Using Elizabethan Words
Below is a list of words or phrases used in Shakespeare's time. Write letter to a friend or family
member using at least twenty different words or phrases from the list. Remember, your letter
should make sense!
ado: a big deal don: put on
an: if, since dott: take off
anon: soon, immediately dost: you do
aye: yes doth: does
nay: no hast: you have
but: only, except for hath: has (he, she, it, they)
haply: perhaps thow/thee: you
hence: away from here thy/thine: your
whence: from where minion: worthless being
hie: hurry jacks: rascals
hither: here mark: watch, look, take notice
whither: where oer: over
thither: there yon: that thing over there
would: wish (verb) hot: angry
ere: before fray: fight
is: itis art: are
wherefore: why wast: were
forth: ahead lest: unless, or else
marry: indeed “bite my thumb”: an insulting gesture
wilt: will, will you “soft”: an expression meaning, “Wait a minuie!”
hereafter: later, from now on chinks: money
bade: bid, offer strange: shy, reserved
railest: complain hilding: worthiess being