amain adv. IPA Pronunciation:
at full force or speed

MESSENGER
His soldiers spying his undaunted spirit
A Talbot! a Talbot! cried out amain
And rush’d into the bowels of the battle.
- Henry VI, Part 1 (I.i)

There’s a certain economy about this word. I can easily hear it in a command, which it is used as most often. You’ll mostly find this in the Henry VI series. 8 out of 13 times it is used by Shakespeare are in one of the Henry VI plays. Wowzers.

whiffler (n.) IPA Pronunciation:
armed processional attendant

CHORUS
Behold, the English beach
Pales in the flood with men, with wives and boys,
Whose shouts and claps out-voice the deep mouth’d sea,
Which like a mighty whiffler ‘fore the king
Seems to prepare his way: so let him land,
And solemnly see him set on to London.
- Henry V (V.prologue)

To me, this word sound like it should be the name of a racket used to hit a Wiffle Ball. It doesn’t sound like what it is to me, but I suppose I’m not using my imagination to make it work. Either way this is a word that most readers and audiences are not likely to know so lets hope that the Chorus does his/her best to make sense of it for us, that a Whiffler clears the way for a procession.

Note that whiffler does have a different modern definition, in case you look it up in a modern dictionary. Today it can mean a person who frequently shifts opinions, attitudes, interests, etc. I don’t know if the definitions are at all related, but don’t get them confused!

puissance (n.) IPA Pronunciation:
power, might, force

ARCHBISHOP OF YORK
That he should draw his several strengths together
And come against us in full puissance,
Need not be dreaded.
- Henry IV, Part 2 (I.iii)

This word is most commonly used in reference to military power, but it can be applied elsewhere as well. The pronunciation depends on the line of text. The word can be two syllables by, or can be three if the line of verse doesn’t scan out to 10 syllables without it. Some pronounce the first syllable “pyoo” some “pwee,” I’ve seen it both ways in dictionaries – sometimes both ways in the same dictionary. It sounds funny no matter how you say it so pick one.

runagate (n.) IPA Pronunciation:
fugitive, runaway, vagabond

CLOTEN
I cannot find those runagates; that villain
Hath mock’d me. I am faint.
- Cymbeline (IV.ii)

Feel free to use this word as an insult. You’ll look mean and smart.*

*Use this word at your own risk. The Bard Blog claims no responsibility for any injuries for misuse of this word. Not recommended for use with any amount of alcohol. Please be safe.

cogitation (n.) IPA Pronunciation:
thought, contemplation

CASSIUS
Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion;
By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried
Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations.
- Julius Caesar (I.ii)

This word takes some cogitation at first, but it does sort of sound like what it is right? The wheels in your head are turning – cogitation. Perfectly logical, right? If nothing else it will make you sound smarter when you use it.

askance (adv., v.) IPA Pronunciation:
(v.) to turn aside, to divert
(adv.) sideways, surreptitiously OR with disdain, maliciously, scornfully

PETRUCHIO
Thou canst not frown, thou canst not look askance,
Nor bite the lip, as angry wenches will,
- The Taming of the Shrew (II.i)

The word is used in the works only as an adverb as far as I can tell, except for in The Rape of Lucrece, though you probably won’t read that. But you should!

diadem (n.) IPA Pronunciation:
crown

HAMLET
A cutpurse of the empire and the rule,
That from a shelf the precious diadem stole,
And put it in his pocket!
- Hamlet (III.iv)

The word just has such a regal sound about it. Crown sounds authoritative, but diadem is royal.

BUCKINGHAM
And all together, with the Duke of Suffolk,
We’ll quickly hoise Duke Humphrey from his seat.
- Henry VI, Part 2 (I.i)

When this word is used in the above context it’s fun to say. Think about the seriousness of the action and what the sound of the word does to its meaning instead of saying “remove Duke Humphrey from his seat.” Hoise has more poise. Maybe. I just wanted to make that rhyme. You decide for yourself.

mickle (adj.) IPA Pronunciation: /mIkl/
great, much, large

DROMIO OF EPHESUS
O villain! thou hast stolen both mine office and my name.
The one ne’er got me credit, the other mickle blame.
- Comedy of Errors (III.i)

I’ll give you a nickel and tickle for that mickle pickle. Cool sentence, huh? Shakespeare wrote that sentence. So it’s not stupid. It’s in that one play…

Note the difference in the above quote between saying “much blame” and “mickle blame.” The latter has a very different feel when spoken, almost a more piercing quality with the more forward vowel.

WORD (PART.) IPA Pronunciation: /wil/
happiness, well-being

JULIET
If he be slain, say ‘Ay’; or if not, no:
Brief sounds determine of my weal or woe.
- Romeo and Juliet (III.ii)

That’s the most commonly found passage with the word. You’ll come across it again in 6 other plays. Weal is thankfully a word whose definition isn’t hidden within the context of the times Shakespeare uses it. One less word to worry about for the audience. Just one.