Glossary (words starting with I)
i'faith
in faith: in truth, truly
i'faith
in faith
idle
pointless, useless
idle
foolish, trivial
idleful
idle, full of idleness (OED a); the word ‘idleful’ is also used in the second edition of Marston’s Parasitaster, or The Fawn (Queen’s Revels, c. 1604-5; London, 1606 [STC 17484]): ‘But he that upon vain surmise forsakes / His bed thus long [...] Gives to his wife youth, opportunity, / Keeps her in idleful deliciousness’ (sig. H1r).
idly
ineffectually
idly
carelessly, frivolously
idly
nonsensically
idol
image of a god or deity
idolaters
devoted admirers, worshippers
idolatry
worship of a created thing as if it were God (OED n. 1); immoderate admiration (OED n. 2)
ifac
a mild oath: in faith
ifackins
trivial oath amounting to 'in faith', 'by my faith'
ifacks
in faith, a trivial oath as euphemism
ifaith
in faith
ignaro
ignoramus (Latin: literally, I don’t know)
ignis fatuus
will-o’-the-wisp: ‘a phosphorescent light seen hovering or flitting over marshy ground, and supposed to be due to the spontaneous combustion of an inflammable gas (phosphuretted hydrogen) derived from decaying organic matter’ (OED). The light of the ignis fatuus appears to recede, vanish and appear in another location, leading to a belief that it was a spirit trying to lead travellers astray; the phrase was therefore applied figuratively (as here) to any deluded belief or practice
ignorance
want of acceptable knowledge
ill
harmful, immoral
ill
badly
ill
(n) evil (OED ,. 1); ill will, unfriendly feeling (OED n. 3a); misfortune, calamity (OED n. 5a)
ill
(adv.) wickedly, sinfully
ill-favouredly
badly, offensively
ill-given
addicted to evil courses or conduct; ill-disposed (archaic)
ill-got
ill-gotten: acquired through evil means (OED ill-gotten)
ill-graced
unattractive
ill-lived
wicked, immoral
illustrious
luminous, shining; distinguished, eminent
immodesty
impudence; the lack of a sense of decorum or decency
impair
damage, make less valuable (OED v. 1)
impatience
lack of patience; irascibility (OED 1)
impatience
irritability, restlessness
impeach
impede, hinder, prevent (OED 1; obsolete)
impeach
indict, charge, accuse
imped
grafted, implanted
impediment
hindrance, obstruction
imperative
in grammar, the form or ‘mood’ of a verb which indicates that the speaker or writer is expressing a command, request, or exhortation (OED adj. 1a)
imperious
ruling, dominant; overbearing, dictatorial
impetuous
acting with, or marked by, great, sudden, or rash energy; vehement, violent (OED adj. 2)
impious
wicked, wanting in due reverence or respect, lacking a proper dutifulness
impiously
with presumptuous wickedness (OED)
implore
beg or pray for
implore
entreat
importunate
persistent, troublesome
importuned
solicited pressingly and persistently (OED v. 3)
importunity
insistence, persistence
importunity
irksome, unreasonable, or unseasonable insistence on being early
importunity
insistence
imposed
placed (in someone)
imposture
fraudulent deception
impregnable
that cannot be overcome or vanquished; invincible; unconquerable
impress
mark, stamp, impression
imprimis
'In the first place' (originally used to introduce the first of a number of items, as in an inventory or will)
Imprimis
'in the first place' (Latin); used to start off a list or inventory
impudence
shamelessness, immodesty
impudence
shamelessness, immodesty; insolence, presumption
impudent
OED cites a usage from 1628 meaning ‘without the means of decency’ which helps with the meaning here; Crasy is saying that his necessities, his difficult and needy circumstances, are 'impudent' in the sense that they will impudently expose him to shame, that is, he will be disgraced by his inability to pay the debts he owes because he has lent out all his ready money.
imputation
accusation, charge (of a crime)
in
in trouble for
in
by, through
in
of
in any hand
in any case, at any rate (OED n. 28j)
in case
in the event that
in charge
entrusted to me
in charge
entrusted to one's care or management, duty of responsibility; in trust
in conceit
in your imagination
in earnest
serious
in earnest
Initially the word is used in the sense of "seriously", "was that intentional or in jest?" But then the First Courtier takes the word in its other sense of an instalment paid as a pledge "of anything afterwards to be received in greater abundance" and follows up his kick with pulling his opponent's hair.
