Shakespeare's Language: A Glossary of Unfamiliar Words in His Plays and Poems

Shewmaker, Eugene F.

ISBN 10: 0816032769 / ISBN 13: 9780816032761

Published by Facts on File Inc, New York, 1996

About this Item

285 x 225mm. pp. 515. English text. A glossary of unfamiliar words used in Shakespeare's plays and poems. Bound in original pictorial boards. Book in new unread condition. No ownership inscription. 1.6kg. extra postage overseas.

Seller Inventory # 016081

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Shakespeare's Language: A Glossary of Unfamiliar Words in His Plays and Poems
• Publisher: Facts on File Inc, New York
• Publication Date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0816032769
• ISBN 13: 9780816032761
• Binding: Hard Cover
• Edition: First Edition.
• Condition: Near Fine
• Seller catalogs:
  • Dictionaries and Philology

About this title

Synopsis

What is a Bum-Bailey? Who saved Arion from the pirates? How do you know if you're Hilding for a Livery? Who leads Apes in Hell?
It is said that England and America are two nations separated by a common language, and nowhere is that more true than in our dealings with the Bard. Rife with arcane references, unfamiliar expressions, and even made-up words, Shakespeare's texts can intimidate even the most learned reader. Here in one comprehensive volume, Shakespeare's ornate and sometimes bewildering language is made easy to understand.
The 15,000 entries comprising Shakespeare's Language feature definitions of words as they are used in the texts - it is not necessary to know the infinitive or root of a word in order to find its meaning; a quote placing each defined word or phrase in context, so you can be sure of its correct usage; and geographical references, historical and mythological figures, and foreign-language expressions.

Reviews

Shewmaker, a retired editor of reference books with a background in drama, aims here to define succinctly and in a basic way over 15,000 words found in Shakespeare's plays and poetry. Every entry includes an in-context quotation showing how the word or phrase was used by Shakespeare. Though many of the work's entries are also found in such standard reference sets as the Oxford English Dictionary and/or C.T. Onion's A Shakespeare Glossary (Oxford Univ. Pr., 1986. rev. ed.), it is unique enough in its coverage that libraries supporting Shakespeare studies will want to consider it. "Mixed," for example, is not even included in Onion's glossary, and Shewmaker includes more geographical/ mythological entries than Onion. This set is more accessible than the other two because its intended audience is the general reader rather than the specialist. Students will prefer it over Onion's sometimes arcane work and the large, heavy, often fairly technical, and multivolumed OED.?Peter A. Dollard, Alma Coll. Lib., Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.