Shakespeare words: R

rabato noun

A stiff, high collar worn around the neck, often starched and wired to stand up. Popular in Elizabethan and Jacobean fashion.

rabbit-sucker noun

A baby rabbit. The term shows up in hunting and country life contexts, where it marks the animal at its youngest and most vulnerable.

The hunters flushed out rabbit-suckers from the warren.

race noun

The passing of time, or its forward motion. Also: a group of animals (especially horses) bred together, or an inborn quality or nature passed down through families.

The race of years had worn him down.

raced verb

To cut or slash something. In Shakespeare's time, this word could also mean to scratch or scrape a surface.

He raced his arm on the broken glass.

rack noun

Wisps of cloud moving fast across the sky, driven by wind. Shakespeare sometimes blurs this with 'wrack' (wreckage), so the word can suggest both clouds and destruction.

Leave not a rack behind — not even a cloud to remember us by.

racker noun

Someone who twists, tears apart, or ruins something—here, someone who mangles words and grammar. The word plays on the sense of racking (stretching on a torture rack) to mean destroying or mangling.

racking adjective

Intense and tormenting. The word comes from the image of stretching someone on a rack—a torture device—so it describes pain or emotion that feels like it's tearing you apart.

A racking guilt consumed him after the betrayal.

raddock noun

A red-breasted bird, also called a robin. This is an old spelling of the same word.

rag noun

A contemptuous term for a person—especially a woman—treated as worthless or despicable. The word plays on the image of something torn, tattered, and fit only for the rubbish heap.

You witch, you rag, you baggage!

ragamuffin noun

A ragged, disreputable person—someone in tattered clothes. In Shakespeare's time, the word carried the weight of a demon's name, making it an insult that suggested someone was not just poor, but morally suspect.

A vagabond or street urchin covered in rags.

rage noun

Violent anger, fury, or intense passion. In Shakespeare, it can mean madness, a fierce disposition, sexual desire, or the fierce energy of a warrior in battle.

The king's rage burned so hot that no one dared speak in his presence.

ragged-staff noun

A stick or staff with knobs or rough lumps sticking out from it. It was a symbol of power and authority, and also appeared on coats of arms.

He gripped the ragged-staff like a scepter, its uneven surface worn smooth by generations of hands.

raging-wood adjective

Mad and out of control. Someone in a fury or losing their grip on reality.

He rants like a raging-wood man, eyes wild and fists clenched.

rainy adjective

Happening or done while it's raining. Shakespeare uses this mostly to describe weather that's wet and gloomy.

A rainy night is perfect for staying inside with a play.

raise verb

To start or spread a rumour or false story. You put something untrue into circulation and let it grow.

He raised a false rumour that the king was dying.

raised adjective

Started or set in motion. When something is raised, it's been stirred up or launched into action.

A raised search meant an organized hunt was underway.

raisins noun

Dried grapes. Shakespeare's people ate them as a sweet treat, often imported from the Mediterranean.

A handful of raisins and a bit of bread made a quick meal for a traveller.

rake noun

A thin, gaunt person. Someone wasted away by illness, age, or hard living. The word has a bite to it—it's contemptuous, not neutral.

A rake of a man, all bones and angles.

ramp noun

A disreputable or rowdy young woman. In Shakespeare's time, the word carried a whiff of scandal—suggesting someone loose or ill-behaved.

rampallian noun

A rowdy, disreputable person—often hurled as an insult at women. A ruffian or low-life troublemaker.

ramping adjective

Fierce and unrestrained, like a lion rearing up on its hind legs ready to attack. Often used to describe someone wild, aggressive, or out of control.

A ramping fool charges ahead without thinking.

rampired adjective

Defended by a rampart or other fortifications. Built or arranged to withstand attack.

The castle's rampired walls kept the army at bay for months.

rang'd verb

Put in order or arranged in a line. Lined up troops, or organized things so they stand in rank.

The soldiers were rang'd for battle.

range noun, verb

As a noun: a line or row, or the rank you hold in it. As a verb: to stretch out in a line, occupy a position, or roam widely across a place.

The soldiers range themselves in perfect lines before the king.

ranger noun

A person who guards and manages a forest or hunting ground. In Shakespeare, often used for the attendants of Diana, goddess of the hunt and chastity.

rank adjective

Overgrown, excessive, or offensive. Shakespeare uses it for plants that have grown wild and thick, for people or behaviour that's coarse or swollen with excess, and for smells or corruption that reek. It can also mean lustful or uncontrolled in appetite.

A garden left untended becomes rank with weeds.

ranked adjective

Arranged in rows or lines. In Shakespeare's time, often used to describe soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder, or plants growing in neat formation.

The ranked soldiers stood ready for battle.

rankle verb

To fester and cause pain. In Shakespeare, it's often used metaphorically—an insult or betrayal that won't heal, that keeps hurting.

The wound rankles in her heart long after the harsh words were spoken.

rankness noun

Excessive growth or abundance — something overflowing and luxuriant. Often used to describe behavior that's bold or disrespectful, even offensive.

The rankness of the weeds had choked the garden.

ransack'd verb

Stolen or seized by force. To ransack something is to tear through it, taking what you want and destroying what you don't.

The pirates ransack'd the merchant ship, leaving nothing but wreckage.

ransom noun

Money or payment demanded to free someone from captivity or imprisonment. Also used to mean atonement or spiritual redemption—the price paid to make something right.

He offered gold as ransom for the prisoner's freedom.

rap verb

To fill someone with overwhelming emotion or wonder; to transport them so completely they lose themselves in the moment. Related to the idea of being rapt—caught up, absorbed, spellbound.

What has so completely captured your attention and swept you away?

rapier noun

A long, slender sword with a sharp point, used for thrusting. Often paired with a dagger held in the off hand for defense.

He drew his rapier and advanced on his rival with quick, precise lunges.

rapture noun

A sudden fit or seizure—a moment when emotion or physical sensation takes over completely. In Shakespeare, often used for intense feeling that overwhelms someone.

She fell into a rapture of joy at the news.

rare interjection

An exclamation of delight or approval. Something you'd say when you're thrilled by what you've just heard or seen.

Rare! What excellent news you bring.

rarely adverb

In a way that's unusually fine or splendid. Shakespeare uses it to praise something as exceptional or excellently done.

Well buckled? Yes—rarely done.

rareness noun

The quality of being uncommon or hard to find. Something that occurs or exists only once in a while.

The rareness of a perfect diamond makes it precious.

rarity noun

Something unusual and precious because it's so good. A person or thing that stands out as exceptional.

She was a rarity—a woman of wit and learning in that world.

rascal noun

A young or scrawny deer, or one of poor quality in a herd. The word was used literally for animals but also as an insult toward people—implying they were worthless or base.

A mighty stag towered over the rascal at the edge of the forest.

rase verb

To tear or rip something away. Shakespeare's texts show printers wrestling with this word across editions—some read "razed," others "cast," but the meaning stays consistent: a forceful removal.

He tore the helmet right off his head.

rash adjective

Quick to act or take effect. In Shakespeare, often means sudden or swift—like a potion that works fast, or a matter that can't wait.

rate noun

An amount, value, or standard. In Shakespeare, it often means an estimated quantity or what something is worth—a measure used to reckon or judge.

"I judge their number upon the rate of thirty thousand" — meaning, by my calculation, around thirty thousand.

rated verb

Valued or thought highly of. To rate someone is to consider them important or worthy of respect.

A soldier well-rated by his commander had a better chance of advancement.

rather adverb

More readily; sooner. Often used in the phrase "the rather" to mean "all the more" or "for that reason especially." Shakespeare sometimes uses it in older constructions like "me rather had" where we'd say "I would rather."

ratherest adverb

More than anything else. What you want most, or what matters most in a given moment.

I would ratherest see you happy than rich.

ratify verb

To set into proper rhythm or metrical form. In poetry, to arrange words so they scan correctly.

The poet ratified the lines so they would flow when spoken aloud.

rational adjective

Able to think and reason clearly. In Shakespeare's time, this was a mark of what separated humans from animals.

A rational mind can weigh both sides of an argument.

ratolorum noun

A legal document or roll listing names and records, often used in official court proceedings. This is a variant spelling of 'rotulorum.'

rattle verb

To strike or bombard something with a rapid series of sharp sounds. Think of hail hammering a roof, or arrows clattering against armor.

The wind rattled the shutters all night long.

raught verb

An old past tense of reach. Someone raught for something when they stretched out and grabbed it.

raven verb

To eat greedily or hungrily, like a predator tearing into food. Shakespeare uses it to show appetite that's wild and uncontrolled.

A wolf ravening down the flock, stopping for nothing.

ravin adjective

Desperately hungry; greedy and violent in appetite. Used to describe someone or something that devours or consumes with wild intensity.

