Authors: William Shakespeare
178
are thus forgot
have forgotten yourself in this way
180
wont
accustomed
181
stillness
calmness/sobriety
183
censure
judgment
184
unlace
undo (the strings of a purse in order to spend the contents)
185
opinion
reputation
189
offends
hurts
190
aught
anything
196
blood
passion/anger safer guides i.e. reason, judgment
197
collied
blackened, obscured
198
Assays
attempts
201
rout
brawl
202
approved
proved (guilty)
203
twinned…birth
been my twin
204
town of war
garrison town
205
wild
excitable, unruly, not entirely under control
206
manage
conduct
207
on…safety
at the guardhouse and while on duty protecting public safety
208
monstrous
unnatural, outrageous (ironically, a mere period stands in the way of the answer to Othello’s question)
209
partially…office
if, being personally predisposed (to Cassio) or allied (to him) because of your official roles
212
Touch
test/accuse/provoke near intimately/closely
219
with…him
determined to use his sword upon him (execute plays on sense of “put to death”)
221
his pause
him to stop
225
rather For that
the more rapidly because
227
high in oath
cursing loudly
233
forget
forget themselves
234
him
i.e. Montano
237
indignity
insult, affront
238
pass
let pass
240
mince
make light of
246
sweeting
sweetheart, darling
248
Myself…surgeon
i.e. I will ensure that you receive good medical care/dress your wounds
250
distracted
confused/caused disorder among
252
balmy
soothing
260
sense
physical feeling, i.e. pain
261
idle
useless/empty
262
imposition
thing imposed on one by others
264
recover
regain (the favor of)
265
cast…mood
dismissed in his fit of anger
268
Sue to
petition, entreat
270
slight
worthless
271
indiscreet
foolish, lacking sound judgment speak parrot babble repetitively/speak rubbish
272
discourse fustian
speak elaborate nonsense
275
What
who
280
nothing wherefore
no reason for it
282
pleasance
pleasure
288
frankly
openly, unreservedly
289
moraler
moralizer
292
mend it
improve matters
294
Hydra
in Greek mythology, the many-headed snake that regrew two heads for every one that was cut off
295
stop
stop up, silence
297
inordinate
immoderate
298
familiar
friendly (but quibbles on the sense of “malign attendant spirit”)
301
approved it
found it to be so through experience
302
a time
some time
304
for that
(namely) that
305
mark, and denotement
observation
306
parts
personal qualities
307
importune
crave, entreat; plays on negative senses of “pester, annoy/solicit for purposes of prostitution”
308
free
generous, but plays ambiguously on secondary sense of “sexually available”; Iago’s speech is open to a negative construction throughout apt ready, willing
311
splinter
set with a splint
312
lay
wager/laying down a woman (for sex) crack damage (with sexual, anatomical overtones)
315
protest
declare, avow
317
think it freely
believe so unreservedly betimes early
318
undertake
take on the matter/vouch
319
desperate of
hopeless about check halt
324
free
freely given/generous/frank
325
Probal
probable, credible, reasonable
327
Th’inclining
disposed to be sympathetic/yielding subdue win over
328
framed as fruitful
created as generous
331
seals
pledges/tokens
332
enfettered
shackled, enslaved
333
list
desires
334
appetite
inclination/sexual desire
335
function
capabilities, intellectual faculties (weak because he is so enamored of her); possible play on the sense of “sexual potency”
336
parallel
i.e. to Iago’s scheming intentions
337
Divinity
theology
338
put on
urge, incite (men to commit)
339
suggest
tempt
341
Plies
solicits, works on
343
pestilence
plague/wickedness
344
repeals him
tries to get him reinstated
346
credit
trust/reputation
347
pitch
sticky black tar-like substance
350
chase
hunt
351
fills…cry
makes up one of the pack
352
cudgelled
beaten
353
issue
outcome
354
wit
sense
359
dilatory
slow/delaying
361
cashiered
(got) dismissed
362
against
exposed to
363
Yet…ripe
i.e. the dismissal of Cassio demonstrates that our plan is blossoming and will ensure that the eventual outcome (fruit) of our schemes is successful
364
troth
truth
370
move
entreat, solicit
372
the while
meanwhile
373
jump
precisely
375
device
scheming
Musicians
music was traditionally played outside a bridal bedroom at dawn
1
content your pains
pay for your efforts
4
Naples
southwestern Italian city i’th’nose with a nasal twang like that of the Neapolitan accent/like one whose nasal tissue has been damaged by syphilis, of which there was a high incidence in Naples
5
How
what
8
tail
penis (though the Musician hears “tale,” i.e. story)
10
wind instrument
sense has now shifted to “flatulent anus”
12
love’s
the love you bear him/Othello’s lovemaking with Desdemona
13
noise
plays on nose
19
up
away
23
keep…quillets
hold back your quibbles
24
gentlewoman
female attendant
25
stirring
up and about (but in his response the Clown shifts the sense to “sexually arousing”)
27
seem
arrange, contrive
29
In happy time
(you have come at) an opportune moment
36
presently
immediately
37
mean
method
41
A Florentine
i.e. even a Florentine (one of Cassio’s own countrymen)
43
displeasure
being out of favor
46
fame
reputation
47
affinity
family/connections wholesome sound, beneficial
49
suitor
petitioner
53
advantage of
a favorable opportunity for
57
bosom
heart, inmost thoughts
2
do my duties
convey my respects
3
works
fortifications
4
Repair
return/make your way
3
I warrant
I’m sure
13
strangeness
aloofness, unfriendliness
14
politic
discreet/expedient
17
nice and waterish
insubstantial and thin (or possibly “luxurious and succulent”)
18
breed…circumstances
renew itself out of various events/generate so few opportunities (for my reinstatement)
19
supplied
filled
21
doubt
fear
22
warrant
assurance, guarantee
25
watch him tame
tame him by preventing him from sleeping (a method for training hawks)
26
board a shrift
table (shall seem) a confessional
29
solicitor
pleader/representative/ lawyer (legal language continues with
cause
)
30
away
up
36
do your discretion
obey your own judgment
46
suitor
petitioner (Desdemona unconsciously puns on the sense of “lover”)
50
grace
virtue/favor with you
51
present reconciliation take
restore him to your favor immediately/accept the reconciliation he now seeks
53
in cunning
deliberately
57
sooth
truly
65
dinner
lunch
72
trespass
fault, offense common reason everyday judgment
74
best
best men not almost hardly even
75
check
reprimand
78
mamm’ring
stammering hesitantly
82
in
i.e. into favor
85
boon
favor graciously granted
88
peculiar
particular, personal
90
touch
test
91
poise
heaviness, importance/balance, equipoise (making choice hard) difficult weight hard to assess or weigh
94
Whereon
as a result of which
97
straight
straightaway, very soon
98
fancies
inclinations, whims