in esse
in actual existence, a Latin term used in legal contexts
in expiation of
to atone for; to purify from
in fee
in league
In few
in a few words
in full cry
expression used of the yelping of a pack of hounds in the chase
in general
collectively, without exception (OED general a, 11c[a])
in good sooth
truly
in good sooth
truly, honestly
in grave
in the grave (OED grave, n1, 2e)
in hand
in preparation
in hand
leading by the hand
in height
at its climax or highest pitch (of celebrations, power, etc.); cf. Shakespeare, Antony and Cleopatra, 3.10.18-20: ‘Claps on his sea-wing and, like a doting mallard, / Leaving the fight in height, flies after her’; Thomas Campion, The Lords’ Masque, in A Relation of the Late Royal Entertainment [...] To our Most Gracious Queen, Queen Anne [...] Whereunto is Annexed the Description, Speeches, and Songs of the Lords' Masque, Presented in the Banqueting-House on the Marriage Night of the High and Mighty, Count Palatine, and the Royally Descended the Lady Elizabeth (London, 1613): ‘Dance, dance, and visit now the shadows of our joy, / All in height, and pleasing state, your changed forms imploy’ (sig. D3v)
in lieu
in place of
in posse
Latin: literally the meaning is "potentially", but here in context "in the making"
in posse
potentially; a Latin phrase used in legal contexts
in private
invisibly; but also punning on private parts of the anatomy (that is, the cats are assumed to be attacking the soldier's manhood)
in question
under (judicial) examination; on trial (OED, question, n. 2c)
in request
that is, the fashionable thing to do
in sense
having the perceptive faculty of a conscious animate being
in sooth
indeed
in sooth
truly; indeed
in sooth
truly
in stock
in possession of capital
in substance
essentially, fundamentally
in the net
trapped and caught (like rabbits, birds, or fish)
in th’ height
at the peak (of its promise); at the climax or highest point
in troth
truly
in years
old
in your face
an exclamation of defiance: to figuratively thrust something into someone’s face (OED face n, 2f); cf. Dekker, Satiromastix (Children of Paul’s, 1601-2): ‘No, they have choked me with mine own disgrace, / Which (fools) I’ll spit again even in your face’ (Bowers, ed., vol. 1, 1.2.403-4); Middleton, Michaelmas Term (Children of Paul’s, 1606): ‘Knave in your face! Leave your mocking, Andrew; / Marry your quean and be quiet!’ (Taylor and Lavagnino, eds., 5.3.137-8)
in's
in his
in't
engaged in such activity
in't
in it
in-and-in
gambling game played by 3 persons with 4 dice (OED n. 1a), here with an obvious sexual innuendo
in-and-in
gambling game played by 3 persons with 4 dice (OED n. 1a)
in/ The straw
in childbed, or lying-in (OED straw n1, 2b, which gives the first citation as 1661, but clearly the phrase was in common use earlier); the reference is to the period immediately after giving birth
incident to
naturally attached to
incitements
provocative garments (that encourage lustful or adulterous responses)
incline
turn, bend
incontinence
sexual unchastity (OED 1)
incontinency
lack of self-restraint; unchastity
Incubus
evil spirit or demon (originating in personified representations of the nightmare) supposed to descend upon persons in their sleep, and especially to seek carnal intercourse with women (OED 1)
indenture
a deed between two or more parties with mutual covenants, executed in two or more copies, all having their tops or edges correspondingly indented or serrated for identification and security; hence, a deed or sealed agreement or contract between two or more parties, without special reference to its form (OED n. 2)
indifferent
unconcerned
indifferently
to some degree or extent (OED adv. 5)
indigested
chaotic (OED adj. 1)
indignly
unworthily; undeservedly. Lollio probably means ‘condignly’ (worthily; deservedly)
indirectly
wrongly, dishonestly (OED adv. 1.b); with an intermediary (OED adv. 2) (Bumpsey may be referring to Magdalen’s apparent connivance at the marriage of Valentine and Jane)
indirectly
wrongly, dishonestly (OED adv. 1b); with an intermediary (OED adv. 2)
indocible
unteachable (OED a)
indubitable
certain, unquestionable
induce
bring about, instruct
induce
introduce, require
induced
introduced, required
induced
persuaded
indued
archaic form of 'endowed'
indulgency
indulgence; over-lenient treatment
industry
effort, diligence
inednture
OED n.2. a deed between two or more parties with mutual covenants, executed in two or more copies, all having their tops or edges correspondingly indented or serrated for identification and security. Hence, a deed or sealed agreement or contract between two or more parties, without special reference to its form.
