342 words starting with W.
Something so thin and fragile it crumbles at the slightest touch. Shakespeare uses it as a metaphor for things that are unreliable or easily broken—especially human promises and loyalties.
A man's word turned out to be a wafer-cake—it fell apart the moment it was tested.
To carry someone across water, or to beckon or signal to someone. In Shakespeare, it often means to wave or gesture.
Like a hand wafting across a ship's deck, calling someone aboard.
Transport of goods or people by boat or ship. You'd pay for waftage to get cargo across a river or sea.
A wave or waving motion through the air. The way something moves when it's carried or swept along by wind or a current.
The wafture of her scarf caught everyone's eye as she turned.
To go or move along; to proceed on your way. Often used of people or things moving about in the world.
Let them wag their way; we'll stay here.
To stake or risk something on an uncertain outcome. Shakespeare also uses it to mean carrying on an action (like war) or putting oneself in danger.
He waged his fortune on a single battle.
Playfully mischievous or impudent in a teasing way. The kind of person who likes to joke around and pull pranks, without real meanness behind it.
The waggish servant kept making jokes to cheer up his gloomy master.
A vehicle drawn by horses—usually a cart or carriage. In Shakespeare's time, the word could mean anything from a working farm wagon to a grand ceremonial chariot.
Two strong horses to pull the vengeful waggon swiftly away.
A person who drives a wagon or cart, especially one pulled by horses. In Shakespeare's time, waggoners were working folk who hauled goods on the roads.
The waggoner cracked his whip to urge the horses forward.
An insulting name for someone who bows and scrapes too much, or who agrees with everything just to please others. Like a bird constantly dipping its tail.
To sway or shift weight, especially of a horse's hindquarters. The exact sense is uncertain, but it likely describes an unsteady or weaving motion.
The old horse waid in the back as it climbed the hill.
To cry or shed tears. Shakespeare often describes eyes that wail as expressing deep grief or emotion.
Her wailing eyes betrayed the sorrow she tried to hide.
A rope used to bind cargo to a cart or wagon. Heavy, thick rope made for hauling and securing loads.
The merchant wound the wainrope tight around the barrels before the journey.
The middle part of the human body, between ribs and hips. Shakespeare sometimes uses it to mean a belt or sash worn around this area. In nautical terms, it's the deck of a ship between the main and front masts.
To stay in one place expecting something to happen, or to be in attendance on someone as a servant or attendant. In Shakespeare, "wait on" usually means to serve someone or be at their side.
A courtier waits on the king, ready to serve.
A female servant or lady's maid who attends to a woman of higher rank. In poetry, the term could describe attendants in a poetic or mythological context.
The waiting-woman helped her mistress dress for the evening.
A celebration held on the anniversary of a church's founding, usually featuring feasting, drinking, and festive merrymaking. The whole community would gather for music, games, and revelry.
The village wake drew crowds of people eager to eat, drink, and dance through the night.
A path or route someone travels regularly, or a stretch of garden or forest set aside for strolling. In Shakespeare's time, a "walk" could be a whole tract of parkland, not just a single path.
The king takes his evening walk through the garden.
Having eyes that look wild or fierce, often with a strange paleness or discoloration to the iris. Shakespeare uses it to suggest something dangerous or menacing.
A wall-eyed guard glared from the doorway.
A small lizard that lives on walls and rocks. Shakespeare uses it as an insult, lumping it with other creatures people found repulsive.
You're nothing but a wall-newt, creeping in the shadows.
To become pale or lose color, usually from shock, fear, or illness. The face goes white.
His face wanned when he heard the news.
Pale or drained of color, often from sickness or exhaustion. The word suggests something that has lost its vitality or brightness.
A wan'd face might show through illness or deep sorrow.
A curse or oath expressing anger or emphasis. You're basically saying "damn it" or "to the devil with it."
Moving without a fixed route or home. In Shakespeare's time, a wandering knight was one who traveled in search of adventure or service, and a wandering star was what people called a planet—something that moved unpredictably across the sky.
A wandering knight comes to the castle seeking shelter and stories.
To lack or be without something. Also used to mean something is missing or insufficient. In negative constructions, it can mean the opposite—to inevitably have or feel something.
They want the use of tongue—they cannot speak.
A person who behaves without restraint or discipline—playful and reckless, or sexually loose. As an adjective: unrestrained, frivolous, or luxuriant in growth. Shakespeare uses it most often to mean sexually dissolute or carelessly indulgent.
A wanton character might seduce for sport, or a wanton garden might overflow with wild, unpruned plants.
In a playful, teasing way. Without seriousness or restraint, just for the fun of it.
He wantonly mocked his friend, laughing as he dodged every protest.
Playful, teasing behaviour that's done for fun or to show off. A kind of carefree mischief.
Worn out, tired, or exhausted. The word is quite obscure even in Shakespeare's time, and scholars have debated its exact meaning.
Tested and proven through combat. Courage that has been proven in actual warfare, not just claimed.
A war-proof soldier knows what real fighting demands.
Protection or guard—what keeps you safe. Also a prisoner's cell, or a young person placed under someone's care and responsibility.
She was placed in ward, meaning her guardian now had legal charge of her.
A type of pear prized for cooking and baking. They were firm-fleshed and sweet, popular in Elizabethan kitchens.
A rod or staff used as a sign of authority, especially one held by someone overseeing a fight or tournament. When thrown down, it signals that the combat must stop.
The king throws down his warder to end the duel.
Aware of something, or conscious of it. Often used with 'of'—knowing what's going on around you.
You're saying something wiser than you realize.
Rich or well-off. Someone who is warm has plenty of money and lives comfortably.
A warm man doesn't worry about paying his debts.
To summon or call someone to come somewhere. In older texts, also used as a plea—like asking God to protect or have mercy on us.
Who is it that hath warn'd us to the walls?
To twist, distort, or bend something out of shape. It can mean to change how something looks or feels, or to swerve from a straight path or proper course.
His jealousy began to warp his judgment.
Twisted in character or morals. Someone warped is bent toward cruelty or wrongdoing, not straightforward or honest.
A warped mind might smile while plotting harm.
As a noun: official permission or authorization to do something. As a verb: to guarantee, protect, or justify something—to vouch for its truth or rightness.
God warrant us safe through the night.
Justified or guaranteed by good reason. When something is warranted, you have solid ground to believe it or do it.
A warranted fear—one based on real danger, not imagination.
A promise or guarantee that something is true or will happen. You give your warrantise when you pledge to stand behind a claim or protect someone from loss.
I'll be your warrantise that the deal is sound.
Official approval or permission to do something. In Shakespeare's time, it could also mean protection or backing from a higher authority.
