3 salvation a malapropism—Verges means “damnation”
5 allegiance Dogberry means “treachery”
7 charge duties/responsibilities
8 desertless Dogberry’s error for “deserving”
10 Otecake from “oatcake,” a cake made of oatmeal
Seacole from “sea coal,” a more expensive type of fuel
14 well-favoured good-looking
18 favour face/appearance
21 senseless Dogberry means “sensible”
fit suitable
23 comprehend malapropism for “apprehend”
vagrom vagrant
24 stand stop
26 take…of him pay no attention to him
31 meddle be concerned/involved with
33 tolerable Dogberry means “intolerable”
36 belongs to is the responsibility of
37 ancient experienced
39 bills long-handled weapons with axe-like heads
48 true honest
53 by according to
54 pitch black tar-like substance
defiled polluted, soiled
59 by my will out of choice
60 more Dogberry means “less”
62 still quiet/calm
69 present represent
70 stay detain
71 by’r lady by Our Lady (the Virgin Mary)
73 statues malapropism for “statutes”
marry by the Virgin Mary
78 chances i.e. chances to occur
79 counsels confidences
84 coil bustle
85 vigitant malapropism for “vigilant”
90 Mass by the Mass
91 scab scoundrel/skin disease characterized by a rash or scaliness and itching
94 close concealed
penthouse overhanging part of a building
99 dear costly
104 unconfirmed inexperienced
105 is…man does not represent a man’s true self (Conrad, however, understands “is of no importance to a man”)
108 fashion i.e. the style as opposed to garments (apparel) themselves
111 deformed i.e. as fashion is constantly changing
113 up and down all over the place
118 hot bloods spirited, eager young men
120 Pharaoh’s soldiers the soldiers of the Egyptian king who pursued the fleeing Israelites and were drowned in the Red Sea
reechy smoky/grimy
121 god Bel’s priests in the apocryphal Book of Daniel, the priests of Bel were slain by the king of Persia when Daniel showed that their god was false
122 smirched soiled/discolored
123 codpiece a conspicuous attachment, often ornamented, sewn onto the front of breeches over the crotch
massy massive/heavy
126 shifted moved (puns on the senses of “shift” as “underclothing” and as “a change of clothes”)
129 gentlewoman attendant
130 leans me out leans out
133 possessed informed (with connotations of demonic possession, especially given that Don John is subsequently referred to as the devil)
134 amiable loving
139 oaths avowals
148 recovered malapropism for “discovered”
lechery malapropism for “treachery”
151 lock lovelock, a fashionable lock of curled hair
153 made made to
156 obey the First Watchman means “command”
158 commodity product/goods bought on credit
159 taken up arrested/received on credit
bills long-handled weapons/promissory notes
160 in question subject to legal procedures/sought after/in doubt
6 rabato stiff linen collar, sometimes used to support a ruff
12 tire attire (i.e. headdress)
within i.e. in an inner room
hair i.e. false hair on the headdress
13 rare splendid
16 exceeds excels/is beyond comparison
17 respect of comparison to
18 cuts slashes in the fabric of a garment that reveal differently colored material beneath
laced trimmed
19 down sleeves fitted sleeves that went down to the wrists
side sleeves secondary open sleeves hanging from the shoulders
round underborne trimmed all the way around (this could refer either to the skirt or to the visible hem of a petticoat)
20 tinsel silk shot with gold or silver thread
quaint attractive/elegant/skillfully made
21 on’t of it
23 heavy sorrowful (Margaret plays on the literal sense of “weighed down”)
25 Fie upon thee an expression of disgust or indignation
27 in even in
28 I…husband i.e. at this rate, I must even apologize for mentioning the word “husband”
29 An if
30 wrest distort/misinterpret
31 an if
32 light puns on “sexually loose”
33 else otherwise
34 coz cousin
38 Clap’s into let us start singing
“Light o’ love” a popular tune
39 burden a man’s part, the bass accompaniment (Margaret continues to play on the idea of the weight of a man)
