The Spanish Tragedy

The Spanish Tragedy Glossary

Behoove

To be necessary; to require; to oblige.

Bower

An arbor or a rustic cottage.

Censure

Opinion or assessment, without negative connotations, as in "the King's censure."

Close with

To meet secretly with.

Coy it

To affect shyness, as in "Although she coy it, as becomes her kind" (II.iii.3).

Despite

Hatred.

Doom

A decision or judgment, without negative connotations. A phrase like "Will both abide the censure of my doom," for example, can address a positive issue (I.ii.175).

Entreat

To beg; to ask earnestly.

Fortune

A neutral word, as Fortune's Wheel brings a subject both high and low.

Gear

Affairs or business, as in "When shall we to this gear?" (III.vi.23)

Guerdon

A reward.

Infect

As an adjective, the word indicates something that is infected and thus tainted or poisonous.

Miracle

A supernatural event; a wonder in the most neutral sense of the word, as in "What means this unexpected miracle?" (III.ii.32)

Pompous

Characterized by splendor and magnificence (in this context, without disparaging connotations).

Scutcheon

Usually spelled "escutcheon"; a shield with a coat of arms depicted.

Sound

To measure the depths of something; figuratively, to understand or comprehend, as in "I sound not well the mystery" (I.v.24).

Train

A body of attendants, such as the king's retinue.

Valiancy

A variant of valiance; bravery, valor, courage.

Wrought

An archaic form of "worked."