A piece of land where someone has the right to hunt and trap rabbits, hares, and game birds. It's a private hunting ground, owned or granted by permission.
A lonely lodge deep in the warren — quiet, isolated, cut off from the world.
Someone who manages a warren—an enclosed area where rabbits are bred and kept. The warrener tends the animals, maintains the grounds, and harvests them for meat and fur.
The warrener's job was to keep the rabbits thriving and safe from poachers.
A fighter or soldier—or, playfully, someone caught up in a battle or conflict. Shakespeare sometimes uses it with a wink, especially when talking about women in the thick of war or romantic struggle.
Armed conflicts between nations or groups; military combat and battles.
You coward, are you boasting to the stars, Telling the bushes you're looking for a fight, But won't show up? Come on, traitor; come, you child; I'll whip you with a stick: anyone who draws a sword on you Is dishonored.
A title of English nobility (Earl of Warwick); also refers to the person who holds that rank, a powerful medieval lord and political figure.
Go call the Earls of Surrey and of Warwick; But, before they come, tell them to read these letters again, And think carefully about them; hurry up.
As a noun: the sea, especially in poetic language. As a verb: to rid yourself of something, or to drink heavily (an Elizabethan phrase for getting drunk).
The ship crossed Neptune's salt wash. / I wish I could wash myself of this shame.
Flooded or covered with tears. When eyes are wash'd, they're wet from crying.
A place name — Wexford, a county in southeastern Ireland. Shakespeare uses it as part of Irish geography in his plays.
Swaggering or showy; full of bluster and bravado. A character who is washing acts bold and loud, throwing their weight around.
Sharp-tongued and quick to anger, as though provoked. Someone irritable and ready to snap.
Quick to anger and stinging in response. A person who is waspish-headed flies into a rage easily, like a wasp defending its nest.
His waspish-headed temper made him quarrel with friends over nothing.
A festive drinking party or celebration, often with spiced wine. The word can mean both the event itself and the hot mulled drink served at it.
The hall erupted in wassail, with lords and ladies raising their cups through the night.
Destruction or ruin of property, land, or resources. Often used for the squandering of money, time, or talent — the wearing away of something valuable. Shakespeare sometimes uses it to mean empty or barren land.
The flatterers caused as much waste to the kingdom as an invading army.
Burned away or used up. Often used for time that's gone and can't come back.
The chronicle of wasted time — years gone by that you can never get back.
Destructive and consuming. Something wasteful tears through things—lives, resources, time—without mercy or restraint.
A wasteful war leaves nothing but ruins.
A hare. The word is old-fashioned even for Shakespeare's time, but shows up in wordplay and hunting contexts.
A state of being awake, especially when you stay up deliberately. Also a timepiece or clock. In military terms, a watchman's post or the cry that signals danger.
He kept watch through the night while others slept.
A small shelter or booth where a guard or sentry stands duty. A place to keep watch over a gate, camp, or fortified position.
The soldier retreated to the watch-case when the storm rolled in.
Someone who stays awake, especially on guard or vigil. Often used for soldiers or sentries keeping watch through the night.
The watchers on the castle wall spotted the army approaching at dawn.
Sleepless, or full of careful attention. In Shakespeare, often describes a state of wakefulness—either from anxiety that keeps you up, or from the alert focus needed to guard something.
The watchful night before battle keeps a soldier's eyes open.
Tears, or the sparkle and clarity that makes a diamond valuable. Shakespeare uses "water" for both the liquid grief that flows from eyes and the brilliant shine that proves a gem is fine.
"Here is a water"—meaning this diamond has real lustre and worth.
A person who flits from one thing to the next without settling—restless, shallow, wasting time on trifles. The word comes from insects that skim the water's surface.
A faint secondary rainbow that sometimes appears outside the main arc. Shakespeare uses it as a poetic image of something less vivid or real than what it mirrors.
A pirate who works on the water. The term plays on 'rat' as slang for a thief or criminal—just as land-rats steal on shore, water-rats steal at sea.
A shaggy dog bred to retrieve water-fowl. The name suggests its rough, matted coat and its job working in wet conditions.
Filled with tears, brimming with moisture. The eye looks wet and swollen from crying.
An orphan's eyes, water-standing from grief.
A painting done in watercolours—pigments mixed with water instead of oil. These paintings were often used for decorative scenes or details.
The tapestry was decorated with a delicate water-work of hunting dogs.
A pause or breath taken while drinking. The moment you stop to breathe when you're having a drink.
Full of water, rivers, or moisture. The word often hints at something weak or diluted—like water itself, thin and insubstantial.
Connected to water or moisture. Often used to describe the moon because it controls the ocean tides, or to describe something weak and thin—like watered-down wine.
The watery moon pulls at the sea.
Made of wool, or relating to wool. A fabric thick enough to keep you warm.
To hesitate or show doubt. To be uncertain or unsteady in resolve.
His courage began to wave when he saw the enemy approaching.
To cry out loudly or wail. The word is kin to caterwaul — that yowling, discordant sound of distress or complaint.
The cat began to wawl in the night like something terrible had happened.
To grow or increase. Also used to mean 'become' — as in 'he waxed wrathful' (grew wrathful). Shakespeare plays on the double meaning: wax the verb (to grow) and wax the noun (the substance).
The waxing tide grew stronger each hour.
Soft and malleable, like wax—easily shaped or altered. Used to describe something that yields readily to pressure or change, whether a mind that accepts any impression or a surface that holds no lasting mark.
A waxen mind absorbs whatever is pressed upon it.
A path or passage, literal or figurative. Also means freedom to act or move as you choose—the scope or permission to do something. When someone gives you way, they step aside or let you have your turn.
She shut the doors against his way—blocking his path, but also his right to come and go.
Us—the objective form of 'we'. Shakespeare sometimes uses 'we' where modern English would use 'us', especially in older or formal speech.
to poor we (meaning 'to us poor folk')
Foolish or lacking sense. A character who is weak makes poor judgments and can't think clearly.
His weak plan to win her heart by lying will only make things worse.
Poorly balanced or unstable, like a door that hangs badly on its hinges. Used to describe judgment, character, or thinking that's shaky and unreliable.
A weak-hinged mind swings wildly from one belief to another.
The health and happiness of a person or a whole community. Shakespeare often uses it to mean the common good — the welfare of the state as a whole.
A king must care for the general weal, not just his own power.
Arranged or managed for the good of the community as a whole. A ruler or law that considers the welfare of everyone, not just the powerful.
A person in government who looks after the public good. Someone involved in managing the state and its affairs.
The king consulted his most trusted wealsman on matters of the realm.
Well-being, good fortune, or prosperity. Shakespeare often uses it to mean flourishing or thriving generally, not just money.
