In this lesson, we examine the verb take, one of the most versatile and frequently employed words in the Elizabethan tongue. From Shakespeare’s stage to the counting-houses of London, this verb served to express acts of grasping, receiving, conducting, accepting, seizing, requiring, and understanding. Where Modern English speakers might employ several distinct verbs, the Elizabethan writer wielded take with remarkable flexibility.
Course Index:
https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
FAQ: What does “take” mean in Elizabethan English?
The verb take in Elizabethan English encompasses the Modern English meanings of grasp, seize, receive, accept, capture, conduct, require, understand, consider, and endure. It appears in countless constructions: one may take a wife, take heed, take arms, take one’s leave, take physic, or take a jest. The past tense forms took and the archaic tooke both occur, with the past participle taken or ta’en (contracted in verse).
Educational Schema: This lesson forms part of a 1000-word frequency-based curriculum for autodidactic learners, employing the interlinear construed text methodology developed by the Latinum Institute. The construed text approach presents word-by-word glossing that allows immediate comprehension while building grammatical intuition.
Key Takeaways: -
Take functions as one of Elizabethan English’s most productive verbs -
Period pronunciation features the long /eː/ vowel not yet shifted to modern /eɪ/ -
The verb combines with prepositions to create numerous phrasal meanings -
Constructions like “take + direct object” and “take + abstract noun” yield distinct senses -
Understanding take unlocks hundreds of Shakespearean and period expressions
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Original Pronunciation (OP) Features Relevant to This Lesson:
The Topic Word: -
take — /teːk/ (rhymes approximately with modern “beck” but with lengthened vowel; the Great Vowel Shift had not yet completed, so the vowel was a long pure /eː/ rather than the modern diphthong /eɪ/)
Critical Sound Shifts: -
The -tion Suffix: Pronounced /sɪən/ (”see-un”) rather than modern /ʃən/ (”shun”). Thus nation = /ˈneːsɪən/, affection = /əˈfeksɪən/, perfection = /pərˈfeksɪən/. This often renders -tion words disyllabic where modern English treats them as monosyllabic endings. -
Rhoticity: All r’s pronounced. Father = /ˈfaðər/, world = /wʊrld/, more = /moːr/ -
The FACE Vowel: Still a long monophthong /eː/ for words like take, make, name. Not yet shifted to /eɪ/. -
The GOAT Vowel: Still closer to /oː/ for words like go, no, so. Not yet diphthongized to /əʊ/. -
The PRICE Vowel: Words like my, time, life had /əi/ or /ʌi/, not modern /aɪ/. Write “life” as /ləif/. -
Short Vowels: Love, blood, done had /ʊ/, thus love = /lʊv/, blood = /blʊd/. -
Thou/Thee: Singular informal address. Thou = subject /ðaʊ/, thee = object /ðiː/, thy/thine = possessive.
IPA Transcription Key for This Lesson: -
Long vowels: /eː, oː, iː, uː, aː/ -
Short vowels: /ɪ, ɛ, a, ɒ, ʊ, ə/ -
Diphthongs: /əi, aʊ, ɔi/ -
Consonants: /r/ always pronounced; /hw/ for “wh-” words
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47.1a Take heed, my lord, the enemy approaches. 47.1b Take /teːk/ heed /hiːd/ my /məi/ lord /lɔrd/ the /ðə/ enemy /ˈɛnəmi/ approaches /əˈproːtʃɪz/ take heed, my lord, the enemy approaches
47.2a The physician bade her take this potion at dawn. 47.2b The /ðə/ physician /fɪˈzɪsɪən/ bade /beːd/ her /hər/ take /teːk/ this /ðɪs/ potion /ˈpoːsɪən/ at /at/ dawn /dɔːn/ the physician bade her take this potion at dawn
47.3a I shall take my leave of thee anon. 47.3b I /əi/ shall /ʃal/ take /teːk/ my /məi/ leave /liːv/ of /ɒv/ thee /ðiː/ anon /əˈnɒn/ I shall take my leave of thee presently
47.4a Wilt thou take this woman to be thy wedded wife? 47.4b Wilt /wɪlt/ thou /ðaʊ/ take /teːk/ this /ðɪs/ woman /ˈwʊmən/ to /tʊ/ be /biː/ thy /ðəi/ wedded /ˈwɛdɪd/ wife /wəif/? wilt thou take this woman to be thy wedded wife?
