Welcome to Lesson Forty-Five of the Elizabethan English course. This lesson addresses the word time, one of the most philosophically rich and dramatically significant words in Shakespeare’s vocabulary. In Early Modern English, time carries the weight of medieval and Renaissance thought about mortality, fortune, and cosmic order.
The word descends from Old English tīma, related to Old Norse tími and Proto-Germanic tīmô. In Shakespeare’s era, the vowel had begun its Great Vowel Shift journey from the continental /iː/ toward the modern diphthong, landing somewhere around /təɪm/—not yet the full /taɪm/ of modern pronunciation, but no longer the pure /tiːm/ of Chaucer’s day.
Time in Elizabethan usage encompasses several semantic domains: the abstract flow of duration (the ravages of time), a specific occasion (‘tis time to depart), the proper or appointed moment (in good time), and musical or poetic metre (keep time). The Elizabethans personified Time as a winged, bald old man with a scythe and hourglass—an image Shakespeare exploits repeatedly.
This course follows the Latinum Institute methodology for autodidact learners. Each example below presents Elizabethan English with word-by-word glossing and period-appropriate IPA pronunciation reflecting Early Modern English phonology—including the crucial detail that “-tion” endings were pronounced /sjɔn/ or /tiɔn/, not modern /ʃən/.
Course Index:
https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
FAQ: What does “time” mean in Elizabethan English? The Elizabethan word time denotes temporal duration, a specific occasion, the proper moment for action, or musical/poetic rhythm. It appears in numerous idiomatic expressions and serves as a major theme in Renaissance literature concerning mortality and fortune.
Key Takeaways: -
Time functions as both concrete measure and abstract philosophical concept -
Period pronunciation: /təɪm/ with transitional diphthong -
The “-tion” suffix in related words (e.g., perfection) was pronounced /sjɔn/ -
Elizabethan idioms include in good time, out of time, beguile the time -
Shakespeare personifies Time as both destroyer and revealer of truth
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Pronunciation Key for Early Modern English: -
Long vowels still shifting (not fully modern values) -
/r/ pronounced in all positions (rhotic) -
“wh” pronounced /hw/ -
“-tion” pronounced /sjɔn/ or /tiɔn/ -
Final “-ed” often syllabic /ɪd/
1.1a The time is out of joint.
1.1b The (ðə) the-ARTICLE time (təɪm) time-NOUN is (ɪz) is-VERB out (ʊut) out-PREPOSITION of (ɔv) of-PREPOSITION joint (dʒɔɪnt) joint-NOUN
1.2a What time of day is it?
1.2b What (hwat) what-INTERROGATIVE time (təɪm) time-NOUN of (ɔv) of-PREPOSITION day (dæɪ) day-NOUN is (ɪz) is-VERB it (ɪt) it-PRONOUN
1.3a The whirligig of time brings in his revenges.
1.3b The (ðə) the-ARTICLE whirligig (hwɪr.lɪ.gɪg) whirligig-NOUN of (ɔv) of-PREPOSITION time (təɪm) time-NOUN brings (brɪŋz) brings-VERB in (ɪn) in-PREPOSITION his (hɪz) his-POSSESSIVE revenges (rɪ.ven.dʒɪz) revenges-NOUN
1.4a Come what come may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day.
1.4b Come (kʊm) come-VERB what (hwat) what-PRONOUN come (kʊm) come-VERB may (mæɪ) may-MODAL time (təɪm) time-NOUN and (and) and-CONJUNCTION the (ðə) the-ARTICLE hour (ʊur) hour-NOUN runs (rʊnz) runs-VERB through (θruː) through-PREPOSITION the (ðə) the-ARTICLE roughest (rʊf.ɪst) roughest-ADJECTIVE day (dæɪ) day-NOUN
1.5a In time we hate that which we often fear.
1.5b In (ɪn) in-PREPOSITION time (təɪm) time-NOUN we (wiː) we-PRONOUN hate (hæɪt) hate-VERB that (ðat) that-PRONOUN which (hwɪtʃ) which-RELATIVE we (wiː) we-PRONOUN often (ɔf.tən) often-ADVERB fear (fiːr) fear-VERB
1.6a Time travels in divers paces with divers persons.