A ravin wolf tears through the fold.

ravin'd adjective

Stuffed or gorged—having eaten so much you're completely full. Often suggests greed or excess.

A ravin'd wolf stops hunting once its belly is packed with prey.

ravish verb

To damage or spoil something—to fill it with rot or corruption. Also: to pull or tear away forcefully.

Foul mists ravish the fresh morning air.

ravish'd adjective

Seized or carried off by force. In Shakespeare, often used for victims swept away against their will—by violence, passion, or magic.

The enchanted princess was ravish'd from her home by the sorcerer's spell.

ravishing adjective

Violent and forceful, sweeping forward with aggressive energy. Used to describe movement or action that's intense and overpowering.

A ravishing storm swept across the fields.

raw adjective

Inexperienced or unskilled, not yet ripened by time and practice. Shakespeare often uses it for young people or newcomers who haven't learned their craft.

A raw recruit doesn't know the soldier's ways yet.

rawboned adjective

Very thin and bony, with little flesh. A person or animal that looks gaunt and angular.

The old horse was rawboned, its ribs showing through its coat.

rawly adverb

Without preparation or proper care; abandoned in a vulnerable state. Often means someone young or unprepared is left to fend for themselves.

Children rawly left behind—with no one to look after them.

rawness noun

Lack of preparation or care; jumping into something without thinking it through. In Shakespeare's time, it often meant acting with too much speed or without proper skill.

His rawness in battle cost him dearly.

rayed adjective

Soiled or made dirty. In Shakespeare's time, this word was spelled different ways (raide, raied) but meant the same thing—stained or fouled.

raz'd verb

Erased or wiped away completely. To scratch or scrape something so thoroughly that nothing is left behind.

Time will have raz'd even the memory of his name.

raze verb

To destroy completely — either by erasing something written or by tearing down a building to the ground. When something is razed, it's wiped out entirely.

The enemy army razed the village, leaving nothing standing.

razorable adjective

Able to be shaved. Used to describe a beard or face ready for the razor.

razure noun

An erasure or scraping away of something—usually writing or a mark on a surface. The act of rubbing out.

re noun

The second note of the musical scale. Shakespeare and his contemporaries sometimes used it as a joke or pun, playing with the names of the notes themselves.

re-answer verb

To make up for something, to pay back or repay. It's how you balance the scales when you've been short-changed or when someone deserves recompense.

He promised to re-answer the debt his father had left behind.

re-edify verb

To build again or rebuild. Often used when something has been torn down or destroyed and you're putting it back together.

The city began to re-edify its walls after the siege ended.

re-stem verb

To steer or turn back again. A nautical term—the ship changes direction and heads the opposite way.

re-word verb

To say something again, often echoing or repeating what someone else has just said. It can also mean to put something into different words.

reach noun

Your grasp, power, or ability to understand and act. How much you can manage or control.

reaching adjective

Long enough or far-reaching enough to cover a large distance or area. Something stretches out and touches what's far away.

read verb

To teach or lecture. In Shakespeare's time, a schoolmaster or scholar might 'read' to mean delivering lessons to students.

The tutor will read to the boys each morning in the library.

readiness noun

The state of being prepared or equipped for action. In Shakespeare, often means having dressed or armed yourself for battle or confrontation.

The soldiers checked their readiness before marching to war.

reads verb

looks at and interprets written or printed text aloud or silently

[Reads] 'The battle with the Centaurs, to be sung By an Athenian eunuch to the harp.' We'll have none of that: I've already told my love, In honor of my relative Hercules.

ready adjective

prepared or willing to act; in a state of readiness

Ready. Tell me what part I'm playing, and let's go.

reap verb

To gain or get something as a result of your actions or effort. You reap what you sow—good deeds bring good returns, mistakes bring consequences.

Your wife will reap a fine husband from this marriage.

rear verb

To raise or lift up. Shakespeare uses it for raising a hand, a weapon, or anything else held upright.

He rears his sword to strike.

rearmice noun

Bats. An old plural form, sometimes spelled reremice. Shakespeare uses it to evoke something strange and nocturnal.

The rearmice flitted through the dark castle tower.

reason noun

An explanation or account of something. Also: the cause or ground for something happening, or the quality of being sensible and fair. When Shakespeare says there's "good reason" for something, he means there's a solid justification for it.

"Your reasons at dinner were shallow" — your explanations didn't hold up.

reasonable adjective

Able to be understood or dealt with by thinking it through carefully. Something that makes sense and can be worked out by reason.

A reasonable plan is one you can actually figure out and follow.

reave verb

To steal from someone or take something away by force. The past tense is "reft."

Death has reft her of her husband's love.

rebate verb

To reduce or lessen something. In Shakespeare, often means to dull the force or sharpness of a feeling, weapon, or edge.

Wine rebates the edge of hunger.

rebato noun

A stiff, formal collar worn in Shakespeare's time. It stood up high around the neck and was often starched or wired to keep its shape.

rebuke verb

To hold back or restrain someone from doing something. A sharp check on impulse or action.

We could have stopped him before he got to Harfleur.

recant verb

To take back or withdraw something you've already given. In Shakespeare, usually a pardon or a promise of mercy.

The king recanted his pardon when he learned the prisoner had lied.

receipt noun

Something that's been received—usually money or goods. Shakespeare also uses it to mean a container, or the ability to hold or take something in.

A pouch of great receipt could hold all the coins from the morning's sales.

receive verb

To hear, understand, or believe something. When someone receives your words, they take them in and accept them as true.

If I speak plainly, will you receive what I'm saying?

receiving noun

The way someone is greeted or welcomed. How you're received says something about how important you are.

You'll get the kind of welcome that fits your rank.

recheat noun

A horn call used to gather hunting dogs. Shakespeare plays on this meaning to mock cuckolds, since the horns of a hunted stag also resemble the imaginary horns a cheated husband was said to wear.

recite verb

To tell or speak something aloud, often formally or from memory. In Shakespeare's time, it could mean to go through the facts of a case or to perform a speech.

He recited his grievances to the assembled court.

reck verb

To care about or pay attention to something. Usually appears in the negative — someone who recks not doesn't give a damn.

He recks not his own advice, ignoring everything he knows to be true.

reckless adjective

Careless or indifferent to consequences. Heedless of danger or what comes next.

A reckless knight charges into battle without checking if his army follows.

reckon verb

To count someone or something as part of a group. To include or classify.

I reckon you among my dearest friends.

reckoning noun

How you value or judge something. What you think of a person or thing—their worth or standing in your eyes.

She had a high reckoning of his character.

reclaim verb

To force someone into obedience or submission. To bring a wild or unruly person under control.

The king's soldiers worked to reclaim the rebels who refused his rule.

reclusive adjective

Withdrawn from society; living alone or apart from others by choice. Someone reclusive avoids company and public life.

He spent his final years reclusive, rarely leaving his study.

recognizance noun

A legal bond—a written promise to pay money if you break an oath or fail to show up in court. In Shakespeare's time, courts used these to keep people honest.

recoil verb

To fall back or shrink away from something. In Shakespeare's time, it can also mean to decline or lose your moral standing.

recollect verb

To gather up or collect something scattered. Shakespeare uses it rarely in this literal sense—more often he means to recover or compose yourself after shock or emotion.

The servants recollect the fallen papers from the floor.

recollected adjective

Carefully chosen or composed—not natural or off-the-cuff. It describes something that's been thought over, refined, or pulled together with effort.

A speaker using recollected terms sounds measured and deliberate, not spontaneous.

recomforted verb

To comfort someone again, or to restore their courage and peace of mind after they've been shaken or distressed.

After the bad news, her kind words recomforted him.

recomforture noun

Comfort or consolation—relief from grief or worry. A word Shakespeare sometimes used when a character needed cheering up after bad news or sorrow.

recommend verb

To entrust or commit someone to another's care. In Shakespeare, it can also mean to present or introduce someone to another person's attention.

He recommends his daughter to the king's protection.

reconcile verb

To restore peace or friendship between people who were at odds. To bring someone back into favor after they've fallen out of it.

The lovers quarrel bitterly, but by the play's end they reconcile.

reconciliation noun

Making peace with someone after a quarrel, especially by admitting you were wrong so they'll forgive you and welcome you back.

After the fight, he sought reconciliation with his brother.

record noun, verb

As a noun: official written evidence or proof of something, especially in legal matters. As a verb: to sing or make music, or to set down in writing as official proof.

recordation noun

The act of remembering or bringing something back to mind. A memory or reminder of something past.

The old letter stirred a recordation of their childhood together.

recorder noun

A wooden wind instrument shaped like a pipe, played by blowing into one end. It has a gentler, softer sound than a flute.