To turn someone away from something, or to free yourself from a feeling or attachment. It carries the sense of gradually pulling back, like weaning a child from milk.
I will wean myself from despair.
Fashion or style—what people are currently wearing. When someone says something "is the wear," they mean it's in fashion.
Motley is the only wear at court these days.
The person who has something on or owns it. Someone wearing clothes, carrying a title, or bearing a burden.
The wearer of the crown must decide the kingdom's fate.
Clothes you wear regularly or for a particular purpose. The word treats clothing as something you put on and use, rather than owning it as a possession.
Tiresome or annoying; the kind of thing that wears you down. In Shakespeare's time, it could describe something that makes you feel exhausted just dealing with it.
A weary task—one that drains you before you even start.
A storm or tempest. In nautical language, also the advantage gained by being upwind of another ship—so Shakespeare uses it figuratively to mean having the upper hand in a situation.
The king keeps the weather of his enemies—he holds power over them.
Worn and roughed up by wind, rain, and time. The way stone or wood gets beaten down by years of exposure to the elements.
The old stone wall stood weather-bitten and gray after centuries outside.
To shield someone or something from rain, wind, or cold. A practical word for keeping the elements at bay.
A weaver was thought to be naturally musical and fond of singing. The joke was that weavers hummed or sang at their looms—their work gave them plenty of breath and rhythm for it.
A weaver's caught on stage: the audience expects him to burst into song.
Married, or relating to marriage. In Shakespeare's time, this word could describe both the state of being married and the ceremony itself.
He spoke of his wedded wife with deep affection.
A garment or piece of clothing. Shakespeare often uses it in the plural, and sometimes the singular with a qualifier—like 'widow's weeds' for mourning clothes. Occasionally refers to a horse, usually a worn-out or bad-tempered one.
She dressed in mourning weeds after her husband died.
Weeds—the unwanted plants you pull from a garden. In Shakespeare, often used to mean anything worthless or destructive that needs to be removed.
The state is full of weeding, and the king must clean it out.
Full of weeds, or overgrown with unwanted plants. A garden left untended becomes weedy.
A period of time, often used in phrases about being trapped or running out of time. "In by the week" means caught or stuck; "too late a week" means it's already too far gone.
To think or suppose something. An old word, but you'll see it in Shakespeare when a character is guessing or imagining what might happen.
Do you ween he'll forgive us?
to cry; to shed tears, often from grief, emotion, or remorse
Why do you think I would mock you when I woo? Mocking and making fun don't bring tears: Look, when I make vows, I cry; and vows like that, Show all the truth from the start. How can this seem like mockery to you, When I wear the badge of faith, proving I'm sincere?
On the verge of tears. Someone so moved—by grief, emotion, or injustice—that crying is about to spill out.
The news left her weeping-ripe, her eyes glistening.
To know or learn. An old word, fading even in Shakespeare's day. Here used to mean "to know" or "to make known."
I bind the world to weet we stand up peerless.
To think carefully about something; to consider its importance or truth. In Shakespeare, it usually means judging the worth or value of a person or idea, not literally measuring heaviness.
Weighing the youthful season of the year, he decided to delay his journey.
Full measure or amount; the heavy toll of something. In Shakespeare's time, you'd pay for a crime or debt not just with money but with the full weight of consequence—nothing held back.
Your madness shall be paid back in equal weight—meaning you'll face the same force of harm you caused.
Serious and hard to bear. Something that weighs heavily on you—whether a burden, a problem, or bad news.
The king carried a weighty sorrow after his son's death.
Connected to fate or destiny. In Shakespeare's time, this word belonged to old Scottish tradition—the three weird sisters were figures who controlled what would happen.
The weird sisters spoke prophecies that shaped Macbeth's path.
A greeting or expression of hospitality; to greet or receive someone kindly upon arrival.
Do you have the flower? Welcome, traveler.
Health or well-being. In Shakespeare, it often means physical health or safety rather than modern social benefits.
I worry for my husband's welfare while he's away at war.
Twisted or curled up, like something that's been bent back on itself. Often used to describe horns that spiral or coil.
A ram's welk'd horns curve back toward its head.
The sky. Shakespeare and his contemporaries used it in grand or comic ways — as if the heavens themselves were a character in the scene.
A blue eye described as 'welkin' calls to mind the vast open sky.
A natural spring where water comes up from the ground. Shakespeare uses it as a literal source of water, and also as a metaphor for anything that flows or originates from deep within.
A clear well in the forest—fresh water you can drink straight from the earth.
An exclamation of approval or encouragement. You're doing great—keep going.
The archer lets fly. 'Well said, Lucius!'—a shout of praise for a clean shot.
A cry of sorrow or distress—basically "oh no!" or "alas!" You hear it when someone's hurting or lamenting bad news.
An old exclamation of sorrow or regret. It's a northern English variant of "well-a-day," used when something sad or unfortunate happens.
Sane and in your right mind. The opposite of mad or confused.
Well-equipped, properly furnished, or arranged with care. In Shakespeare, often describes something that's been set up smartly or someone who's well-groomed and presentable.
A well-appointed chamber, with fresh tapestries and good light.
Well-equipped or properly supplied with everything needed. Often used of a ship outfitted for a voyage, or of luck and success that came together at just the right moment.
A well-found ship ready for the journey ahead.
Well-behaved, well-mannered, or in good standing. Someone who carries themselves with dignity and has earned respect from those around them.
A noble Roman, well-given in his conduct and admired by the Senate.
Loved and blessed by others; someone people genuinely want good things for.
A well-wish'd prince returns home to cheering crowds.
A weapon from Wales whose exact design is now lost to history. Shakespeare's audiences would have recognized the name, but we can only guess what it looked like.
A cyst or lump that grows under the skin. Shakespeare uses it as an insult—calling someone a wen means they're bloated, useless, or a blemish on the world.
Falstaff is called "this wen"—a grotesque growth that shouldn't exist.
A girl or young woman, often a servant. Shakespeare's speakers use it as a casual, sometimes affectionate way to address someone of lower social standing—not necessarily an insult, but a reminder of the gap between them.
A master might say it to a maid the way we'd say 'girl' or 'dear' today.
Having qualities thought of as feminine or effeminate. In Shakespeare's time, it was often used as a dismissal—suggesting someone (usually a man) was soft, weak, or unmanly.
A soldier acting wench-like would be mocked for lacking courage.
A call shouted by boatmen on the Thames River to attract passengers heading west. It became a popular exclamation in Shakespeare's time, used to signal direction or draw attention.
A waterman yells 'Westward ho!' to gather travelers bound for the suburbs.
Strange, uncanny, or under the control of fate. In Shakespeare, it often suggests something supernatural or beyond normal understanding.