1.6b Time (təɪm) time-NOUN travels (tra.vəlz) travels-VERB in (ɪn) in-PREPOSITION divers (dəɪ.vərz) various-ADJECTIVE paces (pæɪ.sɪz) paces-NOUN with (wɪθ) with-PREPOSITION divers (dəɪ.vərz) various-ADJECTIVE persons (pɛr.sɔnz) persons-NOUN
1.7a Thus the whirligig of time shall work perfection.
1.7b Thus (ðʊs) thus-ADVERB the (ðə) the-ARTICLE whirligig (hwɪr.lɪ.gɪg) whirligig-NOUN of (ɔv) of-PREPOSITION time (təɪm) time-NOUN shall (ʃal) shall-MODAL work (wɛrk) work-VERB perfection (pər.fɛk.sjɔn) perfection-NOUN
1.8a O, call back yesterday, bid time return.
1.8b O (oː) O-INTERJECTION call (kɔːl) call-VERB back (bak) back-ADVERB yesterday (jɛs.tər.dæɪ) yesterday-NOUN bid (bɪd) bid-VERB time (təɪm) time-NOUN return (rɪ.tɛrn) return-VERB
1.9a There is a time for all things under the sun.
1.9b There (ðɛːr) there-ADVERB is (ɪz) is-VERB a (a) a-ARTICLE time (təɪm) time-NOUN for (fɔr) for-PREPOSITION all (ɔːl) all-DETERMINER things (θɪŋz) things-NOUN under (ʊn.dər) under-PREPOSITION the (ðə) the-ARTICLE sun (sʊn) sun-NOUN
1.10a Better three hours too soon than a minute too late in time.
1.10b Better (bɛ.tər) better-ADJECTIVE three (θriː) three-NUMBER hours (ʊurz) hours-NOUN too (tuː) too-ADVERB soon (suːn) soon-ADVERB than (ðan) than-CONJUNCTION a (a) a-ARTICLE minute (mɪ.nɪt) minute-NOUN too (tuː) too-ADVERB late (læɪt) late-ADJECTIVE in (ɪn) in-PREPOSITION time (təɪm) time-NOUN
1.11a Time is the old justice that examines all such offenders.
1.11b Time (təɪm) time-NOUN is (ɪz) is-VERB the (ðə) the-ARTICLE old (oːld) old-ADJECTIVE justice (dʒʊs.tɪs) justice-NOUN that (ðat) that-RELATIVE examines (ɪg.za.mɪnz) examines-VERB all (ɔːl) all-DETERMINER such (sʊtʃ) such-ADJECTIVE offenders (ɔ.fɛn.dərz) offenders-NOUN
1.12a Make use of time, let not advantage slip.
1.12b Make (mæɪk) make-VERB use (juːz) use-NOUN of (ɔv) of-PREPOSITION time (təɪm) time-NOUN let (lɛt) let-VERB not (nɔt) not-ADVERB advantage (ad.van.tɪdʒ) advantage-NOUN slip (slɪp) slip-VERB
1.13a The time is ripe for revolution and great action.
1.13b The (ðə) the-ARTICLE time (təɪm) time-NOUN is (ɪz) is-VERB ripe (rəɪp) ripe-ADJECTIVE for (fɔr) for-PREPOSITION revolution (rɛ.vɔ.luː.sjɔn) revolution-NOUN and (and) and-CONJUNCTION great (grɛːt) great-ADJECTIVE action (ak.sjɔn) action-NOUN
1.14a Thou wast born to conquer time and fortune.
1.14b Thou (ðaʊ) thou-PRONOUN wast (wast) wast-VERB.PAST born (bɔrn) born-PARTICIPLE to (tuː) to-PARTICLE conquer (kɔŋ.kər) conquer-VERB time (təɪm) time-NOUN and (and) and-CONJUNCTION fortune (fɔr.tjuːn) fortune-NOUN
1.15a Good time of day unto thy gracious self.