47.5a He did take arms against his sovereign lord. 47.5b He /hiː/ did /dɪd/ take /teːk/ arms /armz/ against /əˈgɛnst/ his /hɪz/ sovereign /ˈsɒvrən/ lord /lɔrd/ he did take arms against his sovereign lord
47.6a Take not the name of thy God in vain. 47.6b Take /teːk/ not /nɒt/ the /ðə/ name /neːm/ of /ɒv/ thy /ðəi/ God /gɒd/ in /ɪn/ vain /veːn/ take not the name of thy God in vain
47.7a The messenger took the letter unto the Queen’s presence. 47.7b The /ðə/ messenger /ˈmɛsəndʒər/ took /tʊk/ the /ðə/ letter /ˈlɛtər/ unto /ˈʊntuː/ the /ðə/ Queen’s /kwiːnz/ presence /ˈprɛzəns/ the messenger took the letter unto the Queen’s presence
47.8a Prithee take this purse for thy pains. 47.8b Prithee /ˈprɪðiː/ take /teːk/ this /ðɪs/ purse /pʊrs/ for /fɔr/ thy /ðəi/ pains /peːnz/ please take this purse for thy troubles
47.9a The infection hath taken hold upon the city. 47.9b The /ðə/ infection /ɪnˈfɛksɪən/ hath /haθ/ taken /ˈteːkən/ hold /hoːld/ upon /əˈpɒn/ the /ðə/ city /ˈsɪti/ the infection hath taken hold upon the city
47.10a I take thee at thy word, thou honest fellow. 47.10b I /əi/ take /teːk/ thee /ðiː/ at /at/ thy /ðəi/ word /wʊrd/ thou /ðaʊ/ honest /ˈɒnɪst/ fellow /ˈfɛloː/ I take thee at thy word, thou honest fellow
47.11a She could not take his meaning aright. 47.11b She /ʃiː/ could /kʊd/ not /nɒt/ take /teːk/ his /hɪz/ meaning /ˈmiːnɪŋ/ aright /əˈrəit/ she could not take his meaning correctly
47.12a Take comfort, madam; thy son shall return. 47.12b Take /teːk/ comfort /ˈkʊmfərt/ madam /ˈmadəm/ thy /ðəi/ son /sʊn/ shall /ʃal/ return /rɪˈtʊrn/ take comfort, madam; thy son shall return
47.13a The soldiers took the castle by stratagem. 47.13b The /ðə/ soldiers /ˈsoːldʒərz/ took /tʊk/ the /ðə/ castle /ˈkastəl/ by /bəi/ stratagem /ˈstratədʒəm/ the soldiers took the castle by stratagem
47.14a How dost thou take this strange intelligence? 47.14b How /haʊ/ dost /dʊst/ thou /ðaʊ/ take /teːk/ this /ðɪs/ strange /streːndʒ/ intelligence /ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒəns/? how dost thou take this strange news?
47.15a The frost hath taken the blossoms from the trees. 47.15b The /ðə/ frost /frɒst/ hath /haθ/ taken /ˈteːkən/ the /ðə/ blossoms /ˈblɒsəmz/ from /frɒm/ the /ðə/ trees /triːz/ the frost hath taken the blossoms from the trees
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47.1 Take heed, my lord, the enemy approaches. “Be careful, my lord, the enemy is coming.”
47.2 The physician bade her take this potion at dawn. “The doctor ordered her to drink this medicine at sunrise.”
47.3 I shall take my leave of thee anon. “I shall say goodbye to you presently.”
47.4 Wilt thou take this woman to be thy wedded wife? “Will you accept this woman as your lawful wife?”
47.5 He did take arms against his sovereign lord. “He raised weapons against his king.”
47.6 Take not the name of thy God in vain. “Do not use God’s name frivolously.”
47.7 The messenger took the letter unto the Queen’s presence. “The messenger carried the letter to the Queen.”
47.8 Prithee take this purse for thy pains. “Please accept this money for your troubles.”
47.9 The infection hath taken hold upon the city. “The disease has spread throughout the city.”
47.10 I take thee at thy word, thou honest fellow. “I believe what you say, you trustworthy man.”
47.11 She could not take his meaning aright. “She could not understand him correctly.”
47.12 Take comfort, madam; thy son shall return. “Be consoled, madam; your son will come back.”
47.13 The soldiers took the castle by stratagem. “The soldiers captured the castle through cunning.”
47.14 How dost thou take this strange intelligence? “What is your reaction to this surprising news?”
47.15 The frost hath taken the blossoms from the trees. “The frost has killed the flowers on the trees.”
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47.1 Take heed, my lord, the enemy approaches.