The three weyward sisters speak in riddles that seem to come true.
The tube in your throat that carries air to your lungs. Shakespeare uses it to mean the windpipe or gullet.
A man choking would struggle at his wezand.
The bank or shore of a river or body of water. A landing place where boats meet land.
A question word used to ask about identity, reason, time, or manner. Also used as an exclamation to call someone's attention, express surprise, or introduce a surprising statement.
What's his name? What time is it? What, ho! Come here!
What is; what has—a contraction of 'what' and either the verb 'is' or 'has.' Used to ask a question or express curiosity about something.
Thank you, good Egeus: what's the matter with you?
Whatever it may be. A contracted form of "whatever" used when the exact thing doesn't matter or isn't specified.
Whate'er you choose, I'll follow.
Whatever it is; no matter what. A compressed way of saying "whatsoever it may be."
A spinning wheel used for making thread or yarn. Shakespeare also uses it as a symbol of Fortune, the goddess who spins human fate. Sometimes he means the easy, comfortable life that comes from good luck.
A poor woman at her wheel, spinning thread by firelight.
Moving around aimlessly or in circles. Not going anywhere in particular, just roaming.
The drunk wheeling through the streets at midnight.
Whitsunday, the Christian holiday fifty days after Easter. Shakespeare's text shows a regional dialect spelling from northern and central England.
A pimple or pustule on the skin. Shakespeare uses it as an insult—a small, ugly blemish.
His face was covered with whelks from the heat and dirt of travel.
Shriveled or withered, like skin that's dried and creased. This is an old spelling variant of 'welk'd'—you might see it in different editions of the same play.
An exclamation of impatience or urging someone to hurry up. Shakespeare's characters use it to push past delays or prod a sluggish companion into action.
Come, thou tortoise! When?
At the time that; whenever. Shakespeare uses this as a simple way to mark when one thing happens in relation to another.
From the place where something or someone came from. Shakespeare often uses it to trace something back to its origin—a person, a feeling, a quality—to where it started.
The sun rises from the east, and to that same place whence it came, it will return.
In which circumstance or situation; when. Often used to point out a condition or consequence, like "in a case where" or "when." Can also mean "whereas" — showing contrast between two things.
I drew my sword to defend him, where being apprehended, I was taken prisoner.
What someone is doing or what they're occupied with. The business or purpose they're engaged in at the moment.
Don't quiz me about my whereabout—it's my own affair.
Against which. Used to refer back to something just mentioned and show opposition or resistance to it.
The wall whereagainst he leaned was crumbling.
To the place that; to where. A formal way to point toward a location or direction.
Why? For what reason or purpose? Shakespeare uses it to ask the cause or motive behind something, not (as many think) to mean "where."
"Wherefore art thou Romeo?" — meaning, why are you Romeo (of all people)?
In what way or respect. Often used to mean "in the thing that" or "though"—introducing a contrast or concession.
Wherein lies your complaint?
Of which; by which. Marks the thing that causes or relates to something else.
The poison whereof he died came from his enemy's hand.
Until the point at which; up to the moment when. It's just 'until' with extra formality.
On what grounds or for what reason. Shakespeare uses it to prompt someone to explain or justify something.
Tell me the nature of your complaints, and whereupon you make these charges.
To stir someone up or provoke them into action. To sharpen their desire or anger toward something.
Cassius worked hard to whet Brutus against Caesar.
Introduces a question where two or more options are being asked about. Often paired with "or" to set up alternatives: "Did he run or fly?" The word itself may be pronounced as one syllable in Shakespeare's time.
Whether he ran or flew, they could not tell.
A pale or sickly-looking person. The insult compares someone's colorless face to whey—the pale liquid left over after milk curdles.
You whey-face coward—you've gone white as milk.
A relative pronoun that points back to a person or thing just mentioned. In Shakespeare, it often does the work of 'who', 'whom', or 'that'—sometimes in ways that feel a bit formal to modern ears.
Someone who clears the path ahead, making space for an important person. Shakespeare uses it as a metaphor for the sea, which parts like an official preparing the way for a king.
The usher acted as a whiffler, pushing through the crowd so the bride could walk down the aisle.
During the time that; as long as. Also used to mean 'until' in older speech, especially in farewells.
Stay here while I fetch the letter.
A short time ago; not long before now. An old-fashioned way of saying "a moment ago" or "just now."
Until. It marks the point when one thing stops and another begins. Often used to describe a waiting period or a condition that holds true up to a certain moment.
Wait here whiles I fetch the letter.
During the time that; while; as long as.
Now the hungry lion roars, And the wolf howls at the moon; While the tired farmer snores, Done with his work for the night.
Mouldy or decayed. This is an old spelling variant of a word meaning covered in mould or rot.
To move fast or suddenly. Often used as a command to hurry someone along.
Whip to your tents — meaning, get yourself there quickly.
A beating or whipping. The phrase plays on "banquet" — a lavish feast — to mock a brutal punishment as if it were something to enjoy.
A contemptible person, especially a small or insignificant one who struts or boasts. The word carries real scorn—someone beneath respect.
A puny whipster like that wouldn't last a day in real combat.
A spinning top that you whip to make it twirl. Shakespeare uses it as a metaphor for anything that spins chaotically or goes round and round without purpose.
Life felt like a whirligig—constantly spinning, never stopping.
Rushed and forceful; moving with wild intensity. The word captures a sense of reckless momentum—something spinning out of control or barreling forward without restraint.
A whirling attack catches the guards off guard.
An older spelling of wheezing — the sound of breathing hard or struggling for air. You hear it when someone is out of breath or sick.
Silent or quiet. Shakespeare uses it to describe things that have gone still or hushed.
The wild waves whist—suddenly calm and without sound.
Worth or value—as in the old saying that even a worthless dog is worth calling to. If someone says you're "worth the whistle," they mean you're worth paying attention to.
Pale or bloodless, suggesting cowardice or fear. A white liver was thought to show a timid or cowardly nature.
A warrior with a white liver would never stand firm in battle.
Whitewashed or coated with limewash. A building or wall treated this way would be bright white.
Painted white. 'Limn' was the technical term for painting in distemper, a quick-drying water-based paint often used for whitewashing.
Cowardly. The idea is that a coward's liver is pale and weak instead of red and robust—the opposite of someone brave.
A soldier called white-livered would be seen as shamefully afraid.
In a pale or pallid way. Used to describe someone or something that looks drained of color, often suggesting weakness or fear.
To or toward which place. It's an old word for asking where someone or something is going, or describing a direction.
Whither dost thou flee? (Where are you running?)
The season when people bleached linen and cloth white by spreading it out in the sun. Shakespeare uses it as a marker of time or work.