1.15b Good (guːd) good-ADJECTIVE time (təɪm) time-NOUN of (ɔv) of-PREPOSITION day (dæɪ) day-NOUN unto (ʊn.tuː) unto-PREPOSITION thy (ðəɪ) thy-POSSESSIVE gracious (græɪ.sjʊs) gracious-ADJECTIVE self (sɛlf) self-NOUN
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
1.1 The time is out of joint.
1.2 What time of day is it?
1.3 The whirligig of time brings in his revenges.
1.4 Come what come may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day.
1.5 In time we hate that which we often fear.
1.6 Time travels in divers paces with divers persons.
1.7 Thus the whirligig of time shall work perfection.
1.8 O, call back yesterday, bid time return.
1.9 There is a time for all things under the sun.
1.10 Better three hours too soon than a minute too late in time.
1.11 Time is the old justice that examines all such offenders.
1.12 Make use of time, let not advantage slip.
1.13 The time is ripe for revolution and great action.
1.14 Thou wast born to conquer time and fortune.
1.15 Good time of day unto thy gracious self.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The time is out of joint. What time of day is it? The whirligig of time brings in his revenges. Come what come may, time and the hour runs through the roughest day. In time we hate that which we often fear. Time travels in divers paces with divers persons. Thus the whirligig of time shall work perfection. O, call back yesterday, bid time return. There is a time for all things under the sun. Better three hours too soon than a minute too late in time. Time is the old justice that examines all such offenders. Make use of time, let not advantage slip. The time is ripe for revolution and great action. Thou wast born to conquer time and fortune. Good time of day unto thy gracious self.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The Noun TIME in Early Modern English
1. Phonological Note: The Great Vowel Shift in Progress
During Shakespeare’s lifetime (1564–1616), English long vowels were undergoing the Great Vowel Shift. The word time was transitioning from Middle English /tiːm/ toward modern /taɪm/. Elizabethan pronunciation likely fell somewhere around /təɪm/—a diphthong, but not yet the full modern sound.
Evidence for this transitional pronunciation comes from Shakespeare’s rhymes and puns. Words like life would have sounded closer to “lafe” (/læɪf/), and Rome rhymed perfectly with room.
2. Pronunciation of “-tion” Endings
A crucial feature distinguishing Early Modern from modern English: the suffix -tion was pronounced /sjɔn/ or /tiɔn/, not the modern /ʃən/. Thus: -
perfection = /pər.fɛk.sjɔn/ -
action = /ak.sjɔn/ -
revolution = /rɛ.vɔ.luː.sjɔn/
This pronunciation derived from the Latin and French origins of these words. The palatalization to modern /ʃ/ occurred gradually over the 17th and 18th centuries.
3. Second Person Singular Forms
Elizabethan English maintained the T-V distinction inherited from earlier English: -
Thou/thee/thy/thine — intimate, informal, or condescending singular -
You/your/yours — formal, respectful, or plural
The verb forms agreed: thou wast, thou art, thou hast versus you were, you are, you have.
4. The Use of DIVERS
The word divers (stressed on first syllable, /dəɪ.vərz/) meant “various, sundry, several.” It was distinct from diverse (stressed on second syllable, /dəɪ.vɛrs/), meaning “different in kind.” Modern English has collapsed these into a single word.
5. Verbal Concord Variation
Example 1.4 shows “time and the hour runs”—a compound subject with a singular verb. This was acceptable in Elizabethan English, particularly when the two nouns were seen as a unified concept. Modern standard English would require “run.”
6. Personification of TIME
Renaissance iconography depicted Time as a winged old man, often bald (suggesting lost opportunity), carrying a scythe (death) and hourglass (passing moments). Shakespeare’s “whirligig of time” personifies Time as a child’s spinning top—fickle, dizzying, yet eventually bringing full circle.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Time in Renaissance Thought
The Elizabethans inherited a rich tradition of temporal philosophy. From classical sources came tempus fugit (time flies) and carpe diem (seize the day). From medieval Christianity came eschatological time—history moving toward divine judgment. The Renaissance synthesized these into an acute awareness of mortality combined with humanistic urgency to achieve lasting fame.
Authentic Citation from Shakespeare:
“The time is out of joint: O cursed spite, That ever I was born to set it right!” — Hamlet, Act I, Scene 5
Hamlet’s famous lament captures the Renaissance sense that cosmic order depends on temporal propriety. When time is “out of joint” (dislocated, like a bone), the world itself is disordered.
Additional Citation:
“Come what come may, Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.” — Macbeth, Act I, Scene 3
Macbeth’s fatalistic observation acknowledges that time moves forward regardless of human anxiety. The rough day will pass; the hour will come. This stoic acceptance masks his willingness to commit murder, trusting time to resolve the aftermath.
Citation on Time’s Justice:
“Time is the old justice that examines all such offenders, and let Time try.” — As You Like It, Act IV, Scene 1
Rosalind invokes Time as an impartial judge who eventually reveals all truths. This consoling view of time as revealer (rather than merely destroyer) appears throughout Shakespeare’s comedies.
