Authors: William Shakespeare
149
imports
signifies, shows
152
plucked
drew
153
nose
probably a surrogate for the penis
156
such another
just another, a commonplace
fitchew
polecat (known for its foul smell and lechery; also a term for a prostitute)
158
dam
mother
161
piece of work
puns on the senses of “prostitute” and “sexual act”
162
minx
whore
163
hobby-horse
prostitute
167
should
must
168
supper
also suggests sex
171
rail
rant abusively
184
foolish
stupid/lewd
194
your way
the right attitude or course of action
198
invention
imagination
200
so…condition
such a well-bred nature/such a sweet and kind disposition
202
gentle
yielding
205
patent
licence
206
touch
affect/provoke
207
messes
portions of meat
212
expostulate
argue, remonstrate
unprovide
disarm
217
his undertaker
the one to undertake the task of dealing with him
227
instrument… pleasures
i.e. the letter containing their instructions
228
cousin
general term for any relative other than parent or sibling
234
unkind breach
unnatural separation, unfriendly quarrel
241
T’atone
to reconcile
244
wise
in your right mind
249
on’t
of it
252
mad
i.e. insane enough to publicly welcome Cassio’s promotion and make your love for him obvious
257
very much
too much
260
teem
be fertile, conceive
261
crocodile
because crocodiles were supposed to weep insincere tears
271
turn
introduces the additional meanings of “have sex”/“change her affections”
go on
continue (to have sex/change affections)
273
obedient
compliant (plays on sexual sense)
275
well-painted passion
well-faked sorrow
279
my place
i.e. as governor of Cyprus/as Desdemona’s lover
281
monkeys
proverbially lustful creatures
282
full
complete, entire
283
all…sufficient
competent in everything
289
censure
judgement (quibbling on the sense of “condemnation”)
290
if…were
if he is not what he might be (i.e. mad), I heartily wish he was (as only madness would explain and partly excuse his behavior)
293
well
good would I wish
295
use
habit
301
courses will denote
actions will signify
13
durst
dare
14
at stake
as the stake in the
wager
17
serpent’s curse
after the serpent’s temptation of Eve in the Garden of Eden, God cursed him and decreed that he should be the lowest and most reviled of all creatures
22
bawd
procuress
23
This
i.e. Desdemona
subtle
cunning
24
closet…key
cabinet (or room) complete with lock and key
31
Some…function
behave as one in your role (as a
bawd
) should
32
procreants
breeders, fornicators
34
mystery
trade, occupation
dispatch
hurry up
40
being…heaven
resembling an angel
47
heavy
sorrowful
49
haply
perhaps
55
sores
afflictions
56
Steeped
immersed
60
figure
number (on a clock face)
61
finger
i.e. hour hand of a clock
63
garnered
stored
65
fountain
spring, source
67
cistern
pond/water tank
68
knot and gender
copulate
Turn…there
turn your face toward it/change your appearance (or nature) when you see it
69
cherubin
angel (correctly “cherubim,” one of the biblical orders of angels)
70
grim
cruel, unforgiving/ugly
71
honest
truthful, but more specifically “sexually faithful,” “chaste”
72
shambles
slaughterhouse
73
quicken…blowing
give life even though they deposit their eggs in rotting meat
76
ignorant
unwitting
78
committed
Othello picks up on the senses of “committed adultery” and “fornicated”
79
commoner
prostitute
83
stops
stops up, closes
moon
a symbol of chastity
winks
closes its eyes
85
mine
cave
88
strumpet
harlot, prostitute
90
vessel
body
97
cry you mercy
beg your pardon
100
office opposite
opposing job
Saint Peter
heaven’s gatekeeper
101
gate of hell
vaginal connotations (
hell
was a slang term for the vagina)
102
done our course
finished our business/had our bout of sex
103
counsel
secret
104
conceive
think, imagine
106
asleep
stunned
114
go by water
be expressed through tears
118
meet
fitting
used
treated
119
How…misuse?
What must I have done to cause him to attach even the slightest condemnation to my most minor misconduct?
126
a…chiding
i.e. know little of being rebuked
128
bewhored her
called her a whore
129
despite
contempt/malice/abuse
heavy
serious/angry/violent/distressing
135
callet
drab, trull, whore
139
forsook
declined/given up
143
Beshrew
curse
144
trick
delusion
148
cogging
cheating
cozening
deceiving
152
halter
hangman’s noose
154
form
manner, way
156
scurvy
contemptible
157
companions
rogues
unfold
reveal, expose
161
within door
i.e. more quietly
162
squire
fellow (contemptuous)
163
the…without
inside out (with the seams on the outside)
171
discourse
course, process
172
that
if
174
yet
still
177
forswear
abandon
180
abhor
revolt (puns on
whore
)
181
addition
title, name
182
vanity
worthless finery
183
humour
mood
188
stays
await
meat
food
193
daff’st me
put me off, deflect me
device
trick/stratagem
195
conveniency
opportunity
197
put up
endure, tolerate
205
votarist
nun
207
comforts
encouraging hopes
sudden respect
imminent esteem and favor
208
acquaintance
familiarity/sexual intimacy (possibly with pun on “quaint,” i.e. vagina)
210
go to
Rodorigo shifts the sense to “have sex”
212
fopped
deceived, cheated
217
satisfaction
recompense
218
said
had your say
219
protest intendment
declare I have the intention
221
mettle
spirit, vigor
224
exception
objection
225
directly
straightforwardly/fairly
233
engines
plots against
234
compass
range
239
Mauritania
region in north Africa consisting of parts of Morocco and Algeria
240
abode be lingered
stay be prolonged
241
determinate
decisive
248
harlotry
harlot
250
fashion…out
arrange to occur
252
second
support, back
253
amazed
dumbstruck, stunned
255
high
fully
256
grows to waste
is passing/being wasted: about it.
11
incontinent
immediately, plays on sense of “loosely, unchastely”
16
nightly wearing
nightclothes
19
approve
commend
20
stubbornness
inflexibility, obstinacy/ ruthlessness, ferocity
21
unpin me
i.e. loosen or detach parts of my clothing (sleeves etc. were secured on with pins)/unpin my hair or remove my hair accessory
23
All’s one
it makes no difference/all right
Good father
i.e. God in heaven
24
before
i.e. before you
shroud
lay, wrap (ready for burial)
26
talk
talk nonsense, talk on idly
27
Barbary
a form of Barbara, but the name has obvious north African associations
28
mad
insane/wild/faithless
29
willow
the tree symbolized lost or unrequited love
37
proper
handsome/accomplished
41
nether
lower (possibly with bawdy implication)
42
sycamore
type of fig-tree or, as now, a species of maple; puns on “sick amour”
50
Lay by these
put these aside (presumably parts of her clothing or accessories)