Someone who bleaches linen cloth to make it white. In Shakespeare's time, this was skilled work—the whitster would use lye, sunlight, and patience to turn raw fabric bright.
A small folding knife, usually cheap and not very sharp. Common in country areas, especially Warwickshire.
A penny whittle—just dull enough to frustrate you.
A question word asking about a person. Shakespeare uses it where modern English would say "whom" (the object form). Also works as a relative pronoun, connecting a clause to the noun before it—sometimes meaning "which" when the noun is a thing.
"A brave vessel, who had noble creatures in her" = a ship that had noble people aboard.
A shout to get someone's attention from far away. Like calling out to a friend across a field.
Whoa ho! I'm over here!
Whoever; any person at all, no matter who. A poetic contraction of "whomsoever."
Whoe'er I woo, my heart remains my own.
Healed or healthy; no longer injured or sick. Can mean physically sound or, more broadly, restored to a good state.
He was struck in the mouth, and it's not whole yet.
Sound and healthy in body or mind. Also means sensible, fitting, or proper for the situation—the kind of thing that makes sense to do.
A wholesome diet keeps you well; wholesome advice keeps you out of trouble.
A relative pronoun that introduces a clause about someone or something already mentioned. Shakespeare uses it much like we'd use "who" or "which" today, often without strict attention to case.
"the seal, through whom a thousand sighs are breathed for thee" — the seal by way of which sighs travel.
A loud fuss or uproar. The kind of shouting and commotion that erupts when people are upset or arguing.
The whoobub in the marketplace grew so loud the merchants abandoned their stalls.
A loud, rough cry or shout. In Shakespeare, often playful or teasing, used to hail someone or get their attention.
A coarse insult or term of contempt, sometimes used mockingly between friends. Can mean simply 'fellow' or 'guy,' or intensify almost any insult. The exact sting depends on tone — it might be spat with real anger, thrown around as crude banter, or barely mean anything at all.
A whoreson mad fellow — meaning a crazy guy, without much bite behind it.
Anyone at all, no matter who. Shakespeare uses it to mean 'any person whatsoever,' often when laying down a rule or principle that applies broadly.
Whosoever breaks the oath shall face the king's wrath.
A shout to get someone's attention, like calling out a name across a room. Shakespeare uses it the way we might say "Hey!" or "Listen!" — often when repeating something for emphasis.
Why, Jessica, I say! (calling out to Jessica who didn't respond the first time)
Evil or harmful, often with a sense of cruel mischief. Can also mean cursed or unlucky—stamped by bad fortune.
A wicked charm that brings disaster to all who hear it.
Far from the mark; missing the point or target. When something is wide of the truth or someone's expectations, it's completely off base.
His guess was wide of what she actually meant.
Having the mouth wide open. Used to describe someone gaping or slack-jawed, often in shock or stupidity.
A wide-chapped fool staring in amazement at the news.
To open something fully or stretch it out broad. Often used for eyes, mouths, or doors—anything that can spread apart.
She widened her eyes in shock at the news.
To give a woman a settled income as a widow — money meant to support her after her husband dies. Sometimes used more broadly to mean 'make into a widow' or 'leave widowed.'
The property or money a widow receives after her husband dies. In Shakespeare's time, this was often settled legally beforehand to support her if she was left alone.
To handle or express something with skill and force. Words can't fully *wield* the depth of feeling—they can't grip or control it the way a hand grips a sword.
I love you more than words can wield the matter.
A woman, especially one of adult status in a household or community. In Shakespeare's time, the word could mean simply 'woman' rather than always 'married woman.'
She's a civil, modest wife — meaning a well-mannered woman of good character.
A person or human being. Shakespeare uses it for anyone—hero or villain, living or dead.
That wight hath done me wrong.
With quick, light movements. Moving in a nimble, agile way.
She ran wightly down the garden path.
An open, uncultivated region of land. Shakespeare uses it for the Weald of Kent, a forested area in southeast England.
A franklin dwelling in the wild of Kent.
A pointless pursuit where you're forced to follow someone else's path with no real goal or winning condition. It comes from a horse race where the lead rider picks the course and the follower just has to copy every move.
Chasing after that rumor turned into a wild-goose chase—we ended up nowhere.
A female horse that roams free or is untamed. In Shakespeare's day, an uncontrolled or promiscuous woman.
A barren or desolate place. Often used to mean something worthless or stripped of value—a wasteland, literally or figuratively.
An explosive made from gunpowder mixed with other materials and rolled into a ball. It was used in warfare and would spread flames rapidly when lit.
His angry words hit like a wildfire—spreading fast and burning everything in their path.
A state of mental disorder or derangement. In Shakespeare, a character's wildness might be real madness or a deliberate act—sometimes hard to tell which.
Hamlet's wildness troubled the court, though he claimed to be only 'mad in craft.'
Stubborn and hard to move—either stubbornly set on getting what you want, or stubbornly resistant to reason. Shakespeare uses it for people who dig in their heels and won't budge.
A wilful child refuses to listen to anyone but herself.
Willfully deserving blame; stubbornly at fault. The phrase arose from a spelling mix-up—'to blame' was misread as 'too blame,' then treated as a single adjective meaning excessively blameworthy.
You're too willful-blame for starting this quarrel without cause.
As a noun: your own choice or desire — what you want to do, or your consent to let something happen. 'By my will' means of your own free choice; 'good will' means favour or willingness. As a verb: to want something, to desire someone to do something, or to command. Often used where modern English would say 'shall' or 'must', or left implied ('we'll a-hunting' = 'we'll go a-hunting').
Gladly; without hesitation or resistance. When someone does something willing, they're doing it with their full consent.
I'll follow you willing, wherever you go.
On purpose; by choice rather than accident or force. You do it knowing what you're doing.
He committed his crimes willingly, not under duress.
A willow branch or garland worn or given as a sign of heartbreak and rejected love. In Shakespeare's time, it was a symbol lovers would use to show they'd been cast aside.
She wore willow after he left her for another.
will; shall; are you willing to (second person singular present tense of 'will')
Oh, will you leave me in the dark? Don't do that.
Blindfolded. The word often describes Cupid in poetry and drama, showing why love is blind — it strikes without reason or sight.
A wimpled Cupid aims his arrows at random hearts.
To get the better of someone or something; to gain advantage over. Often used with 'of' or 'upon' to mean overcoming or prevailing against.
The land wins of the sea, slowly reclaiming what the waves had taken.
To flinch or recoil, especially from a blow or shock. The word can also mean to kick or buck (as a horse does).
A swelling in the groin from sexually transmitted infection. The term mocked the Bishop of Winchester, who controlled the brothels in Southwark and profited from them—so the disease became his 'goose.'
A village near Stratford-upon-Avon. Shakespeare's mother, Mary Arden, came from this area.
