Glossary
If you are looking for a word and it doesn't appear in the Glossary, this will be because it has the same sense in Modern English, and can be found in any general dictionary. We only include words that no longer exist in Modern English, have changed their meaning since Shakespeare's day, or have an encyclopedic or specialized sense that would make them unfamiliar to many modern readers. Under this last heading, we include all the proper names (such as figures in classical mythology and local place-names) listed in our Themes and Topics (see Starting Points above).

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yard (n.)
crossbar on a mast which supports a sail see also Ships Headword location(s)
yard (n.)
yard measure see also clothier's yard Headword location(s)
yard (n.)
yard measure see also mete-yard (n.) Headword location(s)
yare (adj.)
[nautical] manageable, easy to manouevre, ready for sea Headword location(s)
yare (adj.) Old form(s): y'are
quick, deft, adept Headword location(s)
yare (adv.)
quick, without delay, right now Headword location(s)
yarely (adv.)
quickly, briskly, lively Headword location(s)
yas (n.)
F spelling of 'eyas' see also eyas (n.) Headword location(s)
yaw (v.)
move unsteadily, wander about Headword location(s)
yawn (v.) Old form(s): yawn'd, yawne
open wide, gape Headword location(s)
yawn (v.)
[Q2 variant of 'aim'] open wide, gape Headword location(s)
yawning (adj.)
sleep-inducing, lulling Headword location(s)
y-clad (adj.) Old form(s): yclad
[archaism] decked out, clothed see also Archaisms Headword location(s)
yclept (v.) Old form(s): ycliped
[archaism] called see also clepe (v.) Headword location(s)
ye (pron.)
you [singular or plural] Headword location(s)
yea (adv.)
yes see also Responses Headword location(s)
yea (adv.)
yes see also Swearing Headword location(s)
yea and no, by
by yes and no [emphatic assertion, replacing a real oath] see also Swearing Headword location(s)
yea-forsooth (adj.)
always agreeing, fawning, sycophantic Headword location(s)
yearn (v.) Old form(s): yern, yernes
grieve, make mourn, move with pity Headword location(s)
years (n.) Old form(s): yeares, yeeres
maturity, experience [coming through age] Headword location(s)
years (n.) Old form(s): yeares, yeeres
age Headword location(s)
yeast (n.) Old form(s): yest
foam, froth, spume Headword location(s)
yeasty (adj.) Old form(s): yesty
frothy, superficial, trivial Headword location(s)
yell (n.)
outcry, yelping, full cry Headword location(s)
yellow (adj.)
sallow, pasty-faced; or: jealous Headword location(s)
yellow (n.)
[colour of] jealousy Headword location(s)
yellow (n.) Old form(s): yellowes
(plural) jaundice [as found in horses] Headword location(s)
yellowing (adj.)
yelping, bellowing Headword location(s)
yellowness (n.) Old form(s): yallownesse
jealousy Headword location(s)
yeoman (n.)
[term of abuse] commoner, plebeian Headword location(s)
yeoman (n.)
man who owns property but is not a gentleman; land-holding farmer Headword location(s)
yeoman (n.)
keeper of the wardrobe Headword location(s)
yeoman's service Old form(s): seruice
good and faithful service Headword location(s)
yerk (v.) Old form(s): yerk'd , Yerke
thrust, strike, beat Headword location(s)
yesternight (n.) Old form(s): yester-night
last night Headword location(s)
yesty (adj.)
[as of yeast] foaming, frothy Headword location(s)
yet, as yet (adv.)
still Headword location(s)
yield (v.) Old form(s): yeeld, yeelde
communicate, deliver, represent Headword location(s)
yield (v.)
reward, repay, requite see also 'ild (v.) Headword location(s)
yield (v.) Old form(s): yeeld , yeild
concede, acknowledge, grant Headword location(s)
yield (v.) Old form(s): yeeld , yeelded
agree [to], consent [to], comply [with] Headword location(s)
yield (v.) Old form(s): Yeelds
give, grant, return Headword location(s)
yield (v.) Old form(s): yeelded
give back to, return to Headword location(s)
yield (v.) Old form(s): yeeld, yeelde, yeelded
bring forth, produce Headword location(s)
yield (v.) Old form(s): yeeld
hand over, give up, deliver Headword location(s)
yield (v.) Old form(s): yeeld
reward, repay, thank Headword location(s)
yield (v.) Old form(s): yeelde
express an opinion about, comment on Headword location(s)
yield (v.) Old form(s): yeelds
render, make, cause to be Headword location(s)
yield the ghost (v.) Old form(s): yeeld
give up the spirit, die see also ghost (n.) 1 Headword location(s)
yield up (v.) Old form(s): yeelded vp
give up, surrender, relinquish Headword location(s)
yielded (adj.) Old form(s): yeelded
surrendered, conceded Headword location(s)
yielder (n.) Old form(s): yeelders
one who gives up, conceder Headword location(s)
yielding (n.) Old form(s): yeelding , yeilding
consent, compliance, agreement Headword location(s)
yoke (n.) Old form(s): yoake
pair, couple, brace Headword location(s)
yoke (n.) Old form(s): yoakes
horn, antler Headword location(s)
yoke (n.) Old form(s): yoake
servitude, state of subjection Headword location(s)
yoke (v.) Old form(s): yoake , yoakes
associate, link, join, couple Headword location(s)
yoke (v.) Old form(s): yoak'd
conquer, tame, bring into subjection Headword location(s)
yoke (v.)
submit, subject Headword location(s)
yoked (adj.) Old form(s): yoak'd
joined in marriage, wedded Headword location(s)
yoke-devil (n.) Old form(s): yoake diuels
companion-devil, associate in evil Headword location(s)
yoke-fellow (n.) Old form(s): Yoake-fellow , yoke-fellowes
fellow-worker, comrade, partner Headword location(s)
yoking (adj.) Old form(s): yoaking
embracing, enfolding, enclosing Headword location(s)
yon (adv.)
see also yon words Headword location(s)
yond (adv.)
over there see also Yon words Headword location(s)
yond (det.) Old form(s): yon'd
that [one] over there see also yon words Headword location(s)
yonder (adv.)
there see also yon words Headword location(s)
yore, of
of old, formerly, in times long past Headword location(s)
you (pron.)
[contrasting with 'thou'] see also thou and you Headword location(s)
young (adj.) Old form(s): yong
immature, inexperienced, raw Headword location(s)
young (adj.) Old form(s): yong
in good condition, strong Headword location(s)
young days, of so Old form(s): dayes
from such an early age Headword location(s)
younger (adj.) Old form(s): yonger
earlier, former, previous Headword location(s)
younger (n.) Old form(s): yonger
younger son Headword location(s)
youngest (adj.)
latest, most recent Headword location(s)
youngling (n.)
young, offspring Headword location(s)
youngling (n.) Old form(s): Yongling , young-lings
stripling, youngster, beginner Headword location(s)
youngly (adv.) Old form(s): yongly
in youth, early in life Headword location(s)
younker (n.)
greenhorn, juvenile, prodigal child Headword location(s)
younker (n.) Old form(s): Yonker
fashionable young man, fine young gentleman Headword location(s)
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