The Whirligig of Time:
“And thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges.” — Twelfth Night, Act V, Scene 1
Feste the Fool delivers this memorable line as Malvolio’s humiliation comes full circle. The whirligig—a child’s spinning top—suggests time’s dizzying reversals, where those who harm others eventually suffer similar fates.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
A character upon the stage, reflecting on the passage of time and mortality.
1.16a What is this time that steals upon us unaware?
1.16b What (hwat) what-INTERROGATIVE is (ɪz) is-VERB this (ðɪs) this-DEMONSTRATIVE time (təɪm) time-NOUN that (ðat) that-RELATIVE steals (stiːlz) steals-VERB upon (ʊ.pɔn) upon-PREPOSITION us (ʊs) us-PRONOUN unaware (ʊn.a.wɛːr) unaware-ADJECTIVE
1.17a Time was when I did think myself invincible.
1.17b Time (təɪm) time-NOUN was (waz) was-VERB when (hwɛn) when-CONJUNCTION I (əɪ) I-PRONOUN did (dɪd) did-AUXILIARY think (θɪŋk) think-VERB myself (məɪ.sɛlf) myself-PRONOUN invincible (ɪn.vɪn.sɪ.bl̩) invincible-ADJECTIVE
1.18a But time hath wrought strange alterations in my heart.
1.18b But (bʊt) but-CONJUNCTION time (təɪm) time-NOUN hath (haθ) hath-VERB wrought (rɔːt) wrought-PARTICIPLE strange (strændʒ) strange-ADJECTIVE alterations (ɔːl.tə.ræɪ.sjɔnz) alterations-NOUN in (ɪn) in-PREPOSITION my (məɪ) my-POSSESSIVE heart (hɛrt) heart-NOUN
1.19a Each tick of time doth mock my former ambitions.
1.19b Each (iːtʃ) each-DETERMINER tick (tɪk) tick-NOUN of (ɔv) of-PREPOSITION time (təɪm) time-NOUN doth (dʊθ) doth-AUXILIARY mock (mɔk) mock-VERB my (məɪ) my-POSSESSIVE former (fɔr.mər) former-ADJECTIVE ambitions (am.bɪ.sjɔnz) ambitions-NOUN
1.20a Where is the time I wasted in idle contemplation?
1.20b Where (hwɛːr) where-INTERROGATIVE is (ɪz) is-VERB the (ðə) the-ARTICLE time (təɪm) time-NOUN I (əɪ) I-PRONOUN wasted (wæɪ.stɪd) wasted-VERB in (ɪn) in-PREPOSITION idle (əɪ.dl̩) idle-ADJECTIVE contemplation (kɔn.tɛm.plæɪ.sjɔn) contemplation-NOUN
1.21a Gone, gone, like shadows at the striking of time’s clock.
1.21b Gone (gɔːn) gone-PARTICIPLE gone (gɔːn) gone-PARTICIPLE like (ləɪk) like-PREPOSITION shadows (ʃa.dɔːz) shadows-NOUN at (at) at-PREPOSITION the (ðə) the-ARTICLE striking (strəɪ.kɪŋ) striking-NOUN of (ɔv) of-PREPOSITION time’s (təɪmz) time’s-POSSESSIVE clock (klɔk) clock-NOUN
1.22a O that I could purchase one hour of time with gold!
1.22b O (oː) O-INTERJECTION that (ðat) that-CONJUNCTION I (əɪ) I-PRONOUN could (kuːd) could-MODAL purchase (pɛr.tʃəs) purchase-VERB one (wʊn) one-NUMBER hour (ʊur) hour-NOUN of (ɔv) of-PREPOSITION time (təɪm) time-NOUN with (wɪθ) with-PREPOSITION gold (goːld) gold-NOUN
1.23a But time is not for sale at any price or station.
1.23b But (bʊt) but-CONJUNCTION time (təɪm) time-NOUN is (ɪz) is-VERB not (nɔt) not-ADVERB for (fɔr) for-PREPOSITION sale (sæɪl) sale-NOUN at (at) at-PREPOSITION any (ɛ.nɪ) any-DETERMINER price (prəɪs) price-NOUN or (ɔr) or-CONJUNCTION station (stæɪ.sjɔn) station-NOUN
1.24a The beggar and the king keep time alike.