Air moving in a direction — used in phrases about advantage, pursuit, or detection. Also: breath, speech, or sighs. A character 'has the wind' of someone when they've caught their scent or got the upper hand.
To tighten or prepare something for use—like tuning the strings of an instrument, or winding a clock. Can also mean to pass time, or simply to go away.
Wind up your harp before the performance.
Fickle and unreliable, shifting direction like the wind. Someone or something that can't be trusted to stay loyal or firm.
His wind-changing promises meant nothing by morning.
A swelling that appears on a horse's leg, usually at the ankle joint. It's a real condition that makes the leg look lumpy and can make the horse go lame.
A knight's horse with windgalls would struggle in battle.
A roundabout or indirect way of getting somewhere—a detour, either literal or conversational. Someone who takes windlasses is going the long way round instead of straight to the point.
He spoke in windlasses instead of telling her directly what he wanted.
The eyelid. Shakespeare often calls eyelids windows because they open and close like shutters, letting light in or blocking it out.
A mother's downy windows closing gently over her child's eyes.
The crisscross lacing or openwork pattern on the front of a woman's bodice, usually made of ribbon or cord. It looked like the bars of a window, which is how it got its name.
A lady's bodice could show off a bold pattern of window-bars stitched in gold thread.
Having windows, or marked with window-like openings. Used to describe something that's either positioned in a window or riddled with holes like a latticed pane.
A windowed tower let the light pour through.
Twisting or turning; winding in direction. Editors have debated the exact meaning, but it likely refers to something that curves or spirals rather than going straight.
Toward the wind, or exposed to it. Also used for talk that's full of hot air—lots of words but little substance.
His windy speeches pleased the crowd but changed nothing.
Flight or the act of flying. Used metaphorically for the course something takes—like an emotion or intention spreading through the air.
The crow makes wing across the sky.
Organized in distinct divisions or squadrons, each led by its own commander. Used to describe troops arranged for battle with discipline and courage.
Flying, or moving swiftly through the air. Can also mean protected by a military flank—the wing of an army drawn up in battle formation.
Time is winged and carries our youth away.
As a noun: death, or a very tiny distance. As a verb: to close your eyes, or to pretend not to notice something (often meaning to allow it quietly). Can also mean to give someone a meaningful look.
The closing or shutting of the eyes. Can also mean something that's closed or shut up, like a flower bud that hasn't opened yet.
"Your winking Mary-buds" — the tight buds of marigolds, not yet in bloom.
Wise and shrewd; able to see through foolishness or deception. Like grain separated from chaff, a winnowed mind has the good sense sifted out from confusion.
To cover a plant (or body) with straw or moss to protect it through the cold months. Shakespeare uses it as a poetic image for burial or preservation.
Like tucking a sleeping garden under a blanket of straw.
Worn or used during the winter months. Something that has been through a cold season.
His wintered cloak was thin and patched from months of hard wear.
Cold and bleak. Used to describe something that feels gloomy or lifeless—like winter itself.
An insult or a person you despise. Used as a term of contempt.
He's nothing but a wipe — unworthy of respect.
Made of or resembling wire; thin and strong. In Shakespeare, often used for hair or the strings of musical instruments.
The lute's wiry strings rang out across the hall.
To know or suppose. Shakespeare uses it almost always in the phrase "I wis" — a mild oath meaning "I assure you" or "I suppose."
I wis, he's the finest swordsman in all the kingdom.
Knowledge about the natural world—how things grow, move, and change. In Shakespeare's time, this meant understanding plants, animals, the body, and the stars through careful observation.
A way or manner of doing something. You'll see it mainly in phrases like "in no wise," which means "not at all" or "in no way."
In no wise will I agree to this foolishness.
A person of good judgment and self-knowledge. Shakespeare often pairs this with 'fool' to show the difference: a fool thinks he's smart, but a wise man knows his own limits.
A woman who practiced magic or claimed knowledge of hidden things—what we'd call a witch. In Shakespeare's time, these women were both feared and consulted for charms, remedies, and predictions.
To recommend someone to another person, or to hand them over as an introduction. You're passing someone along with your approval or (sometimes) your sarcasm.
I will wish him to her father — meaning, I'll recommend him to her father's care.
Full of longing or desire. Marked by yearning rather than certainty.
A wishful glance toward the door — hoping for someone who won't come.
With a look of longing or yearning. The word often appears as 'wistly' in the texts we have.
Knew or understood something. An archaic past tense form of "wit," meaning to know.
With close, steady attention. When you look at someone wistly, you're watching them intently, taking in every detail.
She gazed at him wistly, searching his face for any sign of emotion.
Your mind and mental powers—the ability to think, imagine, and understand. In Shakespeare's time, people often spoke of having multiple "wits" (common sense, memory, imagination), not just one. It can also mean clever invention or quick thinking, or simply good judgment and wisdom.
"Love dwells in the finest minds" — someone with quick wit can turn a phrase into gold.
A man too slow to notice or understand what's happening around him—especially a husband who doesn't see his wife's infidelity. It's a wordplay on "wittol," playing wit against dimwit.
The other men laugh at him as a wit-old, blind to what everyone else can see.
Someone who can't resist making jokes or clever remarks, no matter when or where. They're always reaching for a witty quip.
A wit-snapper would crack a pun at a funeral.
To cast a spell on someone; to enchant or bewitch. In Shakespeare, it often carries a sense of seduction or irresistible power—the way something draws you in completely.
The midnight hour has a witching quality that makes the impossible feel real.
Shows who or what causes something, or what means you use to do it. Shakespeare uses it in ways that might feel odd now—like "overmastered with dust" (overcome by dust) or "supped full with horrors" (filled by horrors). Also marks possession or company: "with us" means "among us" or "on our side."
with it; also; at the same time; moreover; in addition to that
Yet these obvious flaws fit him so well, That they seem important, when real strength Looks cold in the wind: also, we often see Cold wisdom waiting on foolishness.
To step aside or move to a private place, usually to have a confidential conversation away from others.
Let's withdraw to the garden where we can speak without being overheard.
To drain or wear something away gradually. Often used of money, strength, or resources that shrink over time.
Spending money carelessly withers out a young man's fortune.
On a horse, the ridge of muscle and bone where the neck meets the shoulders. In Shakespeare, "wrung withers" is a figure for hurt feelings or wounded pride—you've been deeply offended.
If I insult you badly, I might say your withers are wrung.
Inside something or someone. In Shakespeare, it often means close at hand or in your immediate space—near enough to touch or harm.
A charm or spell, often invoked for protection. The word appears in folklore as a name called upon against evil or mischief.
Outside or beyond. Also used to mean 'unless' — in the sense of 'if not for' or 'except.' Context tells you which.
