Glossary

Because the English language has changed drastically since Shakespeare's time, some of the words that he used in his plays are either no longer being used or have a completely different meaning. To avoid the readers of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" not to understand some details of the play not well, a glossary that contains the most important 20 words has been prepared.
==A==
at/on the altar of sth: Because of sth. that you think is worth suffering.
Example from the play: "Or else to wed Demetrius as he would, or ''on Diana's altar..." (Theseus to Hermia, Act I)
aye: ever, eternity.
Example from the play: "To protest / For aye, austerity and single life." (Theseus to Hermia, Act I)
==B==
brake: a thicket, a cluster of trees or bushes.
Example from the play: "This green plot shall be our stage, this hawthorn-brake our tiring-house." (Quince to his group, Act III)
==C==
counsel: secrecy, confidence, privacy.
Example from the play: "And in the wood, where often you and I, / Upon faint primrose-beds, were wont to lie, / Emptying our bosoms of counsel sweet / There my Lysander, and myself shall meet" (Hermia to Lysander, Act I)
==D==
dew: to moisten, to water.
Example from the play: "I serve the Fairy Queen, / To dew her orbs upon the green"
Diana: In Roman mythology, Diana was the Moon Goddess that was also referenced in this play.
Example from the play: "Or on Diana's altar to protest..." (Theseus to Hermia, Act I)
dogged: fierce, cruel, ferocious; spiteful, malicious, vindictive.
Example from the play: "For if we meet in the city, we shall be dogg'd with company, and our devices known." (Quince to his group, Act I)
==E ==
edict: an official order or statement given by sb. in authority.
Example from the play: "If then true lovers have been ever cross'd, / It stands as an edict in destiny: / Then let us teach our trial patience" (Hermia to Lysander, Act I)
enthralling: so beautiful that it takes all your attention.
Example from the play: "O cross! Too high to be enthrall'd to low." (Hermia to Lysander, Act I)
ere: before.
Example from the play: "And ere a man hath power to say, Behold, / The jaws of darkness devour it up" (Lysander to Hermia, Act I)
==I==
interlude: short play, theatrical performance.
Example from the play: "Here is the scroll of every man's name, which is thought to fit through all Athens, to play in our Interlude before the Duke and the Duchess, on his wedding-day at night." (Quince speaking to his group of actors, Act I)
==L==
lob: clown, country lout
Example from the play: "Farewell thou Lob of spirits, I'll be gone." (Fairy to Robin, Act II)
lode-star (or lodestar): guiding star, beacon.
Example from the play: "Your eyes are lode-stars, and your tongue's sweet air / More tunable than lark to shepherd's ear" (Helena to Hermia, Act I)
==M==
misgraffed: not matched well; unsuited.
Example from the play: "Or else misgraffed, in respect of years" (Lysander to Hermia, Act I)
==O==
oath: promise, undertaking.
Example from the play: "Two bosoms interchained with an oath" (Lysander to Hermia, Act II)
orb: fairy ring, circle.
Example from the play: "And I serve the Fairy Queen, / To dew her orbs upon the green." (Fairy to Robin, Act II)
==R==
roundel: dance in a circle.
Example from the play: "Come, now a roundel, and a fairy song" (Titania to her fairies, Act II)
==T==
thee, thou: you.
Examples from the play:
1) "To-morrow truly I meet with thee." (Hermia to Lysander, Act I)
2) "Thou shalt know the man, / By the Athenian garments he hath on." (Oberon to Puck, Act II)
troth: truth.
Example from the play: "So then two bosoms, and a single troth." (Lysander to Hermia, Act II)
==U==
unheedy: reckless.
Example from the play: "Wings and no eyes, figure unheedy haste. / And therefore, love is said to be a child." (Helena to herself, Act I)