Othello (39 page)

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Authors: William Shakespeare

BOOK: Othello
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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)

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