Memorized and recited from memory, rather than read from a script. A without-book performance is one delivered straight from the actor's mind.
A without-book prologue shows real skill — the actor needs no notes.
On the outside; out of doors. Moving or facing toward the exterior.
A person who sees or knows something and can testify to it; or to serve as evidence or proof of something.
What is unholy, we don't swear by, But call upon the Highest to witness: so tell me, If I swore by God's great qualities, That I loved you dearly, would you believe my oaths
In a clever or smart way. Shakespeare often uses it to mean showing quick thinking or intelligence.
A man who knows his wife is unfaithful and accepts it without complaint. The word carries a sting of mockery — he's a fool for putting up with it.
The townspeople laughed at him for being a wittol, blind to his wife's obvious affairs.
In the manner of a man who knows his wife is unfaithful and accepts it. A comical or shameful state — the opposite of jealous pride.
Clever and quick-thinking. In Shakespeare's time, it also meant wise or sensible—sharp in mind, not just quick with jokes.
A witty fool sees what's coming; a foolish wit never sees it at all.
A shout to get someone's attention or to make them stop. Often used to command a horse or to call out in surprise.
Wo ha ho! Look there—the messenger approaches on horseback.
A dense forest or area thick with trees. In Shakespeare's time, woods were places of mystery, danger, and refuge—often where characters go to escape or get lost.
The lovers fled into the wood to hide from the court.
Deep sadness or suffering. In Shakespeare, often an exclamation of grief or despair—like saying "alas" or "oh no." Can also mean a specific misfortune or calamity that causes pain.
"Woe is me!" cries the heartbroken character.
Resembling or characteristic of a wolf. Cruel, savage, or predatory in behavior or appearance.
A wolvish appetite for power drove the tyrant to devour his enemies.
A wife, or a female person. Shakespeare often uses it to mean a man's wife or lover, and sometimes to suggest something soft, yielding, or emotional—what he'd call womanish.
A man who seduces or conquers women; a ladies' man. In Shakespeare's time, it's a boastful title—someone who brags about his success with women.
A swaggering courtier proud to be known as a woman-queller.
Worn down or dominated by a woman, especially a wife. A man nagged or controlled so much he's exhausted by it.
He came home woman-tired, knowing his wife would find fault with everything.
Having a woman with you. Describes a man who has a female companion or escort.
A man-at-arms, woman'd and well-dressed, entered the hall.
Any hollow space or container—the earth, the night, a cannon, a grave. Shakespeare uses it like we'd say belly or interior, something that holds or encloses.
The ground's dark womb held the buried treasure.
Hollow and rounded, like the inside of a womb. Shakespeare uses it to describe arched spaces that curve inward.
Adult female human beings; the plural of woman.
More than the vows women have ever spoken
A drinking cup or goblet, often made of wood. The term appears rarely in Shakespeare and refers to a vessel for serving drink.
A feeling of awe or amazement at something remarkable. Also: a miraculous thing or quality that inspires that awe.
The handkerchief held some wonder — a mystery she couldn't explain.
To perform miracles or achieve something so extraordinary that it seems impossible. The person doing it appears to have almost magical power.
A feeling of amazement or awe at something remarkable. You're struck by how impressive or strange something is.
She gazed at the jewels with wondering—unable to believe their beauty.
To be accustomed to doing something; to have a habit. Often appears in the phrase "is wont to" or "was wont to."
A beggar is wont to carry her child on her shoulders.
Mad or frenzied. The word often describes someone in a state of wild confusion or rage, as if possessed by fury.
A climbing plant with fragrant flowers, usually honeysuckle. Shakespeare's audience knew it as a wild vine that twined around trees and hedges.
The woodbine wound through the garden, sweet-smelling and thick with blooms.
A foolish or gullible person. The word comes from the woodcock bird, which was thought to be easily trapped or tricked.
You're a woodcock if you believe that nonsense.
Stiff and awkward, or emotionally blank. Like someone moving without grace, or a face that shows nothing.
A wooden reply—no warmth, no feeling behind the words.
A hunter who works in the forest. Shakespeare also uses it as a figure for a man who pursues women.
A skilled woodman knows every path through the trees and how to track his prey.
Made of or covered in wool cloth. In Shakespeare's time, wool meant rough, working-class dress—the opposite of fine fabrics worn by the wealthy.
Wearing wool directly against the skin, with no linen shirt underneath. A sign of penance or self-mortification.
Will you. A contraction of "will" + "thou" used in questions. It survives today in some regional dialects.
Woot weep? Woot fight? — meaning, Will you weep? Will you fight?
A promise or assurance—your word is your bond. Also: a password or signal; conversation or discussion (as in "come to words," meaning argue); or Holy Scripture.
"If thou proceed as high as word"—if your actions match your promise.
To stir someone powerfully—to affect their mind or feelings so deeply they can't resist it. Also: to bring something about or make it happen through effort or action.
Your father is in some passion that works him strongly—meaning the emotion grips him so hard he can't think straight.
The effort or struggle happening inside someone—their thoughts, emotions, desires pulling at them. It's the invisible machinery of the heart and mind, especially when something powerful is stirring there.
The grief was visible in her face—you could see his heart's working laid bare.
Ordinary, plain, everyday. The kind of thing you see all the time, nothing special.
He complained about the working-day troubles of ordinary life.
A place of intense labor and productivity. Shakespeare uses it to mean a person or mind that's always busy making things—thinking, creating, working without rest.
Her mind is a working-house of schemes and plots.
A person skilled at a craft or trade. Someone who knows their work and does it well.
A villain who commits crime with the skill of a trained craftsman.
A day devoted to work or labour, as opposed to a holiday or day of rest. In Shakespeare's time, this meant a weekday when ordinary business happened.
Life as we know it, or everything that exists. Often means this life in contrast to the afterlife, or can mean earthly existence itself—the human condition.
Eternity; time that goes on forever without stopping. Shakespeare uses it to describe something endless or permanent.
world-without-end praise for a faithful love
People caught up in everyday life and earthly concerns. The word carries a hint of judgment — Shakespeare uses it to mean those who care only about material things and miss what's spiritual or eternal.
The worldlings bustled through the market, chasing coins while the bells called them to prayer.
Of this life and this world—earthly, mortal, temporary. Often contrasted with the spiritual or the private and personal.
He set aside worldly cares to spend an hour alone with his love.
A small creeping creature—sometimes a worm, sometimes a snake. Shakespeare uses it for real parasites (like ones thought to rot teeth), but also as a poetic word for serpent or even death itself.
A worm pricked from the lazy finger of a maid.
Used up by time or use. Something worn is old, tired, or faded—whether it's a person's body, a piece of cloth, or a memory that people have stopped thinking about.
