Page 388 - Hamlet: The Cambridge Dover Wilson Shakespeare

GLOSSARY 281
shoes,' shoes with long pro- PRACTICE (sb.), (i) doings; 2. 2. 38;
jecting points; N.E.D. quotes (ii) treachery, plot; 4. 7. 66;
instance of this use from 1615); 5. 2. 315; 'of practice,' (a) skil-
5- 1. 136 ful, (i) treacherous; 4. 7. 137
PICTURE IN LITTLE, miniature; PRECURSE, heralding, foretokening;
2. 2. 369 1. 1. 117
PIECE OF WORK, masterpiece, work PREGNANT, (i) full of meaning, apt;
of art. N.E.D. does not give this 2. 2. 210; (ii) (a) ready, prompt,
meaning, but it is clear that Sh. (b) fertile in results; 3. 2. 59
often uses 'piece' in the sense PRESCRIPT, precept; 2. 2. 142
of 'supreme example,' good or PRESENT, immediate (cf. Wint.
bad (cf. Wint, 4. 4. 419-205 1. 2. 281 'My present ven-
5. 3. 38, 'O royal piece!'); geance'); 5. r. 289
2. 2. 307; 3. 2. 45 PRESENTLY, at once; 2. 2. 170,
PIGEON-LIVERED, meek, gentle. 59553. 2.46
Pigeons were supposed to secrete PRESSURE, image, impress; 1. 5*
no gall (v. note); 2. 2. 580 100; 3. 2. 24
PIONER, miner; 1. 5. 163 PREVENT, anticipate; 2. 2. 298
PITCH (sb.), endeavour, lit. the PRICKED ON, spurred on; 1. 1. 83
highest point of a falcon's flight PRIMAL, original, pristine, (here)
(v. note); 3. 1. 86 the curse of Cain; 3. 3. 37
PLATFORM, a level place con- PRIMY, in its prime or springtime;
structed for mounting guns, a 1-3-7
terrace; I. 2. 213, 252 PRIVATE (sb.), an intimate (v.
PLAUSIVE, pleasing, gracious, popu- N.E.D. 10, quoting from 1574
lar—in a good sense (cf. All's 'men that be private and in
Well, 1. 2. 53 'his plausive favour'), with an indelicate
words,' and Troth 3. 3. 43 'Why quibble; 2. 2. 236
such unplausive eyes are bent on PROBATION, proof; 1. 1. 156
him'); 1. 4. 30
PROCESS, (i) relation, story (cf.
PLURISY, {a) pleurisy, (b) excess M.V. 4. 1. 271); 1. 5. 37;
(v. Introd. p. xxxvii); 4. 7. 116 (ii) procedure, indictment (leg.);
POCKY, infected with pox (syphilis); 3.3.29; (iii) mandate,command;
5. 1. 160 4. 3. 62
POINT (AT), suitably, appropriately; PROGRESS, a royal or state journey,
'at point exactly' = in every such as Queen Elizabeth made
particular; 1. 2. 200 annually to different parts of
POLITIC, (a) political, (i>) shrewd, England; 4. 3. 30
cunning; 4. 3. 20 PRONOUNCE, (i) deliver a sentence
PORPENTINE, porcupine; 1. 5. 20 or statement; 3. 2. 311; (ii) de-
POSSET (vb.), curdle; 1. 5. 68 clare, proclaim; 2.2.515
POSY, a short motto; 3. 2. 150 PROOF, (i) tested strength (of
POTION, (a) dose of medicine or armour or arms), invulnerability
poison, (i) draught, drink; (cf. A. & C. 4. 8. 15 'Through
5. 2. 324 proof of harness to my heart,'
POWERS, troops; .4. 9 and Shrew, 2. 1. 140 'But be
4