Hamlet asks for recorders to be brought so the players can make music.

recountment noun

A telling or account of something. When someone gives you the recountment of an event, they're laying out the story—what happened, in order.

Give me the recountment of the battle, and spare no detail.

recourse noun

A way to turn to someone or something for help or support. In Shakespeare, it can also mean a flowing or rush—like tears streaming down a face.

The widow had no recourse but to appeal to the king.

recover verb

To bring someone back to health or consciousness. Also: to get back to a safe place, or to restore a friendship after a quarrel.

After the battle, the soldiers recovered their wounded friend and carried him to shelter.

recoverable adjective

Able to be regained or traced back. Once you've wasted your life like a prodigal, you can't retrace your steps the way the sun returns each day.

recovery noun

A legal method for transferring an estate (land held under certain restrictions) from one owner to another. In Shakespeare's time, this was a common way to get around the rules that locked property into a family line.

recreant noun

A traitor or coward—someone who abandons their oath or duty. Often used as a contemptuous insult in battle or conflict.

He called his rival a recreant for fleeing the fight.

recreation noun

Amusement or entertainment—something you do to relax and have fun. Sometimes it means a person who amuses others, or the act of eating and refreshing yourself.

The clown became a common recreation for the whole court.

rector noun

A person in charge. In Shakespeare's time, the word could mean a ruler or governor, but it often referred to the priest who ran a parish church.

The rector of the parish held authority over both spiritual and practical matters.

rectorship noun

The position or authority of a rector — the head of a parish, college, or institution. It carries the power to lead and make decisions within that community.

recure verb

To heal or fix something that's broken or wrong. To restore someone or something to a better state.

A doctor's skill can recure a wound that seemed beyond help.

red noun

A disease—likely plague or some other epidemic illness—that people feared and cursed each other with. Shakespeare's characters call it "the red" as if naming it directly might make the curse stronger.

"The red plague rid you" — a curse meaning may disease take you.

red lattice noun

A red-painted wooden lattice window frame—the standard sign of an alehouse or tavern. Used as shorthand for cheap tavern culture and the crude talk that went with it.

Your red-lattice phrases—you're talking like a drunk at a low tavern.

redbreast noun

A robin—a small bird with a red-orange breast. In Shakespeare's time, people imagined these birds could teach other robins to sing, so a "redbreast teacher" was someone who instructed young robins in their song.

rede noun

Advice or counsel. Someone's rede is what they themselves recommend or suggest.

He doesn't care for his own advice—he does what he wants anyway.

redeem verb

To win back or restore something lost—your reputation, your standing, your worth. It can also mean to make up for something bad, or to save yourself from ruin or shame.

After years abroad, he returned to redeem his family's honor.

redime te captum quam queas minimo

A Latin phrase meaning 'buy yourself out of captivity as cheaply as you can.' Shakespeare uses it as a witty jab—telling someone they're trapped and should escape however they can, no matter how shameful the cost.

redoubted adjective

Feared and respected; commanding dread. Shakespeare uses it as a formal way to address or describe powerful people—kings, queens, generals.

My most redoubted sovereign, I come to seek your wisdom.

redress noun

Help or comfort that eases pain or trouble. Music, a kind word, or an act of justice can all be redress.

Music with her silver sound doth lend redress to a troubled heart.

reduce verb

To bring something back to a former state or condition. In Shakespeare, it often means restoring peace or order after chaos or war.

After the battle, the king sought to reduce the kingdom to peace.

reechy adjective

Dirty and grimy, thick with soot or smoke. The kind of filth that clings to you.

A reechy kitchen after roasting meat all day.

reed voice noun

A thin, high-pitched voice—like the sound of a reed pipe. In Shakespeare's time, it often described a boy's voice or a man's voice that hadn't fully deepened.

A voice so thin and reedy it sounds like it belongs to someone caught between boyhood and manhood.

reek verb

To rise or float upward into the air. Often used for smoke, steam, or breath that drifts visibly skyward.

The smoke reeks up from the fire toward heaven.

reeky adjective

Wet, damp, and foul-smelling. Think of something that's been sitting in stale moisture too long.

reel verb

To walk in an unsteady way, stumbling or swaying as if drunk or dazed. Shakespeare uses it this way to show a character who's lost their footing—literally or morally.

A drunkard reels home through the streets at midnight.

reeling-ripe adjective

So drunk you're about to stumble or fall over. Ready to reel—that's the state you're in.

After three pints, he was reeling-ripe and could barely stand.

reels noun

Drunken celebration and partying. The word can also mean the lively dances themselves that happen at such gatherings.

The soldiers kept the reels going all night with wine and wild music.

refel verb

To argue against something or prove it wrong. To contradict or deny an accusation.

He refels the charge with evidence that he was elsewhere that night.

refer verb

To turn to someone or something for help or support; to rely on. Also, to hand something over or entrust it to another person.

She referred herself to his care—meaning she placed herself under his protection.

reference noun

The act of bringing something to someone's attention so they can consider it. Also means how one thing relates to or connects with another.

The general gave the battle plans due reference to the king.

refigure verb

To shape or form something again into a particular image or likeness. In Shakespeare's time, this often meant to remake or reshape a person's appearance or character.

reflect verb

To throw back or bounce back—light, sound, or an image. Also used to mean turning your attention or thoughts toward something.

The polished armor reflects the sunlight across the battlefield.

reflection noun

Light bouncing back from a surface. The sun's rays bouncing off water or a mirror.

The sun's reflection dances across the lake.

reflex verb

To throw or cast back. In Shakespeare's time, often used of light bouncing off a surface or beams of the sun reflected downward.

The mirror reflexes the sunlight across the room.

reform verb

To fix or stop something that's wrong or harmful. To put an end to an abuse or disorder.

The king swore to reform the corruption in his courts.

refrain verb

To stop doing something or hold back from it. You refrain when you choose not to act, even if you want to.

He could barely refrain from laughing at the ridiculous insult.

refuge noun

A last resort or excuse when you're in trouble. In Shakespeare, someone's refuge is what they turn to when they've run out of better options.

Sending a messenger was their only refuge when the king grew angry.

refuse verb

To reject or turn away from someone or something. In Shakespeare's time, it could mean refusing to face an opponent in combat, or casting someone out of your life.

He refused the challenge and rode away rather than fight.

regard noun

A look or glance. Also: respect, esteem, or the value someone holds you in. Shakespeare uses it for attention, consideration, or care given to something.

He watched with a thoughtful regard, weighing every word.

regardfully adverb

With respect and attention. Speaking or acting toward someone in a way that shows you value them.

He bowed regardfully to the queen.

regenerate verb

To be born again or remade, spiritually or morally. In Shakespeare's time, this often meant Christian rebirth through grace.

The sinner hoped to regenerate and start a new, righteous life.

regent noun

A ruler or governor—someone who holds power and makes decisions. Shakespeare uses it literally for people in charge, and also playfully to describe anything that rules over a domain, like love or poetry.

The regent of the kingdom made a new law.

regiment noun

Power to rule or govern. Someone's authority or control over a place or group of people.

Antony hands over his power to rule to a woman of low character.

region noun

The sky or the air above us. Shakespeare sometimes uses it to mean a level or rank in the hierarchy of heaven—so a spirit of "low region" is one of lesser status.

The dreadful thunder tears through the region.

register noun

A written record or list. Shakespeare uses it to mean both the thing written down—like a ledger of wrongs—and the idea of being recorded, as if in an official document.

Your follies are written in the register of your own mistakes.

regreet noun

A greeting or welcome. Shakespeare uses it to mean the act of greeting someone, often with warmth or ceremony.

regress noun

The right to go back or return to a place. Shakespeare inherited this from legal language, where it meant the freedom to enter and leave property.

You can come and go freely—you have both entrance and exit rights.

reguerdon noun, verb

A reward or payment given in return for service or loyalty. As a verb, to give someone a reward.

The king promised to reguerdon his faithful soldiers after the battle.

rehearsal noun

A telling or recounting of events; an account or narrative. Shakespeare uses it for someone laying out a story or listing facts.

Give us a rehearsal of what happened at court.

rehearse verb

To tell the story of something; to describe or recount events in words. Shakespeare uses it for narrating danger, gossip, or grand deeds that people pass along.

The messenger rehearsed all that had happened in the battle.

rein noun

A strap used to control a horse—or, more often in Shakespeare, a metaphor for control or restraint. To "give the rein" means to let someone act freely; to "take the rein" means to take charge.

Give the rein to your anger, and you'll regret it.

reinforce verb

To bring in fresh troops or supplies to strengthen your position. In Shakespeare, it means to get reinforcements so you can keep fighting.

