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Elizabethan English dictionary
Page history
last edited
by VRBurton 12 years, 11 months ago
Top of Form
Elizabethan English dictionary
Yes! It Really is English
Verbs
Elizabethan English word
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Modern English word
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Example used in sentence
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art
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are
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Why artthou sleeping in class?
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wert
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were
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Thou wertsupposed to be paying attention.
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dost
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do
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Thou dostthyself harm by sleeping in class.
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does
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She dostnot like to eat liver.
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hath
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has
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Harold hatha toothache.
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have
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I hatha toothache.
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wast
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was
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There wasta fly in my soup.
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canst
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cannot
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I canstconvince him to leave.
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wilt
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will
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Wiltthou taketh thy foot off mine foot?
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bid
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ask
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bade
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asked
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I badeher to hurry up.
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beseech
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beg
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John beseechedSally to lend him some money.
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owe
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own
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He owesa huge house.
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heareth
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hear
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I heareth he owes a pool
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Contractions
Elizabethan English word
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Modern English word
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Example used in sentence
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‘tis
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it is
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‘Tis a pity to waste a brilliant mind.
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ope
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open
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Ope the door, please.
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o’er
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over
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I seeth mine friends o’er there.
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gi’
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give
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Gi’ me all thy money.
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ne’er
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never
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Ne’er look a gift horse i’ the mouth.
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i’
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in
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Ne’er look a gift horse i’ the mouth.
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e’er
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ever
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Dost not e’er run with scissors.
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fore’er
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forever
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oft
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often
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She oft neglecteth to dost her homework.
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A’
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he
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A’ hath a case of the measles.
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E’en
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even
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I dost not like any vegetables, not e’en carrots.
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Remember, in modern English:
I’ll = I will; He’ll = He will; Doesn’t = Does not; Don’t = do not.
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Pronouns
Elizabethan English word
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Modern English word
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Example used in sentence
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ye
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you (plural)
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Gather ye (all of you) together for the party
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thou
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you (subject)
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Thou hadst better getteth it together. (you is doing the action.)
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thee
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you (object)
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I love thee a whole lot (you is receiving the action)
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Pronouns (continued)
Elizabethan English word
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Modern English word
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Example used in sentence
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thy
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your
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Watcheth thy step.
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mine
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my
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Dost not steppeth on mine foot.
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thine
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yours
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What is mine is thine.
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Exclamations (Interjections)
Elizabethan English word
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Modern English word
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Example used in sentence
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Aye
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Yes or Ah!
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Aye, I see thou hast studied!
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How!
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What!
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How! Thou hast not done thy homework yet?
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Soft
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Shhhh!
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Soft, or thou wilt wake the baby.
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Tut
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Now, now
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Tut, you canst expect to win all the time.
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Godden
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Good afternoon
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Godden to thee.
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nay
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no
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Nay, I dost not wanteth to leave the classroom.
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anon
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soon or hurry up
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Anon, or we wilt be late for the show.
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Miscellaneous words
Elizabethan English word
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Modern English word
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Example used in sentence
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whither
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where
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Whither hast mine pet snake gone?
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wherefore
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why
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Wherefore hast thou not done thy homework?
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hither
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here
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Come hither so I can seest thou better.
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fortnight
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two weeks
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I hath not seen thee in a fortnight!
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visage
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face
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Thou hast a lovely visage.
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henceforth
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from now on
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Henceforth, I shan’t be home.
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passing
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very
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Arnold is a passing fine basketball player.
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coz
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cousin
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I’ll talketh to thee later, coz.
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morrow
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day
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Good morrow to you, too, mine friend.
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naught
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nothing
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I’ve naught but the clothes on mine back.
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an
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if
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An I dost not findeth a replacement, I hath to play.
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ere
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before
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Don’t counteth thy chickens ere they hatch.
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foe(s)
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enemy(ies)
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Art thou mine friend or foe?
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purse
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money
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Mine purse will feed but one of us.
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mark
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pay attention to
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Mark how nice Linda looks in her prom dress.
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hie
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go
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Hie thee home, Linda.
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plague
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curse
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A plague on Derek, for he got to Linda ere I did.
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for
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because
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I ate lunch at 10 a.m., for I was passing hungry.
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Give me leave
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allow me
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Give me leave to hie to the party.
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presently
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immediately
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I demand an answer of thee presently!
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sport
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amusement
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My classmates make sport at mine expense.
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Bottom of Form
Elizabethan English dictionary
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