim in the dark.

executor noun

Someone who carries out an action or plan. In Shakespeare, often means an executioner — the person who performs a death sentence.

The executors pale—those tasked with beheading the condemned.

exempt adjective

Cut off or shut out from something. In Shakespeare, often means excluded from a benefit or condition that others enjoy.

She felt exempt from the joy everyone else took in the celebration.

exequies noun

A funeral ceremony. The rituals and respect paid to the dead.

They held solemn exequies for the fallen king.

exercise noun

Regular practice or routine activity that builds skill or habit. In Shakespeare's time, it could also mean a religious observance or sermon.

Hunting was his daily exercise.

exeunt verb (stage direction)

They leave the stage; plural form of 'exit' used in stage directions to show multiple characters departing.

Exeunt all but LYSANDER and HERMIA

exhalation noun

A shooting star or meteor—something that flares up in the sky and falls. In Shakespeare's time, people thought these were vapors rising from Earth and catching fire in the air.

A meteor streaks across the night sky and vanishes.

exhale verb

To draw out or give off, especially as the sun draws up moisture from the earth to create mist and meteors. Shakespeare uses it in the language of breath and vapor rising.

The sun exhales moisture that transforms into the mist around us.

exhaled verb

Breathed out. In Shakespeare, often used for a final breath—the moment life leaves the body.

His spirit exhaled with his last words.

exhaust verb

To draw out or bring forth. In Shakespeare, often used of pulling out a weapon or summoning courage from within.

He exhaust his sword to meet the challenge.

exhibit verb

To present or submit something formally for someone else to look at and judge. In Shakespeare's time, this often meant handing over a petition or document to a court or official.

exhibiter noun

Someone who presents a formal bill or petition, usually to a court or authority. In Shakespeare's time, this meant putting a written request before a judge or official.

The exhibiter of the complaint stood before the magistrate.

exhibition noun

Money given to support someone — often a regular allowance or stipend. In Shakespeare's time, a patron might provide an exhibition to help a scholar or dependant get by.

exigent noun

A pressing need or critical moment. The end or limit of something—the point where it runs out.

Eyes growing dim as they approach their final exigent.

exile noun or verb

Banishment from your home or country — either the punishment itself or the person forced to leave. As a verb, to send someone away as punishment.

The king's exile meant he could never return to his throne or his native land.

exion noun

A mishearing or slip of the tongue for the word 'action'. Shakespeare's characters sometimes bungle their words, and this is one of those comic mix-ups.

exit verb

A stage direction indicating that a character or characters leave the stage.

Exit PHILOSTRATE

exorcism noun

The act of summoning spirits or demons, usually through ritual or magic words. The person who does this is an exorcist.

The priest performed an exorcism to call forth the ghost.

expect verb

To wait for someone or something. In Shakespeare's time, this word carries the sense of standing ready, often with patience or anticipation.

I will expect you at the gate before sunset.

expectance noun

The state of waiting for something to happen or be revealed. You're in suspense, holding your breath to see what comes next.

In the suspense and expectance of the trial, nobody could think of anything else.

expectancy noun

Hope or anticipation of something good coming. What you look forward to.

The young prince's expectancy of the throne kept him alive through exile.

expectation noun

The state of waiting for something to happen, or a sense of hope and promise about what's coming. In Shakespeare, characters often stand full of expectation — ready, eager, watching for what will arrive.

expecter noun

Someone who waits. In Shakespeare's time, it often meant a servant or attendant who stood by, ready for orders.

The expecter stood at the door, watching for his master's return.

expedience noun

Speed or urgency; the impulse to get something done quickly. Sometimes means an undertaking or mission itself.

expedient adjective

Fast or quick. Shakespeare uses this rarely—most of the time he'd say 'swift' or 'speedy' instead.

expediently adverb

Quickly and efficiently. Shakespeare uses it to mean getting something done without delay or fuss.

The messenger rode expediently to deliver the urgent news.

expedition noun

Speed or swift action. Often used in the phrase 'in expedition' to mean something is underway or moving forward without delay.