We can reinforce with soldiers from the north, or we retreat.

reins noun

The lower back and sides of the body, around the waist and hips. Shakespeare uses this word to mean the seat of physical desire or passion.

He felt a sudden heat in his reins when she entered the room.

rejoice verb

To feel or show joy about something. A mother might rejoice at her child's safe return.

A mother rejoices when her child comes home safe.

rejoicing-fire noun

A large fire lit outdoors to celebrate something — a bonfire meant to show joy or mark a special occasion.

rejoindure noun

A coming back together; a reunion. When two people or things that were separated rejoin, that moment or act is the rejoindure.

After years apart, their rejoindure was tearful and joyful.

rejourn verb

To postpone or delay something. In Shakespeare's time, a legal term meaning to suspend proceedings until a future date.

The trial is adjourned—we must rejourn the case until spring.

relapse noun

A return of illness or disease after seeming to improve. In Shakespeare's time, a relapse was often seen as especially dangerous—the body falling back into sickness with renewed force.

Her relapse proved fatal; she had seemed to recover, then suddenly grew worse.

relative adjective

Connected to the matter at hand; relevant or fitting. Something that bears directly on what you're talking about.

I need proof that's more relative to the crime itself.

release verb

To give up a claim or right to something. To hand it over formally to someone else.

The duchess releases her claim to the duchy so the king can take it.

relent verb

To soften, yield, or give way—usually after holding firm. A hard heart relents when it finally gives in to pity or pressure.

A stone that won't relent against the rain; a stubborn person who finally relents and agrees.

relenting adjective

Soft-hearted or moved by pity. It describes something that shows tenderness or mercy.

Her relenting tears fell as she forgave him.

relics noun

Remains from the past—physical objects left behind by an earlier time or person. In Shakespeare's day, relics often meant sacred items from saints or ancient artifacts.

The old temple held relics of forgotten kings.

relieve verb

To lift up or raise something that has been lowered or bent down. In Shakespeare, it often means to help someone back to their feet or restore something to its proper place.

The shore itself seems to bow down and relieve the shipwrecked sailor.

religion noun

Serious commitment to doing something right—treating it as sacred duty. When someone keeps a promise "with religion," they're pledging total fidelity, no shortcuts.

She kept her vow with such religion that she never once wavered.

religious adjective

Careful and devoted in the way you do something—treating it with real seriousness and conscientiousness. Someone religious about their duty takes it seriously, the way a devout person approaches faith.

He was religious about keeping his promises, never once breaking his word.

religiously adverb

With strict care and attention to duty. Acting as though bound by solemn obligation—faithfully, conscientiously, as if taking an oath.

He promised to care for the child religiously, missing not a single day.

relinquish verb

To let go of something you believe is beyond help or repair. To abandon hope of fixing or saving it.

The doctors relinquished the patient to fate.

relish noun, verb

As a noun: the flavour or quality of something, often used figuratively — the distinctive character or tint of a thing. As a verb: to taste something, or more commonly, to enjoy and appreciate it. Can also mean to have a trace or hint of something.

She relished the compliment — savoured it, turned it over in her mind.

reliver verb

To hand over or surrender something a second time, or to give it back after having it once before.

relume, relumine verb

To light again; to kindle or restore a flame that has gone out. Used literally of fire or metaphorically of passion, hope, or life itself.

The dying embers can be relumed with a breath of wind.

remain verb

To stay in a place or condition. Also: to linger in someone's mind or memory.

I know not where she remains.

remainder noun

What's left over or what comes next. In property law, a remainder is a future right to land that takes effect after the current owner's claim ends. More generally, it means the balance or those who stay behind.

After she inherits the house, her son will receive it as remainder.

remediate adjective

Healing or restorative. Shakespeare's text here is unclear—it may be a variant or error for 'remedial,' meaning something that helps cure or fix a problem.

remedy noun

A fix or a way to set things right. When Shakespeare says "there's no remedy," he means the situation can't be helped—it's done, it's certain, accept it.

"No remedy?" she asks, knowing the damage is already past repair.

remember verb

To recall or bring to mind. Also: to mention or honor someone's memory, or to remind another person of something.

remembered verb

To be recalled or thought of again. What stays in someone's mind after it's happened.

His kindness will be remembered long after he's gone.

remembrance noun

The act of remembering, or something that helps you remember—a keepsake, a memorial, a reminder of someone or something lost. Can also mean a thoughtful gesture toward someone.

He gave her a ring as a remembrance of their love.

remembrancer noun

Someone whose job is to remind you of something—or nudge you when you've forgotten. In Shakespeare's world, remembrancers were official court officers who kept track of what needed doing.

The remembrancer served the king by listing all the promises he'd made that day.

remission noun

A willingness to forgive or let something go. A softening of anger or blame.

remit verb

To let go of something or give it up. You might remit a claim, a debt, or even your anger—stop holding on to it.

He remitted his demand for payment and forgave the debt.

remnant noun

A family member who survives after others have died. The last of a line or household.

She was the remnant of her father's house.

remonstrance noun

A forceful protest or complaint. Someone laying out their objections clearly and directly, often to a person in power.

The ambassador filed a remonstrance against the new trade laws.

remorse noun

A deep feeling of regret or sorrow for something you've done wrong. In Shakespeare, it can also mean pity or compassion for someone else's suffering.

He felt such remorse after betraying his friend that he couldn't sleep.

remorseful adjective

Feeling deep sorrow or pity. A remorseful person is moved by compassion and regret.

She wept a remorseful tear for the suffering she had caused.

remorseless adjective

Without pity or compassion. A person who is remorseless feels no guilt or regret for harm they've caused.

A remorseless villain who destroys lives without a second thought.

remotion noun

The act of keeping someone or something at a distance. A deliberate separation or withdrawal.

His remotion from court meant he saw the king only on state occasions.

remove noun

A change of place or a departure. In Shakespeare, it can mean leaving a location, a period of being away, or (more darkly) death itself.

The king's remove to the countryside lasted through summer.

removed adjective

Separated by distance, time, or family relationship. Can mean distant in bloodline (a cousin twice removed), physically far away, or set apart from the immediate action or concern.

A cousin removed by two generations; a thought removed from daily life.

removedness noun

Being far away or kept apart from something. A distance—physical or emotional—that separates people or things.

remover noun

Someone who moves around a lot or keeps changing where they are. In Shakespeare's time, it often carried a hint of restlessness or instability.

A remover never settles long enough to know his own heart.

render verb

To give back, give up, or hand over. In Shakespeare, it means to return something, surrender it, or present it (like an account or description). Can also mean to represent or depict something—to show what it's like.

The mirror renders back the sun's own heat and light.

rendez-vous noun

A last-ditch place to go when everything else fails. A refuge or final resort when you're in trouble.

renegado noun

A person who abandons their faith, country, or principles — someone who betrays what they once belonged to.

A Christian who converts to Islam and fights against his former countrymen is called a renegado.

renegue verb

To deny or disown something. In Shakespeare, it often means to turn your back on a quality or commitment—to shed it like a coat.

He reneges all temper, abandoning every bit of his restraint.

renew verb

To do something again, or to start a fresh attack. A commander might shout it to rally troops back into battle.

Renew, renew! — a captain urging his soldiers to charge once more.

renounce verb

To reject or cast off your loyalty to someone. You publicly declare that you no longer follow or support them.

I renounce my oath to the king.

renown noun

Fame or a widespread reputation. In Shakespeare, usually means a good name or honor earned through deeds.

A warrior's renown spreads across the kingdom.

rent verb

To tear or rip something apart. In Shakespeare's time, this word and 'rend' were used interchangeably.

Grief rent his clothes and left him weeping.

renying noun

The act of rejecting or turning away from something—often a feeling, a claim, or a desire. It's a refusal that comes from deep conviction.

A heart's renying means you've chosen to let go of what you once wanted.

repair noun, verb

As a noun: a place you go to, a destination or resort. As a verb: to go or travel to somewhere, or to restore and renew something (often one's strength or spirits).

The weary soldiers made their repair to the castle to rest and recover.

repairing adjective

Able to bounce back or recover quickly. A person or thing with resilience.

repast verb

To eat a meal, or to feed someone. In Shakespeare's day, a simple word for taking food.

After the long journey, the travelers were eager to repast before continuing on.

repasture noun

Food or a meal. In Shakespeare's time, this word could mean anything from a quick bite to a full feast.

The travelers were grateful for the repasture after their long journey.

repeal verb

To bring someone back from exile or banishment. In Shakespeare, it often means restoring someone to favour or honour after they've been cast out.

The banished Bolingbroke repeals himself—he fights to return from exile.

repent verb

To spend time in genuine regret and remorse. In Shakespeare, it often means to live through a period of sincere penance for what you've done wrong.

