Thesaurus
This is a thesaurus of all the glosses to the words in the Glossary, linked to the lines in the texts where these words are found.

The Thesaurus is the opposite of the Glossary. When consulting the Glossary, you know the word and you want to find out what it means. When consulting the Thesaurus, you know the meaning and you want to find out which Shakespearean words express it. How would he say 'arrogant' or 'companion'? The options are listed when you search for these words.

Disclaimer: our Thesaurus is a guide only to the words in the Glossary, and not an account of the way these words might be used elsewhere in the canon, or in Early Modern English as a whole. For example, we include Shakespeare’s use of mother to mean 'womanish qualities', but not in its ordinary sense of 'parent'. You can read more background about the thesaurus here.

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Search phrase play 50 items found
play, amorous
game (n.)
play, final event in a
catastrophe (n.)
play, history
history (n.)
play, imitate as if in a
pageant (v.)
play, pastoral
pastoral (n.)
play a king's part
monarchize (v.)
play a practical joke
jest, break a
play about
dally (v.)
play conjuring tricks
juggle (v.)
play down
mince (v.)
play for
play (v.)
play interval
act (n.)
play on
touch (v.)
play one's part
acquit (v.),do (v.)
play parts
jest (v.)
play the bride
bride (v.)
play the part of
present (v.)
play the part of a duke
duke it (v.)
play the part of a lecher
lecher (v.)
play truant
truant (v.)
play unfairly
false-play (v.)
play up to
soothe up (v.)
play wantonly
paddle (v.)
play with
play (v.)
player, stage
comedian (n.)
player, strolling
tragedian (n.)
player of a tabor
taborer (n.)
players
music (n.)
playfellow
playfere (n.)
playful, cleverly
tricksy (adj.)
playful, feeling
disposed (adj.)
playful, not
sober (adj.)
playful action
friskin (n.)
playgoer
hearer (n.)
playing, skill in
touch (n.)
playing and singing, noisy
minstrelsy (n.)
plays not written according to traditional rules of drama
liberty (n.)
plays written according to traditional rules of drama
writ (n.)
plaything, showy
gaud (n.)
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