11 Who i.e. we bastards who
11 take require/receive
12 More … quality a more complex creation and more vigorous disposition
14 fops weak fools
15 Got conceived
18 As the same as
19 speed succeed
20 invention scheme
21 to th’legitimate advance to (or “take over”) the place of the legitimate son; editors sometimes emend this to “top the legitimate”
23 choler anger
23 parted departed
24 Prescribed restricted, limited
25 exhibition an allowance, maintenance
26 gad spur of the moment
28 up away
32 terrible dispatch fearful and hasty stowing away
37 for as for
38 o’erlooking reading
44 essay or taste test
45 policy … age policy of revering the old (policy also suggests the “strategic cunning” of the elderly)
46 the … times i.e. our youth, our prime
46 fortunes inheritance
47 relish savor, enjoy
47 idle useless
48 fond foolish
49 sways rules
49 as … suffered only insofar as it is allowed to do so
58 casement window
58 closet private room
59 character handwriting
60 matter subject matter
61 in … that given the contents
61 fain willingly
67 at perfect age being mature
67 declined old/ill
72 sirrah sir (used to social inferiors and children)
72 apprehend arrest
73 Abominable often, popularly, "inhuman, unnatural" (from the incorrect belief that the word was derived from the Latin ab homine, i.e. “away from man”)
77 run … course proceed securely
77 where whereas
77 proceed perhaps with legal connotations (in keeping with apprehend and testimony)
80 pawn down pledge
81 feel test, feel out
82 pretence intention, purpose
84 meet suitable
85 auricular assurance i.e. by hearing for yourself
86 have your satisfaction resolve yourself of any doubt
89 wind … him insinuate yourself into his confidence for me
89 frame devise, arrange
90 unstate … resolution give up my rank and wealth to be resolved on this matter
92 presently immediately
92 convey manage, undertake
93 withal therewith
94 late recent
95 wisdom of nature human reason/natural science
96 scourged punished
96 sequent effects subsequent events
101 bias of nature natural inclination (a bowling image: the bias refers to the curving path taken by a weighted ball)
104 it … nothing i.e. it will advantage you
108 excellent foppery supreme foolishness
109 surfeits excesses
110 disasters misfortunes
111 on i.e. by
112 treachers traitors
113 spherical predominance the dominant influence of a particular planet at one’s birth
115 divine celestial, supernatural
115 evasion shuffling excuse
116 whoremaster i.e. lecherous, whore-using
116 goatish lustful
117 charge responsibility
117 compounded had sex
118 the dragon’s tail the constellation Draco
118 Ursa Major (constellation of) the Great Bear (or Plough)
119 rough cruel, violent
120 maidenliest most virginal
121 firmament sky, heavens
121 bastardizing conception out of wedlock
122 Pat on cue
122 catastrophe conclusion
122 comedy play
122 my cue could also mean “designated role”
123 Tom o’Bedlam i.e. a madman (from the Saint Mary of Bethlehem hospital in London, an institution for the insane)
124 divisions conflicts, discords (plays on the sense of “musical variations”)
124 Fa … mi Edmund hums a musical scale to himself
127 this the
130 succeed follow
131 unhappily unluckily, by misfortune
136 countenance bearing, demeanor/facial expression
139 forbear avoid
140 qualified cooled, lessened
141 mischief … person harm caused by your presence
142 allay abate, calm
144 have … forbearance i.e. restrain yourself and stay away from him
146 fitly at an appropriate time
148 abroad out of the house
151 meaning intention
153 image and horror horrific true picture
154 anon soon
155 serve help/trick, deceive
159 practices plots
160 wit intelligence, ingenuity
161 meet fitting
161 fashion fit shape to my purposes
Act 1 Scene 3
1.3 Location: Goneril and the Duke of Albany’s residence
1 gentleman man of gentle (i.e. noble) birth attached to a royal household
1 chiding rebuking
5 flashes breaks out
10 come slack fall short
11 answer be answerable for
14 fellows fellow servants
14 question conflict, a dispute
15 distaste dislike
21 straight straight away