A-Z of Shakespeare – R

 

Today’s Shakespearean word of the day is… rehearse

R- rehearseWarning! Don’t read in the meaning of ‘practise’.

Shakespeare uses rehearse to mean utter. For example, in A Midsummer Night’s Dream Titania tells the Fairies: ‘rehearse your song by rote’ (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 5.1.380).

Listen to the pronunciation of rehearse here

 

Shakespeare Dictionary _130This definition is taken from the Oxford Illustrated Shakespeare Dictionary, a unique dictionary to unlock the mysteries of Shakespeare’s world, words and language, compiled by renowned English language expert David Crystal and Shakespearean actor and producer Ben Crystal.