She resolved to repent her cruelty in solitude.

repetition noun

The act of saying or doing something over and over. In Shakespeare, it often means dwelling on the same topic or complaint so much that it wears people out.

His endless repetition of the same grievance made everyone avoid him.

repine verb

To feel discontent or frustration about something. You're unhappy with how things are, and you let that dissatisfaction show.

He repined at his lowly station, wishing he'd been born a nobleman.

replenish verb

To fill something up again. Often used when color or life returns to someone's face.

Blood replenished his pale cheeks as he heard the good news.

replenished adjective

Complete and fully formed, with no lack. When Shakespeare calls someone a 'replenished villain,' he means a villain who has every bad quality in full measure.

A replenished villain—one with every wicked trait perfected.

replication noun

An answer or reply to something said. In Shakespeare's time, it can also mean an echo or sound bouncing back.

report noun

What people say about someone or something — their reputation, or the rumour that spreads. Can also mean praise or commendation, or the loud noise of war.

Her good report brought her suitors from across the kingdom.

reporter noun

Someone who brings news or information. In Shakespeare's time, a person who carried gossip, rumors, or official word from one place to another.

A reporter came to court with tales of the rebellion in the north.

reportingly adverb

According to what people say, not from direct knowledge. Based on rumor or secondhand accounts rather than firsthand witness.

The king is reportingly ill, though no one has seen him in weeks.

reposal, reposure noun

The act of putting something into someone's hands or trusting them with it. In Shakespeare, usually means trusting someone with your confidence or responsibility.

He made a reposal of his secrets to a friend he thought loyal.

reprieve noun

A delay or break from punishment or danger. A temporary escape from what's coming.

A few days of peace before the battle—a brief reprieve.

reprisal noun

Something taken or seized, especially as compensation or revenge. In Shakespeare's time, it meant goods or property captured from an enemy in war or retaliation.

The soldier claimed the stolen weapons as a just reprisal for the attack.

reproach verb

To shame someone or bring dishonor on them. When you reproach someone, you're saying their actions have damaged their reputation or character.

His cowardice in battle reproached the family name.

reproachful adjective

Full of blame or harsh criticism. The tone and words are meant to shame or hurt.

She gave him a reproachful look when he broke his promise.

reproachfully adverb

In a way that brings shame or dishonor. Speaking or acting with blame or scorn.

He looked at her reproachfully when she broke her promise.

reprobance noun

Rejection or condemnation by God. The state of being cast out or damned. A theological term for spiritual ruin.

A sinner fears falling into reprobance—losing God's grace forever.

reprobate adjective

Morally corrupt or wicked. Someone or something showing no shame or restraint in wrongdoing.

A reprobate desire drives him to betray his own brother.

reproof noun

Shame or disgrace brought on yourself. When someone betrays you, you feel the sting of it—that's reproof. It can also mean a refutation or proof that something is false.

She betrayed me, and now I bear the shame of it myself.

reprove verb

To prove wrong or show that something isn't true. To refute or contradict.

I cannot reprove what you say—the evidence backs you up.

repugn verb

To fight back against something or someone. To resist or push against an idea, an order, or a person.

His pride repugned the king's demand that he kneel.

repugnancy noun

Strong disagreement or resistance. When something goes against what you believe or want.

He felt a repugnancy to the plan and spoke against it openly.

repugnant adjective

Resisting or opposing something. Fighting back against it, either physically or in spirit.

A repugnant force held him back from the door.

repure verb

To make pure or clean again. Used of refining something that has become soiled or corrupted.

repute verb

To think of someone or something in a particular way; to regard or value them. When you repute someone well, you hold them in good esteem.

How will the world repute her after this?

request verb

To ask or beg someone to leave or step away from something. A polite but firm way of saying 'go.'

Let me ask you to step aside.

require verb

To ask or request something from someone. When you require something, you're making a direct appeal for it.

He will require them to join him, as if they had already promised.

required adjective

Needed; essential. Something that cannot be left out.

The required courage to face your enemy.

requiring verb

To ask for something or demand that it be done. Often used to set a condition—as in 'if you require it of me.'

requit verb

To pay back or repay someone—either with a reward or with revenge. Often used for blood debts or returns of the same kind.

The wrongs done to him were requitted in blood.

reremice noun

Bats. An old word for the flying mammals. Shakespeare uses it in A Midsummer Night's Dream when Puck describes the creatures of the night.

rescue noun

The act of forcibly taking someone out of legal custody or arrest. It can also mean any kind of deliverance or relief from danger.

If the guards come, will you help make a rescue?

resemblance noun

A chance or likelihood that something will happen. In Shakespeare's time, this word meant something more like "probability" than "looking alike."

Not a resemblance, but a certainty—the storm will come.

reservation noun

Something you keep back or hold onto for yourself — a right, a secret, or a part of yourself. You're setting it aside rather than giving it all away.

When the king demands your loyalty but you make a reservation of your own safety, you're keeping one thing back.

reserve verb

To keep something safe, set aside, or hold onto. In Shakespeare, it often means to preserve something precious—a quality, a person, an object—by keeping it in your care or custody.

reserved adjective

Set apart or excepted; held back from a general claim or agreement. When something is reserved, it's kept separate and doesn't apply to everything else.

Only with the understanding that you claim no share in it.

residence noun

The act of staying or living in a place. In Shakespeare's time, it could also mean the condition of being stuck in a particular state or situation.

The king's residence at court kept him bound by duty and ceremony.

resign verb

To give something up or hand it over, often with a sense of surrender or acceptance. You let go of what you hold.

Like returning dust to the ground—letting go of what was never truly yours.

resist verb

To push back or fight against something. To refuse to give in to it.

The knight resists the enemy's charge.

resolute adjective

Firm and unwavering in purpose or action. Someone resolute doesn't back down, even when things are hard or dangerous.

The general gave a resolute command to hold the fortress at all costs.

resolution noun

A firm belief or conviction about something. A state of mind where you're certain and decided.

He acted with such resolution that no one doubted his commitment.

resolve noun, verb

As a noun: firm determination or purpose. As a verb: to settle a doubt or question in your mind; to make a firm decision. Shakespeare often uses it to mean dissolving or melting away (like tears or wax).

resolved adjective

Firmly decided or determined. In Shakespeare, often means you've made up your mind about something—especially something difficult or dangerous—and you're sticking with it.

A resolved warrior doesn't flinch when the battle begins.

resolvedly adverb

With clear purpose and no hesitation. Someone acting resolvedly has made up their mind and won't waver.

She resolvedly walked toward him, her fear overcome by determination.

resort noun

The act of going to see someone or visiting a place. In Shakespeare's time, it often meant courtship visits—a man seeking a woman's company.

She kept herself away from the resort of men—no suitors allowed.

resorter noun

Someone who goes to a place regularly or habitually. In Shakespeare's time, often someone who visits a court, tavern, or fashionable spot.

The resorters at the royal court gossiped endlessly about the queen's favor.

respect noun

Consideration or regard for someone or something. In Shakespeare, it often means taking account of circumstances or facts—or the honor and standing that comes from being valued. He uses it in phrases like "in respect of" (regarding, on account of) and "without respect" (without regard to circumstances).

She deserves respect for her wisdom and courage.

respecting preposition

In relation to, or when you consider something alongside something else. It's about how one thing measures up or relates to another.

Respecting his wealth, he lived quite humbly.

respective adjective

Worthy of respect or admiration. Someone or something that earns regard through quality or merit.

respectively adverb

With proper respect or consideration. A polite, formal way of acknowledging someone's status or words—old-fashioned now, but you'll hear it in Shakespeare when a character wants to show deference.

respice finem phrase

A Latin saying meaning 'look to the end'—consider how things will turn out before you act. It's a reminder to think about consequences, not just the moment you're in.

Before you pick a fight, respice finem: think about what happens next.

respite noun

A delay or postponement — the putting off of something to a later date. In Shakespeare, it often means a delay granted before punishment or judgment.

A respite from his execution gave him one more day to live.

responsive adjective

Matching or answering to something else. If one thing is responsive to another, it fits with it or reflects it back.

rest noun, verb

As a noun: sleep, repose, or recovery of strength. Also used in gaming (especially the card game primero) to mean the stakes you've set aside—what you're willing to lose. As a verb: to lie in someone's power or depend on them; to give someone peace of mind or a blessing; sometimes used where we'd say 'remain' or 'stay.'

God rest your soul. / It rested in your hands to set things right.

resting adjective

Fixed in one place; not moving. Shakespeare uses it to describe things that stay put—like the North Star, which never shifts position in the night sky.