We're putting the plan in expedition—moving forward right now.

expense noun

The cost of something, especially wasteful or lavish spending. Shakespeare also uses it for the loss or squandering of anything valuable — breath, time, a possession.

The king's expense on jewels and feasts emptied the treasury.

experient noun

Someone with real skill or deep knowledge in something. Shakespeare uses it to mean a person who knows their craft well.

A seasoned general, an experient in the art of war.

experimental adjective

Tested and proven through real experience, not just theory. When something bears an experimental seal, it has been tried and verified in actual practice.

A doctor's experimental knowledge comes from years of treating patients, not just reading medical books.

expert adjective

Tested and proven by actual use or experience. If something is expert, you know it works because you've seen it in action.

An expert remedy for grief—one that has actually helped people through sorrow.

expiate verb

To come to an end or run out. Often used of time—a deadline, a life span, or a limit reaching its final moment.

When the hour expires, his time on earth is done.

expire verb

To bring something to an end or finish it. In Shakespeare's time, this was a straightforward word for concluding something—a contract, a speech, a life.

When the treaty expires, the war resumes.

explication noun

A detailed explanation that unfolds or clears up something confusing. Breaking down a tangled idea into pieces you can understand.

The priest offers an explication of the holy text to the confused congregation.

exploit noun

A bold military deed or campaign. Shakespeare uses it to mean a feat of arms—something a warrior does in battle.

expostulate verb

To lay out your thoughts or argue a point. You're trying to convince someone by explaining your view carefully, often about something that troubles you.

He expostulates with the king about the unjust law.

expostulation noun

A serious conversation or argument between two people. Usually it's someone laying out their grievances or trying to convince the other person of something.

After years of silence, the two friends finally had an expostulation about what went wrong between them.

exposture noun

Being laid open or exposed to something—usually to danger, cold, or harsh conditions. The state of being unprotected or vulnerable.

Sleeping rough meant exposture to the freezing night.

express adjective

Perfectly suited to its purpose; exactly right in form or manner. Something express is made or shaped with care and precision.

His manner was so express and admirable that everyone felt at ease.

expressive adjective

Open and forceful in showing what you feel or think. The word suggests someone isn't holding back—they're letting their emotions show clearly.

Her expressive face made it plain she didn't believe a word of his excuse.

expressure noun

The act of expressing or giving outward form to something. What comes out when you try to put feeling or thought into words or images.

expulse verb

To force someone out or send them away. In Shakespeare, it often means banishing someone from a place or position of power.

The duke expulsed him from the kingdom.

exquisite adjective

Carefully thought out and skillfully made. Something designed with great care and ingenuity.

exsufflicate adjective

Puffed up with hot air; full of empty boasting. Shakespeare uses it to mock someone who sounds impressive but has nothing real behind the words.

His exsufflicate speech impressed no one who knew him well.

extant adjective

Still here; not lost or destroyed. In Shakespeare, it means something survives into the present moment.

extemporal adjective

Done or spoken without preparation; made up on the spot. Shakespeare uses it to describe someone speaking or performing without a script or plan.

An extemporal speech—unrehearsed, raw, delivered in the moment.

extend verb

To make something last longer or stretch it out in time. Also: to praise someone or something in a bigger, more exaggerated way than it deserves.

The actor extended the dying scene to draw out the audience's tears.

extent noun

A seizure or forceful taking—originally of land through legal process, but also used more broadly for any violent attack or assault. It can also mean the display or use of power, like justice or mercy.

The king's extent of mercy saved the prisoner's life.

extenuate verb

To make something seem less serious or bad than it really is. To downplay or diminish—to reduce the weight or importance of a fault, crime, or achievement.

Don't extenuate his cruelty by saying he was tired.

extenuation noun

A reason or excuse that makes a fault seem less serious. To offer extenuation is to try to reduce blame.

He asked for extenuation—that he'd only lied to protect her feelings.

extern noun

The outward appearance or exterior of something. In Shakespeare, often the visible surface that contrasts with what's hidden underneath—the mask we show the world.

