The Only Use of
moiety
in
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
- …combat; in which our valiant Hamlet,— For so this side of our known world esteem'd him,— Did slay this Fortinbras; who, by a seal'd compact, Well ratified by law and heraldry, Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands, Which he stood seiz'd of, to the conqueror: Against the which, a moiety competent Was gaged by our king; which had return'd To the inheritance of Fortinbras, Had he been vanquisher; as by the same cov'nant, And carriage of the article design'd, His fell to Hamlet.†
Scene 1.1
Definition:
-
(moiety) one of two (approximately) equal parts
or:
chemistry: a significant segment, portion or part of a molecule that may include a substructure of the functional group