dance playing on the sexual connotations of dancing
40 Ye…heels! You’re a light-heeled (i.e. promiscuous) one!
42 barns puns on “bairns” (i.e. children)
43 illegitimate construction incorrect interpretation (puns on the notion of illegitimate children)
scorn…heels reject that by stamping on or kicking at it
46 Hey-ho!… husband? Margaret plays on the title of the well-known ballad
48 H puns on “ache,” which was pronounced in the same way as the letter
49 an if
be…Turk have not rejected your faith (by rejecting your loathing of love)
50 star the North Star, a reliable indicator for navigators
51 trow I wonder
56 stuffed with a cold (Margaret puns on the senses of “penetrated sexually” and “pregnant”)
60 professed apprehension claimed to be witty
62 rarely excellently (Beatrice plays on the sense of “infrequently”)
63 in your cap i.e. like a fool’s coxcomb (headgear resembling a cock’s comb)
65 CARDUUS BENEDICTUS the “holy thistle,” a plant often used in medicine (with an obvious pun on “Benedick”)
66 qualm sudden sensation of faintness or nausea
73 list please
76 such another i.e. a similar enemy to love
78 eats…grudging i.e. accepts his lot without complaining
82 false gallop literally, a canter, but Margaret means “I speak the truth”
2 confidence private conference
3 decerns a malapropism for “concerns”
9 Goodman title for a person beneath the rank of gentleman
10 blunt Dogberry means “sharp”
15 odorous malapropism for “odious”
palabras short for pocas palabras, the Spanish for “few words”
19 poor duke’s officers Dogberry means “duke’s poor officers”
20 tedious Dogberry thinks that the word means something complimentary, such as “rich”
24 exclamation public complaint, but Dogberry means “acclamation”
28 excepting Dogberry means “respecting”
29 arrant notorious/absolute
32 a world i.e. wondrous
33 a good man i.e. good
42 comprehended malapropism for “apprehended”
auspicious malapropism for “suspicious”
46 suffigance malapropism for “sufficient”
52 inkhorn inkwell
56 non-come Dogberry probably means “nonplus” (i.e. state of perplexity), but the phrase also suggests “non compos mentis” (i.e. mad)
57 excommunication malapropism for “communication” (i.e. discussion) o
r possibly “examination”
Dogberry named after the berry of the wild cornel or dogwood, a type of shrub
Verges named after verjuice, the bitter juice that comes from unripe fruit
Watch a group of citizens who assisted with local policing
Sexton a church officer
10 inward secret
21 Stand thee by stand aside
by your leave with your permission (i.e. to call you Father)
26 counterpoise balance, equal
27 render her again give her back
28 learn teach
31 sign and semblance outward appearance and mere image
34 withal with
35 blood i.e. blush
36 witness bear witness to
39 luxurious lecherous
43 approvèd proved
44 in…proof your own test of her
47 known had sex with
49 extenuate…sin lessen the sin of having sex before marriage
51 large unrestrained/licentious
53 Bashful modest/sensitive
comely becoming/proper
55 write against it i.e. denounce it publicly
56 Dian…orb Diana, goddess of chastity and the moon (her orb)
57 blown in bloom
58 intemperate immoderate, unbridled
blood sexual desire
59 Venus goddess of love
61 wide wide of the mark
65 stale prostitute
74 move put
75 kindly natural
78 beset assailed, besieged
79 catechizing questioning, a form of instruction used by the Church in which a person answers a set of questions about the Christian faith
80 answer…name the first question in the Anglican catechism asks the respondent his or her name
91 grievèd wronged/afflicted with sorrow
94 liberal licentious/unrestrained
101 much misgovernment great misconduct
103 graces virtues/attractions
107 For because of
108 conjecture suspicion
110 gracious attractive/joyful/virtuous
114 spirits vital energies
123 look up revive/look heavenward
131 on…reproaches following this disgrace
132 Grieved…one? Did I once grieve that I only had one child?
133 Chid contended with/chastised
frame plan/scheme of things
138 mired soiled
infamy bad reputation/disgrace
142 mine so…her I was so devoted to and proud of her that I cared nothing for myself
147 season preservative
150 attired clothed
152 belied slandered
163 given way gone along with
165 apparitions appearances
172 Which…book which validates, through the confirmation of experience, all that I have read in books
174 reverence respected state
divinity status as a clergyman/knowledge of theology
176 biting severe/painful
180 perjury swearing something false to be true
182 proper true
186 warrant sanction
189 unmeet unsuitable
190 Maintained the change engaged in the exchange
191 Refuse reject/disown
192 misprision mistake, misunderstanding
193 very bent of a total inclination for
195 practice scheming/carrying out
196 frame plotting/creating
199 proudest finest/ most arrogant/most eminent/most vigorous
201 eat eaten
invention inventiveness (to plan revenge)
202 means resources/wealth
203 reft deprived
204 kind manner
205 policy shrewdness
207 quit…throughly avenge myself on them thoroughly
212 publish proclaim/make public
213 mourning ostentation display of mourning
214 monument burial vault
218 carried carried out/managed
220 that i.e. the changing of slander to remorse
221 on this travail as a result of this effort (travail plays on the sense of “pains of childbirth”)