The North Star's resting quality makes it perfect for navigation.

restive adjective

Restless and unwilling to move or act. Often used of a horse that won't obey the rein, or a person who's stubborn and won't cooperate.

The crowd grew restive as the ceremony dragged on.

restore verb

To make up for something lost or damaged; to repair harm or loss. Often used when someone rights a wrong or returns what was taken.

He promised to restore the money he'd stolen from the estate.

restrain verb

To hold something back or refuse to give it. Also: to tighten or pull firmly.

He restrained the money from his daughter when she disobeyed.

restrained adjective

Held back or kept from happening. Something stopped before it could break free or go further.

The king's restrained anger worried the court more than his rage.

restraint noun

The act of holding yourself back—whether from speech, action, or emotion. A kind of deliberate reserve or caution.

She spoke with restraint, choosing her words carefully to avoid giving offense.

resty adjective

Sluggish or slow-moving, as if you haven't been using your strength in a while. A person or thing that's lost its edge from sitting still too long.

After a long peace, the soldiers had grown resty and slow.

resume verb

To take up again or return to something you were doing before. Often used for picking up a responsibility or activity that was set aside.

After the interruption, she resumed her work at the loom.

retain verb

To keep someone employed or under your service. You retain a lawyer, a servant, a soldier—anyone whose loyalty and work you want to secure.

The king retained the best knights in the realm to protect his throne.

retention noun

The power to hold something in your mind or memory. Shakespeare uses it to mean how well someone can remember or keep track of things.

A student with poor retention forgets what they studied the day before.

retentive adjective

Able to hold or keep something in place. Shakespeare uses it to describe something that grasps or contains.

retire verb

To withdraw or pull back. In battle, it means to retreat. More broadly, it can mean to go away to a particular place, or to return somewhere.

The army had to retire from the field when supplies ran low.

retired adjective

Pulled back or withdrawn. In Shakespeare, often describes something that has receded or shrunk away—like floodwaters that have gone down.

retirement noun

A place you retreat to for safety or privacy. A sheltered spot away from the action.

She found retirement in a quiet chamber, away from the court's noise and eyes.

retort verb

To throw something back at someone—a blow, an insult, an argument. Shakespeare uses it to mean both a physical return and a sharp verbal comeback.

He retorted her accusations with facts of his own.

retrait(e noun

A retreat or withdrawal, especially from battle. This spelling was common in Shakespeare's time but is now archaic.

retreat noun

A signal that calls soldiers back from chasing the enemy. The moment when a pursuing force pulls back and stops the chase.

The general ordered a retreat when his soldiers were outnumbered.

retrograde adjective

Moving backward—or appearing to move backward. In astronomy, a planet is retrograde when it seems to travel the opposite direction across the sky from usual. Shakespeare used it more broadly to mean contrary or going against the natural order.

A child born when Mars was retrograde might be thought ill-fated or stubborn.

return noun, verb

As a noun: a sharp reply or comeback. As a verb: to answer back, or to give something back in response. Shakespeare uses it for both speaking a retort and for repaying a debt or favor.

He made a cutting return to her insult.

revenge noun

The desire to hurt someone back for a wrong they've done you. Shakespeare often uses the plural form to mean this burning wish for vengeance, or the act of getting even itself.

My revenges were high bent upon him — I was desperate to make him pay.

revengement noun

Payback or punishment for a wrong done to you. In Shakespeare's time, this could mean anything from legal justice to personal vengeance.

He swore revengement on the man who killed his father.

revengingly adverb

In a way that seeks to pay someone back for a wrong. Out of a desire for revenge.

He spoke revengingly, determined to make her feel the same hurt she'd caused him.

revengive adjective

Seeking revenge; ready to punish someone who has wronged you. A character with this nature holds a grudge and acts on it.

reverb verb

To echo back; to bounce sound around a space so it rings and repeats. Shakespeare seems to have coined this as a short form of "reverberate."

The church bells reverb through the stone walls long after they stop ringing.

reverberate adjective

Echoing or bouncing back sound. Something that vibrates or rings with repeated waves of noise or impact.

A reverberate hall sends your voice back to you in layers.

reverence noun

Deep respect, or an expression of apology before saying something that might upset someone. Shakespeare often uses "saving your reverence" as a way to cushion a potentially crude or offensive remark.

A character might say "Saving your reverence, my lord" before delivering bad news or a blunt truth.

reverend, reverent adjective

Worthy of respect and reverence, or showing deep respect. In Shakespeare's time, the word worked both ways—describing something deserving honor or someone displaying it.

A reverend elder commands the room through quiet dignity.

reverse noun

A backhanded stroke, especially in fencing or sword fighting. The blade comes back across the body instead of straight forward.

He parried with a reverse, flipping his blade to catch his opponent's thrust.

reversion noun

The right to inherit or receive something in the future. When property or a title is held "in reversion," it will pass to you once the current holder dies or gives it up.

revert verb

To come back or return to a former place or condition. The arrows would fly back to the archer's bow.

Like arrows shot from a bow that fly back to where they came from.

reverted adjective

Turned against someone or something; in open defiance or rebellion. When someone is reverted, they've stopped being loyal and started resisting.

A reverted subject will no longer obey the king's commands.

review verb

To look at something again, or to take a careful look over something as a whole. In Shakespeare's time, it often means to examine or inspect with fresh eyes.

He reviews the troops before battle to check their readiness.

revokement noun

The act of taking back or cancelling something that was previously granted or promised. A formal withdrawal of permission, consent, or authority.

The king's revokement of the licence left the merchants without legal standing to trade.

revolt noun

A turning away from loyalty or obedience; rebellion. Shakespeare uses it both for the act of rebelling and for the rebels themselves.

The king feared revolt among his nobles.

revolution noun

A turning or change—especially the kind that happens over time and alters how things are. Shakespeare often uses it for the cycles and shifts that wear away at the world.

The revolution of the seasons changes everything we see.

revolve verb

To think carefully about something; to turn it over in your mind. Shakespeare often uses it when a character needs to puzzle through a problem or decision.

If this letter reaches you, think it through.

rhapsody noun

A long, flowing stream of words—often emotional or excited. The kind of talk that spills out without much structure, like someone pouring out their thoughts in one breathless rush.

He launched into a rhapsody about his travels, talking for an hour straight.

rhenish noun

A white wine from the Rhine region of Germany. It was a popular import in Shakespeare's England and often served at taverns and feasts.

He ordered a glass of rhenish to wash down his meal.

rheu'matic adjective

Affected by a cold or by watery discharge from the eyes and nose. Shakespeare uses it to describe the damp, raw weather that brings on such complaints.

A rheumatic cough from the cold morning air.

rheum noun

A watery fluid that drains from the body—saliva, mucus from the nose, or tears. Shakespeare's doctors also used it to mean a harmful flow of bodily humours that caused disease like rheumatism or catarrh.

The old man's eyes were red with rheum from weeping.

rheumy adjective

Damp, watery, or foggy—the kind of air that makes your eyes water or blurs your vision. Often used for misty or unhealthy atmosphere.

A rheumy morning by the Thames—cold, wet, hard to see through.

rhyme noun

An old spelling of rime, a frost or frozen dew that coats surfaces in winter. Shakespeare uses it mainly in poetry to describe that delicate, sparkly coating on grass and leaves.

The morning rhyme glittered across the garden.

rib verb

To support, strengthen, or bind together with ribs or rib-like structures. A rib acts as a frame that holds something firm and secure.

The ship's hull is ribbed with oak to keep it from splitting in the storm.

ribald adjective

Loud, coarse, and crude. In Shakespeare it often means raucously disruptive—like birds making a racket.

The ribald crows wake the whole neighborhood at dawn.

ribaudred adjective

Lewd or wanton; dissolute. Shakespeare seems to have coined or altered this word, possibly from 'ribaudry' (indecent behavior), to describe someone or something as shameless and lustful.

rich adjective

Full of depth or experience — eyes that have seen a lot, or a reputation that's earned respect. When something is rich, it carries weight and substance.

His rich eyes had witnessed decades of war and peace.

rich'd verb

Made wealthy or abundant. In Shakespeare's time, this often meant enriching the soul or spirit, not just the purse.

His love rich'd her life with meaning.

richard noun (proper name)

A male given name; in Shakespeare's histories, often referring to King Richard II or other historical figures named Richard.

Richard du Champ.

rid verb

To get rid of or kill. In Shakespeare's time, people also used it to mean 'make progress' or 'cover distance quickly,' as in 'rid way' — push forward.

The red plague rid you — meaning, may disease destroy you.

ride verb

To rest or pivot on something as a point of support. Also: to endure or survive something difficult (usually "ride out"), to train a horse, or to domineer over someone.

