Othello (32 page)
Authors: William Shakespeare
157
producted
produced as a witness
159
gall
annoy
check
reprimand
160
cast
cast off, dismiss
embarked
engaged, committed
161
loud reason
resounding support
162
stands in act
are under way
for
i.e. to save
163
fathom
ability
166
life
livelihood
167
sign
show, display (plays on the sense of “military flag”)
168
That
in order that
169
Sagittary
inn or house named after Sagittarius, a centaur (half-man, half-horse) famed for his archery; centaurs were associated with lust, so Sagittarius, always depicted with bow and arrow, may be seen as a type of bestial Cupid
raisèd search
search party roused from sleep
172
my despisèd time
the miserable remainder of my life/the remainder of my life in which I will be scorned for what has happened
174
unhappy
misfortune-causing/ill-fated
177
Past thought
beyond belief (or “understanding”)
180
treason…blood
rebellion against her family/revolt of the (sexual) passions
182
charms
spells, enchantments
183
property
rightful nature
maidhood
girlhood, virginity
190
discover
reveal
193
may command
have the authority to demand aid
195
deserve your pains
reward you for your trouble
1
trade
(mercantile) dealings/craft
2
very stuff
fundamental material (
stuff
maintains the metaphor of
trade
with its senses of “fabric or goods for exchange/materials for manufacture”)
3
contrived
premeditated
iniquity
wickedness
5
yerked
stabbed with a sudden movement
him
i.e. Rodorigo
7
prated
spoke insolently/told tales, blabbed
8
scurvy
contemptible
11
I…him
I restrained myself with great difficulty from attacking him/I tolerated him with great difficulty
12
fast
firmly
13
magnifico
i.e. Brabantio, one of the foremost noblemen, or Magnifici, in Venice
14
in his effect
at his disposal
a…duke’s
a powerful influence/an influence that is potentially double that of the duke
voice
influence/vote
16
what
whatever
grievance
hardship, oppression
18
cable
rope, i.e. scope
20
signiory
Venetian governing body
21
’Tis…know
it is not yet known
23
promulgate
declare publicly
24
siege
throne, i.e. rank
demerits
merits, deserts
25
unbonneted
with my hat off (i.e. respectfully, modestly)/without removing my hat (i.e. on terms of equality)
proud
great, splendid
28
unhousèd
unconfined
29
circumscription and confine
enclosure and confinement
30
sea’s worth
i.e. treasure lying under the sea
yond
yonder, over there
31
raisèd
roused from sleep/angered
34
parts
personal qualities
title
legal rights as a husband/high military rank
perfect
unblemished, guiltless
36
Janus
Roman god with two faces
41
haste-post-haste
speedy, urgent
43
matter
business
44
divine
guess
45
heat
urgency
46
sequent
successive
51
several quests
separate search parties
56
makes he
is he doing
57
Faith
truly
boarded
seized (a vessel) by force/had sex with
caract
carrack, large Spanish ship used in war or as a merchant vessel (implicitly loaded with “treasure” a euphemism for “vagina” or “chastity”)
62
Marry
by the Virgin Mary (a common oath; puns on
married
)
63
Have with you
I’ll join you
65
advised
warned
66
to
with
67
Holla
whoa, stop
71
up
i.e. in their sheaths
74
foul
abhorrent/wicked/ugly/dirty, black
75
stowed
Brabantio unwittingly continues the nautical imagery: “to stow” is to store cargo on a ship or in a sexual sense “fill with the penis”
77
refer me to
entrust myself to (the authority of)
79
tender
young/gentle/meek
fair
beautiful/unstained/pale-complexioned, white
80
opposite
opposed
81
curlèd
i.e. with elegantly styled hair
dearling
darlings, favorites
82
a general mock
universal scorn
83
her guardage
the guardianship of her father
85
Judge… world
let the world judge
gross in sense
blatantly obvious
86
practised on
worked cunningly on, deceived
87
minerals
mineral potions or poisons
88
motion
normal faculties/perceptions
disputed on
debated formally
90
attach
arrest
92
arts…warrant
magical practices that are forbidden and illegal
95
Hold
hold back, halt
96
of my inclining
on my side
98
Whither…I
where do you want me to
101
course…session
the proper process of a judicial hearing (or “… of an immediate judicial hearing”)
106
present
immediate, urgent/current
114
brothers…state
fellow senators
116
have passage free
i.e. go unrestrained
1
composition
consistency
2
them
i.e. the news
3
disproportioned
inconsistent
7
jump
agree, coincide
just account
exact amount
8
aim
guess
12
I…sense
this discrepancy does not make me so overconfident that I fail to recognize and fear the main point (i.e. that the Turkish fleet is making for Cyprus)
18
preparation
force prepared for war
21
How…by
what do you make of
23
assay
test/endeavor
pageant
show, spectacle/trick
24
in false gaze
looking in the wrong direction/deluded
25
Th’importancy
the importance
28
So…it
so can he (
the Turk
) win it (
Cyprus
) with less arduous conflict
29
For that
because
brace
state of defensive readiness
30
th’abilities
the strength/resources
31
dressed in
equipped with
33
latest
last
34
attempt
undertaking/attack
35
wage
risk
38
Ottomites
members of the Ottoman Empire—i.e. Turks
reverend and gracious
i.e. senators
40
injointed them
joined themselves
after
following (in the rear; nautical term)
42
restem…course
hold once again to their former course
43
frank
open
45
servitor
servant
46
free
unconstrained, willing
recommends
informs/commends himself to
51
post-post-haste
immediately/speedily
54
general enemy Ottoman
i.e. universal enemy to all Christians
55
gentle
noble
58
place
position (as a senator)
aught
anything
59
the general care
concern for the public interest/widespread anxiety at current events
60
particular
personal
61
floodgate
i.e. torrential (like water released when a floodgate is opened)
62
engluts
consumes
63
is still itself
i.e. is unchanged or undiminished by other
sorrows
68
abused
wronged/misused/deceived
69
mountebanks
charlatans/quack doctors
70
prepost’rously
unnaturally
err
stray/blunder/sin
71
sense
perception, discernment, reason
72
Sans
without
73
proceeding
manner of behaving/course of action
74
beguiled
cheated/deprived/bewitched
75
bloody
death-dealing (witchcraft was punishable by death)
77
After…sense
according to your own interpretation (however harsh)
our proper
my own
78
Stood…action
were the accused party in your lawsuit
85
but
except
86
grave
respected, wise, dignified
87
approved
proven/esteemed
90
head and front
highest extent (literally, “head and forehead”)
91
Rude
uncultivated/rough
93
since…pith
i.e. since I was seven years old
pith
strength
94
Till…wasted
i.e. until nine months ago
wasted
passed away/waned/squandered
95
dearest
worthiest, most valuable/best-loved
tented
covered with military tents
97
broils
turmoil, conflict
100
round
blunt, plain
102
conjuration
invocation of spirits/spells
103
withal
with
106
motion
natural inner impulses/physical movement
108
years
age (Othello is older than Desdemona)
credit
reputation
