The Merry Wives of Windsor
Vocabulary

1 use

Why, it is affectations.†

affectations = things done in an artificial way to make an impression

1 use

Sheathe thy impatience; throw cold water on thy choler; go about the fields with me through Frogmore; I will bring thee where Mistress Anne Page is, at a farm-house a-feasting; and thou shalt woo her.†

choler = associated with anger; or a bodily fluid medieval medicine associated with anger

1 use

But I have another messenger to your worship: Mistress Page hath her hearty commendations to you too; and let me tell you in your ear, she's as fartuous a civil modest wife, and one, I tell you, that will not miss you morning nor evening prayer, as any is in Windsor, whoe'er be the other; and she bade me tell your worship that her husband is seldom from home, but she hopes there will come a time.†

commendations = official awards; or a messages expressing praise

1 use

Now thus it rests: Her father means she shall be all in white; And in that habit, when Slender sees his time To take her by the hand and bid her go, She shall go with him: her mother hath intended The better to denote her to the doctor,— For they must all be mask'd and vizarded— That quaint in green she shall be loose enrob'd, With ribands pendent, flaring 'bout her head; And when the doctor spies his vantage ripe, To pinch her by the hand: and, on that token, The maid hath given...†

denote = means literally; or indicates

1 use

You dissembling knight!†

dissembling = deceiving (hiding or disguising the truth without outright lying)

1 use

I see how thine eye would emulate the diamond;

emulate = imitate (copy)

2 uses

She shall not see me; I will ensconce me behind the arras.†

ensconce = fixed firmly; or settled comfortably

36 uses

[Exeunt CAIUS and RUGBY.]

exeunt = stage direction:  characters exit from stage

1 use

I was then frugal of my mirth:

frugal = avoiding waste

1 use

him that was of late an heretic

heretic = someone with opinions or actions most people consider immoral

1 use

Have you importuned her to such a purpose?

importuned = begged

1 use

at his heels a rabble of his companions, thither provoked and instigated by his distemper,

instigated = set into motion

7 uses

I shall be rather praised for this than mocked;

mocked = made fun of

1 use

I see you are obsequious in your love,

obsequious = excessively eager to flatter or serve

1 use

Here, Master Doctor, in perplexity and doubtful dilemma.

perplexity = confusion due to complexity

1 use

'tis painted about with the story of the Prodigal,

prodigal = the commonly referenced Christian parable, The Prodigal Son

Editor's notes:

• A parable is a story told to teach a moral lesson
• The Prodigal Son is about extreme forgiveness.
• This is a common usage of prodigal; though it more generally refers to anyone (not just the Prodigal Son) who is recklessly wasteful; or perhaps long absent.

1 use

The rogues slighted me into the river with as little remorse as...

remorse = feeling of regret for doing something that was wrong

1 use

SLENDER
... I will marry her; that
I am freely dissolved, and dissolutely.

SIR HUGH EVANS
It is a fery discretion answer; save the fall is in
the ort 'dissolutely:' the ort is, according to our
meaning, 'resolutely.' his meaning is good.

resolutely = with firm purpose or belief

(editor's note:  Slender meant to say the missing word when he said dissolutely.)

1 use

then she plots, then she ruminates, then she devises;

ruminates = thinks again and again about something

2 uses

but speciously for Master Fenton

speciously = seemingly good, but without merit