1.24b The (ðə) the-ARTICLE beggar (bɛ.gər) beggar-NOUN and (and) and-CONJUNCTION the (ðə) the-ARTICLE king (kɪŋ) king-NOUN keep (kiːp) keep-VERB time (təɪm) time-NOUN alike (a.ləɪk) alike-ADVERB
1.25a Time the great leveller makes all men equal at the last.
1.25b Time (təɪm) time-NOUN the (ðə) the-ARTICLE great (grɛːt) great-ADJECTIVE leveller (lɛ.və.lər) leveller-NOUN makes (mæɪks) makes-VERB all (ɔːl) all-DETERMINER men (mɛn) men-NOUN equal (iː.kwəl) equal-ADJECTIVE at (at) at-PREPOSITION the (ðə) the-ARTICLE last (last) last-NOUN
1.26a What boots it then to rage against time’s passage?
1.26b What (hwat) what-INTERROGATIVE boots (buːts) boots-VERB it (ɪt) it-PRONOUN then (ðɛn) then-ADVERB to (tuː) to-PARTICLE rage (rædʒ) rage-VERB against (a.gɛnst) against-PREPOSITION time’s (təɪmz) time’s-POSSESSIVE passage (pa.sɪdʒ) passage-NOUN
1.27a Nay, let us rather embrace time’s instruction.
1.27b Nay (næɪ) nay-ADVERB let (lɛt) let-VERB us (ʊs) us-PRONOUN rather (ra.ðər) rather-ADVERB embrace (ɛm.bræɪs) embrace-VERB time’s (təɪmz) time’s-POSSESSIVE instruction (ɪn.strʊk.sjɔn) instruction-NOUN
1.28a For time, though cruel, is also teacher and physician.
1.28b For (fɔr) for-CONJUNCTION time (təɪm) time-NOUN though (ðoː) though-CONJUNCTION cruel (kruː.əl) cruel-ADJECTIVE is (ɪz) is-VERB also (ɔːl.soː) also-ADVERB teacher (tiː.tʃər) teacher-NOUN and (and) and-CONJUNCTION physician (fɪ.zɪ.sjən) physician-NOUN
1.29a Time heals the wounds that passion hath inflicted.
1.29b Time (təɪm) time-NOUN heals (hiːlz) heals-VERB the (ðə) the-ARTICLE wounds (wuːndz) wounds-NOUN that (ðat) that-RELATIVE passion (pa.sjɔn) passion-NOUN hath (haθ) hath-VERB inflicted (ɪn.flɪk.tɪd) inflicted-PARTICIPLE
1.30a So shall I make my peace with time ere time unmakes me.
1.30b So (soː) so-ADVERB shall (ʃal) shall-MODAL I (əɪ) I-PRONOUN make (mæɪk) make-VERB my (məɪ) my-POSSESSIVE peace (piːs) peace-NOUN with (wɪθ) with-PREPOSITION time (təɪm) time-NOUN ere (ɛːr) ere-CONJUNCTION time (təɪm) time-NOUN unmakes (ʊn.mæɪks) unmakes-VERB me (miː) me-PRONOUN
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
This Elizabethan English course employs the Latinum Institute methodology, using frequency-based vocabulary instruction and interlinear construed text for autodidactic learners. Each lesson presents authentic Early Modern English with word-by-word grammatical glossing and period-appropriate IPA pronunciation.
Key Features: -
1000-word frequency curriculum -
Interlinear glossing makes all vocabulary immediately accessible -
Period-accurate pronunciation reflecting the Great Vowel Shift in progress -
Historical “-tion” pronunciation as /sjɔn/ -
Literary citations from Shakespeare and his contemporaries
Course Index:
https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
Trustpilot Reviews: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
Note on Pronunciation:
The IPA transcriptions in this lesson reflect reconstructed Early Modern English pronunciation based on: -
David Crystal’s research on Original Pronunciation (OP) -
Evidence from Shakespeare’s rhymes, puns, and metre -
The transitional state of the Great Vowel Shift (c. 1400–1700) -
Period spelling variants and orthoepist descriptions
Learners should note that “-tion” endings were pronounced /sjɔn/ (with a clear /s/ + /j/ sequence), not the modern /ʃən/. This distinction helps explain certain rhymes and puns in Elizabethan literature.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
End of Lesson 045
---