The fate of the kingdom rides on a single moment.

rider noun

Someone who breaks in and trains horses. In Shakespeare's time, this was a skilled craft—riders worked with young or wild horses to make them safe to ride.

The king's rider spent months preparing the new stallion for battle.

rife adjective

Widespread or common. When something is rife, it's happening all over the place.

Corruption was rife in the city.

rift verb

To split or tear open. Can happen to a person (like your heart cracking) or a thing (like the ground splitting apart).

The lightning rifted the oak tree down the middle.

riggish adjective

Sexually loose or immoral. In Shakespeare's time, it could describe someone indulging in casual desire without restraint.

right noun

Fair treatment or justice—what someone deserves or is owed. Also a valid claim to something, grounded in law or custom. In Shakespeare's time, to 'do someone right' meant to treat them justly or give them satisfaction.

Do me right, and I'll trust you fairly.

right-drawn adjective

Pulled from its sheath for a just reason. A sword that's right-drawn fights on the side of justice.

His right-drawn blade defended the innocent.

right-hand noun

A faction or group of aristocrats, especially one aligned with a particular political or social cause. In Shakespeare's time, court politics meant being on the right side—or the wrong one.

righteously adverb

In the right way; correctly or properly. It's a moral or factual rightness—doing something as it should be done.

rightful adjective

Just and fair according to what's legally or morally correct. Something that's rightful has a solid claim to be the way it should be.

The rightful king had the strongest claim to the throne.

rightly adverb

In a straight line or direct path. When you look at something rightly, you're looking straight at it, not sideways or at an angle.

A painting looks best when you gaze at it rightly, not from the side.

rigol(l noun

A ring or circular band, often made of metal. In Shakespeare's time, the word could also mean a groove or furrow that runs around something.

A golden rigol crowning the king's head.

rim noun

The inner lining of the belly; the membrane that holds your organs in place. Shakespeare uses it as a gory threat—to tear out someone's insides.

rime, rimer noun

An old spelling of what we now write as 'rhyme'—the matching of sounds at the end of lines in verse. A 'rimer' is someone who writes in rhyme.

ring noun

The circle stamped around a monarch's head on a coin. A crack in the ring meant the coin was damaged or worthless.

A coin with a broken ring wouldn't pass in the market.

ring-carrier noun

Someone who carries messages or tokens between two people, usually lovers. A messenger or intermediary.

She asked her maid to be a ring-carrier, delivering love notes to her suitor.

ring-time noun

The moment in a wedding or betrothal ceremony when the couple exchanges rings as a sign of their commitment to each other.

rinsing verb

To wring or twist something hard, squeezing out liquid or wringing out moisture. An old dialect word that persisted in Shakespeare's time.

rioter noun

Someone out for a good time—drinking, dancing, feasting, making merry. A reveller or carouser.

The rioters filled the tavern with laughter and song all night.

riotous adjective

Wild and unrestrained, given to excess and loose living. Someone riotous throws caution aside and indulges without limit.

The riotous feast lasted all night, with wine flowing and no thought to tomorrow.

ripe adjective

Ready, mature, or fully developed—and often urgent. A ripe idea or moment won't wait. Can also mean grown-up or adult, or describe something physically full and ready (like lips).

A ripe sister is a woman ready for marriage.

rivage noun

The shore or coast of a body of water. Where the land meets the sea or a river.

The ship was driven toward the rocky rivage by the storm.

rival noun

A partner or companion—someone who shares in something with you. In Shakespeare, it often means a fellow guard or someone standing watch alongside you.

The other guards on duty with him.

rivality noun

Being on the same level or in partnership with someone. Sharing equal standing or status.

They claimed rivality with the king, though he saw them as lesser.

rive verb

To tear or split something apart with force. Often used of fabric, skin, or wood being ripped open.

His anger rived the letter into shreds.

rivelled adjective

Wrinkled or shriveled. The skin or surface is creased and drawn tight.

Her rivelled hands showed a lifetime of hard work.

rivo interjection

A drinking call—a shout you'd hear at taverns and feasts to egg people on. It's borrowed from Spanish, where it means something like "flow" or "go."

road noun

A journey, especially on horseback. Also: a raid or military incursion, or a sheltered anchorage for ships. In Shakespeare's time, "road" often meant the act of traveling rather than the path itself.

At last, with easy roads, he came to Leicester.

roadway noun

A main road or highway—the kind of route you'd travel on horseback or by carriage to get from one town to another.

The bandits lay in wait along the roadway, hoping to rob passing merchants.

roar noun

A loud commotion or uproar—the sound and chaos of confusion. To "set on a roar" means to provoke someone into wild, uncontrollable laughter.

The crowd roared with delight when the jester tumbled across the stage.

rob verb

To take something away from someone; to deprive. Death robs you of breath, time robs you of youth.

Death robs my tongue from breathing native breath.

robustious adjective

Loud, rough, and aggressive. The kind of person or behavior that fills a room without asking permission.

A robustious drunk stumbling through the tavern, knocking over cups.

rogue noun

A vagrant or wanderer, often poor and without a home. Also used as an insult for a scoundrel or dishonest person, or playfully as a term of affection—like calling someone a rascal.

To lodge you with pigs and rogues left to fend for themselves.

roguing noun

Wandering or living as a vagrant, especially as a thief or criminal. A rogue was someone without a home or lawful trade who survived by stealing.

The city guard arrested the roguing thieves who preyed on travelers.

roguish adjective

Like a vagrant or wanderer—someone who lives outside normal society, without a fixed home or honest work. Can mean dishonest or mischievous in a playful way.

A roguish fellow with no settled trade, always moving from town to town.

roisting adjective

Loud, aggressive, and obnoxious. The kind of person who throws their weight around to intimidate others.

A roisting bully swaggers into the tavern, looking for trouble.

roll noun

A list or register—the written record of names or things. In Shakespeare's time, a 'master of the rolls' was the official who kept all the important court documents and legal records.

romage noun

Bustle and commotion. An old form of 'rummage'—the hurried, chaotic activity of people rushing about.

roman adjective

A style of handwriting popular in Shakespeare's time — slanted, elegant, based on the italic script. It was considered refined and fashionable.

She praised his roman hand, so graceful on the page.

rome noun

Rome, the city—but Shakespeare often plays with its sound, punning on "room" (space or chamber). The wordplay lets him link the city to ideas of space, confinement, or freedom.

romeo proper noun

A young man of Verona; the protagonist of the play, member of the Montague family.

Oh! where is Romeo? Did you see you him today?

romish adjective

Of or relating to Rome and the Roman people or empire. In Shakespeare's time, this was a straightforward geographical term, though it could carry religious weight when referring to the Roman Catholic Church.

rondure noun

A circle or circular shape. An older or more poetic way of saying "round."

The moon's rondure hung bright above the castle.

ronyon noun

A scornful insult for a woman — suggests she's worthless, mangy, or diseased. Men hurled it as a gross put-down.

The exact sense is lost to time, but it lands as pure contempt.

roof'd adjective

Living under someone's roof; sheltered in their house. When a word is roof'd, it means the person is housed and cared for there.

A servant roof'd in the master's house enjoyed his protection.

rook verb

To crouch or squat down. An old word, common in Shakespeare's time but rare after.

The raven rook'd upon the chimney's edge.

rooky adjective

Full of rooks—the black birds. Also used to mean crowded or swarming, like a place where rooks gather.

room noun

A place or position meant for someone. Also used to mean a person's turn or role — someone else can step into your room, take your spot.

Let Bianca take her sister's room—she'll do the task instead.

root noun, verb

As a noun: the deepest part of the heart or soul—the seat of feeling and emotion. As a verb: to plant or embed something deeply; or to dig or tear something up from the ground, like a pig rooting in earth.

rope noun

A noose or halter — often a symbol of fate or doom. Also a mocking cry, like calling out that someone deserves to hang.

When fortune turns, a man might feel the rope tightening around his neck.

rope-trick noun

A mangled or playful twist on the word 'rhetoric'—either a mishearing, a pun, or a deliberate comic bungling of a fancy word. Shakespeare uses it to mock pretentious speech that's been garbled or overblown.

ropery noun

Sneaky or dishonest behavior; tricks and schemes. Someone up to ropery is running a con or being deliberately deceptive.

roping adjective

Hanging or dripping down in long strands, the way a rope hangs. Shakespeare uses it to describe something thick and stringy that falls from something else.

Thick liquid dripping from a wound like a rope.

rose noun

A solid cake or tablet made from pressed rose petals, used as perfume or scent. People carried these in pouches or rooms to smell sweet.

rosed adjective

Pink or rosy in color, like a rose. Shakespeare uses it to describe something beautiful or flushed—often lips or cheeks.

