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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zany (n.) Old form(s): Zanie
stooge, clown's assistant, mimic Headword location(s)
zeal (n.) Old form(s): seale , Zeale
ardour, fervour; or: loyalty, devotion Headword location(s)
zealous (adj.) Old form(s): zelous
earnest, fervent, ardent Headword location(s)
Zenelophon (n.)
[pron: ze'nelofon] beggar-girl of a romantic ballad, loved by an African king see also Non-classical legend, romance, and folklore Headword location(s)
Zenelophon (n.)
[pron: ze'nelofon] beggar-girl of a romantic ballad, loved by an African king see also Cophetua 1 Headword location(s)
zenith (n.)
highest point (in fortunes), summit, peak Headword location(s)
zephyr (n.) Old form(s): Zephires
mild breeze, gentle wind [especially from the west] Headword location(s)
zir (n.)
dialect variant of ‘sir’ Headword location(s)
zo (adv.)
dialect form of ‘so’ Headword location(s)
zodiac (n.) Old form(s): Zodiacks
year, calendar course of the zodiac Headword location(s)
zodiac (n.) Old form(s): Zodiacke
belt of the celestial sphere within which the sun, moon, and planets appear to move, divided into twelve equal domains [signs] named after constellations Headword location(s)
zone, burning
inter-tropical domain encircling the earth see also Cosmos Headword location(s)
zounds (int.)
God's wounds see also Swearing Headword location(s)
zwagger (v.)
dialect form of ‘swagger’ see also swagger (v.) Headword location(s)
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