His worn face showed the weight of years.
To pull or tear at something roughly. In Shakespeare, it often means to handle or fondle someone in an aggressive or unwanted way.
He worries at her hair, tangling it between his fingers.
More bad, evil, or unpleasant than something else; of lower quality or condition.
Now I'm just scolding; but I should treat you worse, Because, I fear, you've given me reason to curse you, If you've killed Lysander in his sleep, And, with your feet covered in blood, thrown him in the deep, And killed me too. The sun was never as loyal to the day As he was to me: would he have run away From sleeping Hermia? I'd sooner believe That the earth could be bored through and that the moon Could creep through the center and upset Her brother's noon with the opposite side of the world. It can't be, you must have murdered him; That's how a murderer looks, so dead, so grim.
As a noun: high rank, honour, or dignity—the kind of standing that comes with power or noble birth. As a verb: to treat someone or something with honour or respect, often through ceremony or ritual.
A grave not worshipped with a fine monument was thought to lack proper respect.
A plant or vegetable, especially a cabbage. Also the name for the sweet liquid made from malt before it becomes beer.
The gardener's worts were coming in well that season.
Value or merit — either money and possessions, or the quality that makes someone or something deserving of respect. In Shakespeare, it often means how much someone is worth in character or standing.
A man's worth isn't measured by his bank account.
The quality of deserving something—respect, reward, trust, or attention. It's about being good enough or right for the occasion.
She earned her worthiness through years of loyal service.
Not deserving respect or attention. Someone or something without value or merit.
He called himself worthless, unfit for the throne.
Deserving of respect, attention, or reward. Something worthy is valuable and fitting for the occasion—a worthy cause is one that matters, a worthy opponent is one who deserves to fight you.
A worthy friend will stand by you when things are hard.
Know or understand. An old form of the verb "know" that was already archaic in Shakespeare's time, used for a present-tense statement of fact or awareness.
"The picture that you wot of"—the picture you know about.
In older English, a way of expressing a wish or desire. Shakespeare uses it where we'd now say "wish" or "want." It also shows what someone requires or what needs to happen.
"Would that you could see what I see" — meaning "I wish you could see this."
would (second person singular, archaic form used with 'thou')
Antony, you would say,--
Twisted or wrapped around something. In Shakespeare, often describes something coiled or tangled, like a rope or snake.
Hair wound tight around her finger.
Unable to be wounded or harmed. Something that cannot be damaged or pierced.
The air itself is woundless — no sword can cut it.
Ruin or destruction, especially of a ship. Shakespeare uses it for the wreckage itself, or more broadly for any kind of collapse or devastation.
The storm left nothing but wrack scattered across the shore.
Wrecked or destroyed at sea. A ship that has been torn apart by storm or rocks.
The wracked vessel lay broken on the shore.
Causing ruin or destruction. Something wrackful tears things down or wipes them out.
A wrackful siege destroys everything in its path.
Someone who fights or argues, especially persistently. In Shakespeare, often used for natural forces or enemies that constantly oppose you.
The seas and winds are old wranglers—they're always at war with each other.
Violent anger or rage. Shakespeare uses it to mean the fierce energy that comes from furious passion—the kind that drives someone to fight or act with intensity.
A young man armed with strength, skill, and wrath is a formidable opponent.
Full of rage or violent anger. Can also describe something wild and destructive — like a storm or winter cold that feels almost angry in its force.
The wrathful winter bit hard at exposed skin.
To carry out revenge or vengeance. In Shakespeare's time, it means to inflict punishment in return for a wrong suffered.
He swore to wreak vengeance on those who had betrayed him.
To take revenge on someone; to harm them in return for a wrong. Often used in curses or threats.
I'll have my vengeance—it will be wreaked on him for what he's done.
Full of a desire to harm or get revenge. Someone wreakful is bent on payback.
He swore a wreakful oath against his enemy.
Reckless; without care or caution. An older spelling of the word you know today.
A wreakless soldier charges into battle without checking for ambush.
Folded or crossed, usually in a gesture of calm or resignation. Picture someone standing with their arms wrapped around themselves.
He stood wreathed in his cloak, saying nothing.
To rinse or wash out. In Shakespeare's time, the word could mean to squeeze or twist something to remove liquid, much like wringing out wet cloth.
To twist something out of its true meaning or purpose—usually on purpose. You wrench the words or situation to fit what you want, not what's actually there.
He wrested her kind words into an insult.
A term of affection or gentle reproach, often used between lovers or close friends. Not meant as a true insult.
My poor wretch—I couldn't stay angry with you.
Loathsome and despicable. You call someone wretched when they disgust you—when their character or actions are vile and contemptible.
His wretched deeds made everyone turn away in revulsion.
To pull or twist something forcefully away from someone, or to twist and writhe in pain. Shakespeare uses it both literally (ripping a crown from a hand) and for emotional anguish (twisting under distress).
They wrung the sceptre from the king's grip.
Intense pain or torment. Shakespeare often uses it for the anguish of guilt or regret twisting someone's mind.
The weight of what she'd done caused a wringing of her conscience.
To crease or line someone's face or skin, making them look older or worn. Shakespeare uses this to describe time, worry, or age marking a person's appearance.
Worry will wrinkle your brow before your years do.
Something written down—a document, letter, or piece of writing. In Shakespeare's time, "holy writ" meant Scripture, the written word of God. By extension, anything set down in writing carried the weight of authority and truth.
"The devil's writ" — a written contract with evil itself.
To sign your name, or to claim a title or identity for yourself. Shakespeare often uses it to mean putting your name to something—a document, a promise, a cause—or declaring yourself to be something.
This hand of mine hath writ in thy behalf — I've signed my name to support you.
Wrinkled or creased, with deep folds in the skin or fabric. A word Shakespeare uses to show age or wear.
The words or lyrics of a song. In Shakespeare's time, this could mean either the poem itself or the act of composing it.
The musician performed the writing with feeling, each word carrying emotion.
Ruin or destruction. An archaic and variable spelling of what would become 'ruth' — a word for calamity or wreck.
An injury, injustice, or harm done to someone. To have wrong means to suffer unfairly. To do yourself wrong means to harm your own interests or reputation through a mistake.
She complained of the wrongs committed against her family.
Twisted or squeezed hard, often in pain. Can mean emotionally twisted too—wrung with sorrow.
Her hands were wrung from years of hard labor.
Bent or twisted to one side. A musician playing with their head tilted sideways would be wry-neck'd.
The wry-neck'd fife player tilted his head as he performed.
To turn aside or twist away from the correct course. In Shakespeare's time, it could mean steering off a true path—literally or morally.
A ship wrying from its heading in a storm.
