"The Taming of the Shrew" by William Shakespeare, Act III

In this comedy, a lord refuses to allow his younger daughter to marry unless her willful older sister gets married first. Learn this thematic list focusing on madness (or, for links to general lists for the play, click below).

Here are links to thematic lists for the play: Induction, Act I, Act II, Act III, Act IV, Act V

Here are links to our general lists for the play: Induction, Act I, Act II, Act III, Act IV, Act V
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. preposterous
    inviting ridicule
    Preposterous ass, that never read so far
    To know the cause why music was ordain'd!
  2. fiery
    characterized by intense emotion
    [Aside] How fiery and forward our pedant is!
  3. amorous
    inclined toward or displaying love
    [Aside] And watch withal; for, but I be deceiv'd,
    Our fine musician groweth amorous.
  4. effectual
    producing or capable of producing an intended result
    Madam, before you touch the instrument
    To learn the order of my fingering,
    I must begin with rudiments of art,
    To teach you gamut in a briefer sort,
    More pleasant, pithy, and effectual,
    Than hath been taught by any of my trade
    Nowadays, "gamut" is generally used to mean "a complete extent or range." Here, Hortensio refers more specifically to "the entire scale of musical notes" and uses it as an excuse to touch Bianca's hand and heart. But this is ineffectual because Bianca both already knows the gamut and prefers the Latin instructor (the disguised Lucentio).
  5. pity
    a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for misfortunes of others
    "A re" to plead Hortensio's passion-
    "B mi" Bianca, take him for thy lord-
    "C fa ut" that loves with all affection-
    "D sol re" one clef, two notes have I-
    "E la mi" show pity or I die.'
  6. invention
    the creation of something in the mind
    Old fashions please me best; I am not so nice
    To change true rules for odd inventions.
  7. humble
    low or inferior in station or quality
    Yet if thy thoughts, Bianca, be so humble
    To cast thy wand'ring eyes on every stale-
    Seize thee that list.
    Nowadays, the adjective is more often used in a positive sense to mean "not arrogant or prideful." But Hortensio is a high-class lord who, despite disguising himself as a lower-class instructor, looks down on Bianca for being interested in Cambio (whom he does not know is the wealthy lord Lucentio). Thus, Hortensio would not humble himself to continue wooing a woman whose eyes would wander so low.
  8. haste
    overly eager speed and possible carelessness
    No shame but mine; I must, forsooth, be forc'd
    To give my hand, oppos'd against my heart,
    Unto a mad-brain rudesby, full of spleen,
    Who woo'd in haste and means to wed at leisure.
  9. frantic
    marked by uncontrolled excitement or emotion
    I told you, I, he was a frantic fool,
    Hiding his bitter jests in blunt behaviour
  10. mad
    marked by uncontrolled excitement or emotion
    Now must the world point at poor Katherine,
    And say 'Lo, there is mad Petruchio's wife,
    If it would please him come and marry her!'
    The adjective can also describe someone who is angry, crazy, or foolish. Here, Katherina is focused more on self-pity. But all the meanings fit other people's opinions of her and Petruchio. This is seen in these lines: "Of all mad matches, never was the like" and "That, being mad herself, she's madly mated."
  11. vex
    disturb the peace of mind of
    Go, girl, I cannot blame thee now to weep,
    For such an injury would vex a very saint;
    Much more a shrew of thy impatient humour.
  12. apparel
    clothing in general
    O, sir, his lackey, for all the world caparison'd like the horse- with a linen stock on one leg and a kersey boot-hose on the other, gart'red with a red and blue list; an old hat, and the humour of forty fancies prick'd in't for a feather; a monster, a very monster in apparel, and not like a Christian footboy or a gentleman's lackey.
    As the example sentence suggests, "apparel" and "caparison" are nearly synonymous (they can both be used as nouns or verbs)--except that the latter is "stable gear consisting of a decorated covering for a horse." Clothing for a man and a horse should be different. But to the amazement of everyone attending the wedding, it is not.
  13. solemn
    dignified and somber in manner or character
    Fie, doff this habit, shame to your estate,
    An eye-sore to our solemn festival!
    The contrast between what's seen on stage and what the audience expects is intended to be comedic. But Petruchio also deliberately flouts solemn wedding customs in order to prove to everyone, especially Katherina, that he is not like other men. Thus, he can succeed in what seems like an impossible task: taming the shrew.
  14. accoutrement
    accessory or supplementary item of clothing
    Could I repair what she will wear in me
    As I can change these poor accoutrements,
    'Twere well for Kate and better for myself.
  15. attire
    clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion
    He hath some meaning in his mad attire.
  16. fiend
    an evil supernatural being
    Why, he's a devil, a devil, a very fiend.
  17. amazed
    filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise
    I'll tell you, Sir Lucentio: when the priest
    Should ask if Katherine should be his wife,
    'Ay, by gogs-wouns' quoth he, and swore so loud
    That, all amaz'd, the priest let fall the book;
    And as he stoop'd again to take it up,
    This mad-brain'd bridegroom took him such a cuff
    That down fell priest and book, and book and priest.
    The Old English verb from which this participial adjective likely derives means "stupefy, daze, make crazy." While the focus is on the emotional reaction to Petruchio's vulgar response (it should have been "I do"), the cuff ("hit with the hand") also physically dazed the priest and amazed the guests.
  18. quaff
    swallow hurriedly or greedily or in one draught
    But after many ceremonies done
    He calls for wine: 'A health!' quoth he, as if
    He had been abroad, carousing to his mates
    After a storm; quaff'd off the muscadel,
    And threw the sops all in the sexton's face
    As the example sentence suggests, "muscadel" (also spelled "muscatel") is wine that can be quaffed, and "sops" are pieces of solid food, most likely cake, floating in the wine. The way Petruchio toasts, quaffs, and throws the sops (which would've made the priest sopping wet if there were any wine left) makes him seem more like a sailor or pirate than a bridegroom.
  19. clamorous
    conspicuously and offensively loud
    This done, he took the bride about the neck,
    And kiss'd her lips with such a clamorous smack
    That at the parting all the church did echo.
  20. surly
    unfriendly and inclined toward anger or irritation
    'Tis like you'll prove a jolly surly groom
    That take it on you at the first so roundly.
  21. content
    make satisfied
    O Kate, content thee; prithee be not angry.
  22. leisure
    freedom to choose a pastime or enjoyable activity
    Father, be quiet; he shall stay my leisure.
  23. resist
    stand up to somebody or something
    I see a woman may be made a fool
    If she had not a spirit to resist.
  24. revel
    celebrate noisily or engage in uproarious festivities
    Go to the feast, revel and domineer
  25. carouse
    celebrate or enjoy something in a noisy or wild way
    Carouse full measure to her maidenhead;
    Be mad and merry, or go hang yourselves.
  26. fret
    be agitated or irritated
    Nay, look not big, nor stamp, nor stare, nor fret
  27. chattel
    personal property, as opposed to real estate
    I will be master of what is mine own-
    She is my goods, my chattels, she is my house,
    My household stuff, my field, my barn,
    My horse, my ox, my ass, my any thing,
    And here she stands; touch her whoever dare
  28. beset
    assail or attack on all sides
    Draw forth thy weapon; we are beset with thieves;
    Rescue thy mistress, if thou be a man.
  29. opinion
    a personal belief or judgment
    Mistress, what's your opinion of your sister?
  30. warrant
    show to be reasonable or provide adequate ground for
    I warrant him, Petruchio is Kated.
Created on Wed Oct 12 09:59:49 EDT 2016 (updated Mon Mar 19 13:08:09 EDT 2018)

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