inestimable
too great to be estimated; priceless
inexorable
unable to be persuaded
inexpiable
(of an offence) that cannot be atoned for, unforgiveable, unappeasable
infectious
liable to contaminate morals, character, etc. (OED adj. 4)
infer
deduce, conclude
infidel
an unbeliever (usually in the context of a dominant religion)
inflamed
excited
inform
give information, report (OED v. 7a; the three examples which the OED gives for this absolute or intransitive sense, now obsolete, are all 17th-century ones)
infuses
instils, insinuates, inspires (OED v. 2 notes that the verb is used specifically of "the work of God in the imparting of grace" but it is here deployed with reference to the attributes of a classical deity)
infuses
instils, insinuates, inspires (OED notes that the verb is used specifically of "the work of God in the imparting of grace" but it is here deployed with reference to the attributes of a classical deity)
ingenuity
high or distinguished intellectual capacity; quickness of wit (OED 4)
ingenuity
good judgement (OED 5)
ingrateful
ungrateful
inheritrix
female inheritor
inhuman
brutal, cruel (OED 1)
iniquity
wickedness
injunction
authoritative directions or orders
injunction
the action of enjoining or authoritatively directing; an authoritative or emphatic admonition or order (OED 1)
injured
wronged (OED’s first example is from 1634)
injurious
wilfully harmful
injury
insult, affront
inkling
suspicion
inmate
fellow inhabitant (OED n. 1a); stranger (OED n. 1b)
innocence
as an adjective: freedom from sin, moral purity (OED 1); guilelessness, artlessness, simplicity (OED 3); as a noun: innocent people
innocence
freedom from sin, moral purity (OED 1); guilelessness, artlessness, simplicity (OED 3)
innocency
innocence
innocent
a) an innocent person; b) someone deficient in intelligence
innovation
political revolution; a rebellion or insurrection (OED 2b)
inquisition
search
inquisition
investigation, scrutiny
insect
cut into (OED v1.); The Queen and Concubine is OED’s only citation, but the earliest I have found is in Thomas Powell's poem 'The Bay', in The Passionate Poet (London, 1601), in which Powell compares himself with contemporary satirists, saying,
May others make the ears evaporate,
When they unmask the times and world's estate:
I will admire, yet never will insect,
I am not prone but only to reflect. (sig. F2v)
insensible
incapable of perceiving or feeling
inseparate
inseparable
insolent
offensively contemptuous of the rights or feelings of others (OED I, 1)
inspirations
infusions into the mind or soul; theologically, the immediate influences or actions of God upon the human mind or soul (OED 2)
inspired
was the inspiration for, gave life to
instant
of persons: pressing, urgent, importunate (OED adj. I 1)
instantly
at once, immediately
instigation
stimulus, spur
instructions
an account, a narrative (OED `instruction' 3)
instructor
teacher
instrument
a legal document, often establishing rights or ownership
instrument
a thing with or through which something is done or effected (OED 1a)
instrument
"a person made use of by another [...] for the accomplishment of a purpose" (OED n. 1b); an agent, tool
insufferable
intolerable, unbearable
intelligence
information
intelligencers
one who conveys intelligence or information; one employed to obtain secret information, an informer, a spy, a secret agent
Intelligences
Spirits (OED n. 4a)
intend
to fix the mind on (OED v. 12)
inter-mealiary
between meals (not in OED)
interchange
exchange
interchangeably
mutually, reciprocally, in turn, one after the other
interest
being objectively concerned in something, by having a right or title to, a claim upon, or a share in (OED I, 1)
interlocutions
conversations, chats
interludes
stage plays (OED n. 1)
interposed
obstructing, intervening
interpretation
construction put on intentions, etc. (OED 2b)
interview
meeting (OED n. 1); mutual view of one other (OED n. 2)
intimate
to suggest, to imply (OED v. 2)
intimate
(a) close
inundant
overwhelming, overflowing, flooding
inundation
outpouring, flood
invective
a violent attack in words; a denunciatory or railing speech, writing, or expression
invective
abusive, vituperative (OED adj. 1)
invention
the action of contriving or devising OED invention 2)
invention
capacity for scheming
invention
contrivance (OED 3)
inveterate
virulent (OED adj. 3)
invocations
entreaties, prayers; spells
invokes
calls upon, makes an appeal to
inward
inner; intimate
inward
intimate
inwardly
closely, intimately
inwardly
intimately, deeply, spiritually, not solely superficially
inwards
intimate confidences, innermost secrets
inwards
insides, entrails (OED n. B1)
ipsitate
very same, implying a specific extraordinary thing; bastard Latin (?)
irons
branding irons
irrevocable
final
irrevocable
irreversible
is't
is it
issue
result, consequence
issue
outcome, but with the punning sense too that the hoped for outcome will be the birth of a child and heir (so both usages of the word are deployed here)
issue
child, offspring
issue
outcome (but with punning sense too that the hoped for outcome will be the birth of a child and heir)
issue
result
it
the act of sex
italic
Italian or Italianate
itch
an uneasy or restless desire or hankering after something; a restless propensity to do something: usually spoken contemptuously (OED n. 2)
itch at
lust for
itching ears
craving to hear something new, persons who crave to hear gossip, especially if scandalous (OED itching 2)
item
used to introduce each new article or particular in an enumeration, especially in a formal list or document, as an inventory, household-book, will, etc. (OED adv)
iwis
certainly, indeed
iwus
iwis (certainly, indeed, truly); I have kept the octavo’s spelling in case it gives a clue to the pronunciation
i’fecks
a very mild oath, meaning ‘in faith’