Her rosed cheeks showed her excitement.

rosemary noun

An herb used at weddings and funerals as a symbol—often woven into garlands or scattered as decoration. It was also used to flavor food.

Ophelia hands out rosemary at her own funeral, a sign of remembrance and sorrow.

roted verb

Memorized by repetition, without understanding the meaning. You learn something by rote when you repeat it over and over until it sticks.

He roted his lines so thoroughly he could speak them in his sleep.

rother noun

A cattle beast, usually an ox. The word is regional and old-fashioned even in Shakespeare's time.

Good pasture makes the rother grow fat and strong.

rotten adjective

Foul and decaying, giving off a sickening smell. Shakespeare uses it for bad air or corrupt vapours that seem poisonous.

The rotten smoke rising from the swamp made everyone hold their breath.

rough-hew verb

To shape or form something in a crude or unfinished way, without fine detail or polish. The work is done quickly and coarsely, ready for later refinement.

The sculptor rough-hewed the marble block before carving its delicate features.

roundel noun

A dance where people move in a circle, often with music and singing. It was a popular entertainment at court and in villages.

The guests joined the roundel, spinning together under the torchlight.

roundly adverb

Straight and blunt, without hedging or evasion. To speak roundly means to say what you mean plainly, even if it's harsh or unwelcome.

He told her roundly that her plan would fail.

roundure noun

A circle or enclosed space; something that goes round. Shakespeare uses it to mean the curved boundary of a thing, or the thing itself in its circular form.

rouse noun

A full cup or goblet of drink, often shared as a toast. Also used for a drinking party or bout of heavy drinking.

The king takes his rouse and calls for another round.

rout noun

A disorderly mob or crowd—often one that's rowdy or up to no good. Shakespeare uses it to mean the common people, the rabble, or sometimes the chaos and noise they make.

The rout of rebels stormed through the streets.

row noun

A line or verse in a song or poem. Shakespeare uses it to mean a single line of text, the way we might say 'line' today.

The first row of the song goes like this...

royal adjective

Belonging to or fit for a king or queen. Also used to describe something grand, magnificent, or noble in character—the way you'd expect a monarch to be or act.

A royal merchant—someone as wealthy and powerful as a king.

royalty noun

The power and dignity of a king or queen; or the person or people who hold that power. In Shakespeare, often means the rights and privileges that come with being royal—things only a monarch can do or claim.

The rebels plotted to steal the royalty from the rightful heir.

roynish adjective

Crude, base, or disreputable. Describes someone or something low and vulgar.

A roynish knave wouldn't dare show his face in decent company.

rub noun

An obstacle or difficulty that gets in the way. Shakespeare often used the image of bowls (the game) where a rub is something that stops or knocks the bowl off course — so any problem, snag, or complication in life works the same way.

"Ay, there's the rub"—meaning that's the catch, the real problem.

rubious adjective

Deep red, like a ruby. Shakespeare coined this word to describe the rich jewel-like colour.

ruby noun

A red pimple or sore on the skin, especially on the face. The word plays on the jewel's bright red color.

His face was marked with rubies from the infection.

ruddock noun

A robin—the small bird with a red breast. Shakespeare uses the word affectionately, as people of his time often did.

The ruddock sang at dawn from the garden wall.

rude adjective

Rough, unpolished, or crude—whether in manners, form, or nature. Can mean ignorant and uncultured, or simply harsh and violent. A rude sea is turbulent; rude language lacks refinement.

The storm's rude winds tore through the sails.

rudely adverb

With violence or rough force. Acting harshly, without gentleness or care.

He rudely shoved her aside instead of asking her to move.

rudeness noun

Roughness or coarseness — physical harshness rather than bad manners. A shoe might be rude because it's crudely made and heavy. A voice might be rude because it's harsh and grating.

Heavy boots whose rudeness made them clatter loudly on stone.

rudesby noun

A rude or badly behaved person. Someone who's crude, impolite, or just doesn't care about manners.

That rudesby interrupted the feast without so much as a bow.

rue verb

To feel sorrow or regret for something. To wish something hadn't happened.

She rued the day she let him leave.

ruffian verb

To blow hard and roughly, the way wind gusts and buffets. Shakespeare uses it for the wild, aggressive movement of air itself.

The ruffian wind tore at the sails.

ruffle noun

Showy, fussy display meant to impress. The kind of peacocking you see at court or in the city—all swagger and no substance.

He arrived in a ruffle of silk and jewels, desperate to look important.

ruffling adjective

Showy and boastful. It describes something or someone that's dressed up or acting in a way that's meant to impress and draw attention.

He wore ruffling clothes to show off his newfound wealth.

rug-headed adjective

Having thick, shaggy, or tangled hair that sticks out in all directions. A person with hair like matted wool or rough cloth.

A rug-headed vagrant stumbled into the tavern.

rugged adjective

Rough and shaggy in texture or appearance. Often used to describe hair, clothing, or landscape that looks wild and unkempt.

His rugged beard had grown long and thick during the winter.

ruinous adjective

Fallen into decay or destroyed. Something or someone that's broken down, wasted, or heading toward collapse.

A ruinous building stands empty, its walls crumbling.

rule noun

A law or principle that governs behavior. Also means order and discipline—the state of things being calm and controlled rather than chaotic. Can refer to how someone conducts themselves.

The kingdom fell into disorder when rule broke down.

rummage verb

To search through something thoroughly, turning things over and moving them around. Often suggests a rough or hurried search.

She rummaged through the trunk looking for her old letters.

rumour noun

Talk or gossip about someone. What people are saying, whether or not it's true.

There is a rumour of the king's illness spreading through the court.

rump-fed adjective

Pampered and overfed, like someone who lives off scraps or luxury without earning it. Shakespeare uses it as an insult—pampered, soft, worthless.

A rump-fed courtier, bloated on court favors.

run verb

To move fast on horseback. Shakespeare also uses it for wind or other forces moving swiftly through space.

A rider runs up the steep hillside on horseback.

runagate noun

A deserter or fugitive—someone who's run away and broken faith. In Shakespeare's time, it could mean a soldier who abandoned his post, or simply a vagrant wandering without a home.

A runagate who'd fled the king's army and now lived rough on the roads.

runaway noun

A vagrant or wanderer—someone with no fixed home who drifts from place to place. Often used dismissively to lump together the poor and untrustworthy.

He called them vagabonds, rascals, and runaways—the scum of the streets.

runner noun

Someone on the run from the law or fleeing danger. A fugitive.

The runner escaped into the forest to avoid capture.

rupture noun

A break or split in something. In Shakespeare, it usually means a breach or sudden opening—like waves breaking apart.

rush noun

A plant stem used in Shakespeare's time as a cheap makeshift ring—you could bend a rush into a circle and slip it on someone's finger as a joke or in a mock wedding. Rushes were also scattered on floors as a covering, especially when expecting guests.

A rush ring was a playful gift, worthless but charming.

rush-candle noun

A cheap, dim candle made by soaking a rush plant's pith in animal fat. It gives off weak light and was used by people who couldn't afford better.

A rush-candle flickers — barely enough to read by, nothing like a proper wax candle.

rushle verb

To make a soft, whispering sound—like silk or leaves moving. An older spelling of 'rustle.'

The lady's gown rushled as she crossed the hall.

russel noun

A rough, wrinkled fabric or trim. Shakespeare's text may have a printing error here — the intended word is likely ruffle, a decorative gathered or pleated edging.

russet adjective

Simple and plain, without fuss or decoration. The word comes from russet cloth, a cheap coarse fabric people wore for everyday work.

His russet clothes showed he was no nobleman, just a working man.

russet-pated adjective

Grey-haired or grey-headed. Shakespeare uses it to describe birds with grey plumage, but applies it to people too.

An old man with a russet-pated head, bent with age.

rust noun

Decay or rot—anything that corrodes or spoils something good. Shakespeare uses it as a metaphor for moral decay, laziness, or the slow damage of neglect.

Idleness is rust upon the soul.

rut-time noun

The season when deer are in heat and breeding. In Shakespeare's time, it was a vivid marker of autumn.

The stag bellows during rut-time, driven wild by nature's call.

ruth noun

Compassion or pity for someone's suffering. A feeling of sorrow for another person's pain.

She had ruth for the beggar shivering in the cold.

ruthful adjective

Full of pity or compassion; moved by sorrow. Shakespeare uses it to describe something that stirs deep sadness or regret.

A ruthful tale of love destroyed by war.

rutting noun

Sex or sexual activity. Often used dismissively or as a crude insult in Shakespeare's time.

ruttish adjective

Lustful and crude. Driven by sexual appetite without restraint or dignity.

A ruttish nobleman, more interested in seduction than sense.