A fair extern can hide a corrupt heart.

extinct adjective

Put out or extinguished. The fire or light has been snuffed. You might use it for a literal flame, or for something brighter that's gone dark.

extincted adjective

Worn out; drained of energy or life. Like a flame that's burned down to nothing.

Give fresh courage to our extincted spirits.

extincture noun

The act of wiping something out or bringing it to an end. In Shakespeare's time, this word was used for things being destroyed, erased, or made to disappear.

extirp verb

To pull something out by the roots; to destroy or get rid of something completely. Shakespeare uses it for rooting out vices or evils entirely.

They vowed to extirp the corruption from the kingdom.

extirpate verb

To wipe something out completely. To destroy it root and branch so nothing remains.

The general swore to extirpate the enemy from the land.

extort verb

To force someone to give you something against their will. To take or pull away by using pressure or violence.

He tried to extort a confession from the prisoner by threats.

extracting verb

To pull someone's attention away from what they're doing or thinking about. In Shakespeare's time, this word sometimes appeared where we'd now say 'distract'.

extraught verb

Drawn out or descended from a source. Often used to mean someone is born of or comes from a particular family or place.

A knight extraught from noble stock.

extravagancy noun

Wandering without a fixed path or purpose. A journey with no clear destination.

My planned voyage turned out to be mere wandering without direction.

extravagant adjective

Wandering or straying from a fixed path or place. In Shakespeare's time, it could also mean someone who roams without purpose or settled home.

An extravagant knight, lost in the forest without direction.

extreme adjective

Utmost or most intense. Often used to describe something at its furthest limit or highest degree—the most severe, fierce, or far-reaching version of whatever it describes.

The extreme part of time—the very end, the final moment.

extremity noun

The furthest point or highest degree of something. In Shakespeare, it often means the worst or most severe version of a situation—think the breaking point where things can't get any worse.

When the love potion wears off, Puck fears the extremity of the lovers' rage.

exuent verb

They exit the stage (plural form of 'exit'); a stage direction indicating multiple characters leave.

Exeunt

exufflicate verb

To blow away or dismiss with a puff of breath. Often used to mean ridiculing or rejecting something as worthless.

He exufflicated their complaints like dust off his sleeve.

eyas noun

A young hawk raised and trained by a falconer. Shakespeare also uses it playfully to mean a spirited, inexperienced child—someone still learning the ropes.

A nest-bird learning to fly, or a clever kid full of energy but not yet grown into wisdom.

eye noun

The organ that lets you see. Shakespeare also uses it figuratively—for the sun (which lights the world like an eye), for attention or notice (being "in someone's eye" means they're watching you), and for a glance or look between two people.

"The eye of heaven"—the sun watching over us.

eye-beam noun

A look or glance, especially one that carries feeling or intention. Shakespeare uses it for moments when a look alone seems to do something—to wound, to seduce, to condemn.

Her eye-beam caught mine across the room and I understood everything.

eye-drop noun

A tear that falls from the eye. Shakespeare uses it to mean a single tear, or sometimes tears in general when he wants to be poetic about grief or emotion.

Her eye-drops fell as she watched him ride away.

eye-glass noun

The clear, curved part inside your eye that focuses light so you can see. Shakespeare knew it as a distinct part of the eye's structure.

eye-offending adjective

Ugly or unpleasant to look at. Something that makes you wince when you see it.

The villain's scarred face was eye-offending to the court.

eye-wink noun

A quick look or glance. The word captures that moment when you catch someone's eye, or steal a quick peek at something.

She gave him an eye-wink across the room to say hello.

eyestrings noun

The tiny muscles and nerves that hold the eye together. People once believed these snapped when someone died or went blind.

eyliad, eyrie, eysell noun

A nest built high in a tree or cliff, where birds of prey live and raise their young. Shakespeare uses it as a symbol of power and safe refuge.

An eagle's eyrie sits untouchable on the mountain peak.