obsolete words

Discusses the etymology and uses of a number of words, organized by what time of the day they can be used.

"Awe is the tale of the three dead letters of the English language: Thorn, Eth, and ? (pronounced variously). The teller of these stories, for there are more than one, is an old cat (O/C) with the sad excuse of a story tale, er, tail; and a mess of other possible tails and worlds (that is), a mess of If(f)s; both blissful and broken by the sheer, immense particularity of it all; and so he glows in the dark. A wise cat among wonders. A cat who challenges all tails but his own..."--Page 4 of cover.

Alphabetically arranged entries define more than 17,000 words, terms, and unfamiliar expressions used in the works of William Shakespeare.

A glossary with 15,000 entries providing definitions of words and phrases as they are used in the texts of Shakespeare's poems and plays.

Provides the meanings and origins of many archaic words and phrases from the English language.

Presents more than sixty obsolete words that are now seldom or never used, such as "flap-dragon" and "muckender, " and includes poems and a list of names to call people.