Name: _____________________

Shakespearean Modern
Dictionary

Listed below are some common Shakespearean terms you will come across while reading his work.
Use them to help you become familiar with the language, as a reference while reading, and as a
resource when completing writing assignments.

Shakespearean Modern Shakespearean Modern
Adieu Farewell Plague Curse
An If Pray Beg
Anon Soon Privy Informed
Aroint Away Resolve Plan
Aye Yes Shun that Ignore that
Come hither Come here Sirrah
Boy (used to address a
male of inferior rank)
Counsel Advice Soft Wait a minute
Decree Order Thee You
Discourses Speaks Thither There
Dispatch Kill Thou You
Doth Does Thou art You are
Een Even; evening Thou shouldst You should
Fare thee well Goodbye Thou wouldst You would
Foe Enemy Thy Your
God save thee Goodbye Tidings News
Good day; Good
morrow
Hello Verily Truly
Grammercy Thank you Well met Hello
Hark; Hark now Listen Wherefore Why
Heavy Sad; Depressed Whereto To which
Hie Go Will Desire
Hither Here Withal With
I shall see thee anon Goodbye Woe Misery
Mark Pay attention to Woo
Chase (romance, as in
boy chases girl)
Marry
By the Virgin Mary (a
mild expletive
meaning indeed)
Would Wish
Methinks I think Wrought Provided
-morrow (to the
morrow)
Days
Nay No
Ner Never
Nought Nothing
Oft Often
Perchance Maybe


Name: ______________________

Modern Shakespearean
Dictionary

Modern Shakespearean Modern Shakespearean
Advice Counsel Order Decree
Away Aroint Pay attention to Mark
Beg Pray Plan Resolve
Boy (used to address a
male of inferior rank)
Sirrah Provided Wrought
By the Virgin Mary (a
mild expletive
meaning indeed)
Marry Sad Heavy
Chase (romance, as in
boy chases girl)
Woo Soon Anon
Come here Come hither Speaks Discourses
Curse Plague Thank you Grammercy
Days
-morrow (to the
morrow)
There Thither
Depressed Heavy To which Whereto
Desire Will Truly Verily
Does Doth Wait a minute Soft
Enemy Foe Why Wherefore
Even; evening Een Wish Would
Farewell Adieu With Withal
Go Hie Yes Aye
Goodbye
Fare thee well; God
save thee; I shall see
thee anon
You Thee; Thou
Hello
Good day; Good
morrow; Well met
You are Thou art
Here Hither You should Thou shouldst
I think Methinks You would Thou wouldst
If An Your Thy
Ignore that Shun that
Informed Privy
Kill Dispatch
Listen Hark; Hark now
Maybe Perchance
Misery Woe
Never Ner
News Tidings
No Nay
Nothing Nought
Often Oft