Summary, Analysis, and Original Text by Scene

Act I: Scene 5

trencher a wooden board or platter on which to carve or serve meat.

marchpane marzipan, a confection of ground almonds, sugar, and egg white made into a paste and variously shaped and colored.

visor mask.

Pentecost a religious festival, the seventh Sunday after Easter.

antic face Romeo's face is still covered by his mask.

to fleer to laugh derisively (at); sneer or jeer (at).

portly dignified or well-mannered.

disparagement disrespect.

an ill-beseeming semblance an unfitting or inappropriate outward appearance or aspect.

set cock-a-hoop be boastful or conceited. Capulet is concerned that Tybalt's anger and lack of restraint will spoil the feast.

princox a coxcomb; fop. Capulet is keen to belittle Tybalt and force him to submit to his will as head of the household.

bitt'rest gall bitter feeling; rancor. Gall is another name for bile, one of the bodily humors (that is, bodily fluids thought to be responsible for one's health and disposition).

holy palmers' kiss a palmer is a pilgrim who carried a palm leaf to signify the making of a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. For Romeo, love is likened to a religious quest.

you kiss by th'book that is, according to convention.

marry an exclamation of surprise. "Marry" is a respelling of (the Virgin) "Mary."

the chinks plenty of cash.

fay faith: used in oaths as here.

prodigious both wonderful and portentous.


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