226 prize…worth value not at its full worth
228 rack stretch
233 study of imagination introspective musings
234 organ aspect, feature
235 apparelled dressed
habit clothing
237 prospect field of view
239 interest in a claim over
liver believed to be the seat of love and passion
242 success succeeding events
243 event outcome
244 lay…likelihood outline its probable outcome
245 aim…false intentions except this one are confounded
247 wonder of amazement at/curiosity about
248 sort turn out
251 injuries insults
253 inwardness intimacy
258 Being that since
flow in grief overflow with grief/am overcome with tears
259 twine thread
261 For…cure for extreme/ unusual ills require extreme/unusual remedies
272 even direct
friend friend/lover
282 eat it eat your words
286 protest declare/avow/insist
290 stayed detained, halted
299 Tarry stay/linger
310 bear…hand delude her with false hopes
take hands i.e. in marriage
311 uncovered open, barefaced
315 A proper saying! A fine story!
318 undone ruined
320 counties counts
testimony evidence/condemnation of error
321 Count plays on the sense of “charge in an indictment”
Comfit candy/sweet
324 compliment etiquette/display
turned into tongue are all talk
trim fine/elegant
326 swears it merely swears that the lie is true
334 engaged pledged/ accepting of Beatrice’s wish
336 dear costly/significant
1 dissembly malapropism for “assembly”
3 malefactors wrongdoers
5 exhibition Dogberry means “commission” (i.e. authority to examine the offenders)
12 sirrah sir (contemptuous)
19 witty clever/wily
go about with get the better of/handle
24 in a tale in agreement
28 eftest a nonsense word, which Dogberry intends to mean “easiest/nearest”
48 redemption Dogberry means “damnation”
57 opinioned malapropism for “pinioned” (i.e. bound)
58 Let…hands let their hands be tied
59 coxcomb fool
62 naughty wicked
64 suspect malapropism for “respect”
68 piety Dogberry means “impiety”
73 had losses i.e. he was formerly even wealthier
two gowns cloaks were fairly costly, so Dogberry suggests he has reasonably good finances
74 handsome fitting/comfortable
2 second support
8 suit with correspond to/fit
13 answer requite
strain emotional pang/melody
15 lineament physical feature/ characteristic
branch division/part
17 wag be off
‘Hem!’ i.e. clear one’s throat in preparation for speech
19 candle-wasters those who waste candles by staying up late for study or drinking
24 passion powerful emotion/rage
25 preceptial of precepts (i.e.
instructions or rules)
29 wring writhe/are oppressed/weep
30 sufficiency ability
31 moral full of moralizing advice and opinions
33 advertisement advice/admonition/public proclamation
35 peace silence
38 However however much
writ…of written in the manner of/ written as if with the authority of
39 made…at scorned/attacked
sufferance suffering/endurance (of misery)
50 have are in
52 all is one it’s all one/it does not matter
55 Some of us i.e. Don Pedro and Claudio
58 dissembler deceiver/hypocrite
60 beshrew curse
62 meant…sword had no intentions toward my sword
63 fleer mock, jeer
64 dotard old fool
67 head face
69 reverence respect due to an old man
71 trial…man i.e. a duel
82 nice fence refined and skillful swordsmanship/defensive action (contemptuous)
83 lustihood vigor
85 daff cast aside
89 Win…wear me overcome me and then brag about it, flaunt your prize
91 foining fence thrusting swordsmanship
98 braggarts boasters
Jacks rascals/louts
milksops effeminate/cowardly men
101 weigh i.e. are worth
scruple very small measurement of weight
102 Scrambling contentious/uncouth
out-facing defiant/confrontational/bullying
fashion-monging preoccupied with fashion/ dandies
103 cog cheat
flout insult/mock
deprave defame/deride
104 anticly grotesquely
105 speak off throw out
106 durst dared
111 wake your patience disturb your patience further
124 had…have nearly
125 with by
127 doubt fear (said with irony)
131 high-proof in the highest degree
133 draw as one draws a sword
136 beside their wit out of their minds (plays on by thy side)
draw…minstrels draw it as a musician (minstrel) would draw out his instrument from its case or draw a bow across strings
140 care…cat a common proverb
care anxiety/sorrow
141 mettle spirit, vigor
142 in the career at full gallop, as in a jousting tournament
an if
143 charge level/advance in attack
144 staff lance
145 cross crosswise, in the middle (an indication of clumsiness)
148 turn his girdle a common proverb referring to the turning of one’s belt (girdle) so that the buckle is at the back, and meaning “put up with it”
153 Do me right give me satisfaction
protest declare
156 so provided
cheer entertainment
158 calf’s…capon animals associated with foolishness (the calf) and cowardice (the capon, a castrated cockerel)