47.2 The physician bade her take this potion at dawn.
47.3 I shall take my leave of thee anon.
47.4 Wilt thou take this woman to be thy wedded wife?
47.5 He did take arms against his sovereign lord.
47.6 Take not the name of thy God in vain.
47.7 The messenger took the letter unto the Queen’s presence.
47.8 Prithee take this purse for thy pains.
47.9 The infection hath taken hold upon the city.
47.10 I take thee at thy word, thou honest fellow.
47.11 She could not take his meaning aright.
47.12 Take comfort, madam; thy son shall return.
47.13 The soldiers took the castle by stratagem.
47.14 How dost thou take this strange intelligence?
47.15 The frost hath taken the blossoms from the trees.
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These are the grammar rules for TAKE in Elizabethan English:
Principal Parts:
The verb take is a strong verb, forming its past tense through vowel change rather than the addition of -ed:
Present: take /teːk/ Past: took /tʊk/ (also spelled “tooke”) Past Participle: taken /ˈteːkən/ or contracted ta’en /teːn/ (common in verse) Present Participle: taking /ˈteːkɪŋ/
Conjugation in Present Tense:
First person singular: I take /əi teːk/ Second person singular familiar: thou takest /ðaʊ ˈteːkɪst/ or thou tak’st /ðaʊ teːkst/ Third person singular: he, she, it taketh /ˈteːkəθ/ or takes /teːks/ First person plural: we take /wiː teːk/ Second person plural/formal: you take /juː teːk/ Third person plural: they take /ðeː teːk/
Note on -eth vs. -s: Both forms coexisted in Shakespeare’s time. The -eth ending (/əθ/) was slightly archaic and elevated; the -s ending was increasingly common in speech. Writers employed both for metrical purposes.
Conjugation in Past Tense:
First person singular: I took /əi tʊk/ Second person singular familiar: thou tookest /ðaʊ ˈtʊkɪst/ or thou took’st /ðaʊ tʊkst/ Third person singular: he, she, it took /tʊk/ First person plural: we took /wiː tʊk/ Second person plural/formal: you took /juː tʊk/ Third person plural: they took /ðeː tʊk/
Auxiliary Constructions:
With “do” (emphatic or interrogative): “I do take,” “Dost thou take?” “He did take” With “shall/will” (future): “I shall take,” “Thou wilt take” With “have/hath” (perfect): “I have taken,” “He hath taken,” “Thou hast taken” With “be” (passive): “It was taken,” “The city is taken”
The Contracted Form TA’EN:
In metrical verse, taken frequently contracts to ta’en /teːn/ to fit the line: -
“The castle is ta’en” (two syllables vs. three) -
“He hath ta’en his leave”
Common Constructions with TAKE:
TAKE + abstract noun (creates idiomatic expression): -
take heed = be careful, pay attention -
take leave = depart, say goodbye -
take arms = begin warfare -
take heart/comfort = be encouraged -
take pains = make effort -
take physic = consume medicine -
take exception = object
TAKE + direct object (literal grasping/receiving): -
take the letter -
take a wife -
take the castle
TAKE + prepositional phrase: -
take (something) for = consider as, mistake for -
take (someone) at (their word) = believe -
take upon (oneself) = assume responsibility
Common Mistakes for Modern Speakers:
Mistake: Using “took” with auxiliary “did” incorrectly. Correct pattern: “He did take” (not “He did took”)
Mistake: Forgetting the -est ending with “thou.” Correct: “Thou takest” or “Thou tak’st” (not “Thou take”)
Mistake: Pronouncing “take” with modern diphthong /eɪ/. Period pronunciation: /teːk/ with pure long vowel
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Social Register and Usage:
The verb take permeated all levels of Elizabethan society, from the alehouse to the court. Its flexibility made it indispensable in commerce (”take payment”), law (”take oath”), religion (”take communion”), war (”take prisoners”), and domestic life (”take a wife”).
Formal vs. Informal Address:
When addressing someone of lower status or intimate relation, Elizabethans used thou/thee/thy with the appropriate verb form: “Wilt thou take...” When addressing superiors, strangers, or multiple persons, they employed you/your: “Will you take...”
Interestingly, using “thou” to a social equal or superior could signal contempt or deliberate insult, as it implied the speaker considered the addressee beneath formal courtesy.
Regional Variations:
London pronunciation differed from northern and western dialects. The examples in this lesson reflect educated London speech of circa 1600. Provincial speakers might retain older vowel values or consonant clusters that London speakers had already simplified.
Idiomatic Expressions: -
Take it of me = believe me, trust my word -
Take the wall = walk on the inside (higher-status position) of the street -
Take up = borrow money; also, to resolve a quarrel -
Take on = to grieve demonstratively, to make a scene -
Take out = to copy, to transcribe -
Take to = to become fond of -
Take in = to deceive -
Mistake (mis-take) = to misunderstand, to err in judgment
Theatre and the Stage:
On Shakespeare’s stage, take frequently appears in stage directions: “He takes the letter,” “She takes him by the hand.” Actors understood these directions as cues for physical action integral to the drama’s meaning.
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From William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Act I, Scene 3 (1600-1601)
Polonius gives counsel to his son Laertes before the young man departs for France:
F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
Give /gɪv/ give every /ˈɛvri/ every man /man/ man thine /ðəin/ thine ear /iːr/ ear but /bʊt/ but few /fjuː/ few thy /ðəi/ thy voice /vɔis/ voice
Take /teːk/ take each /iːtʃ/ each man’s /manz/ man’s censure /ˈsɛnsjʊr/ judgment but /bʊt/ but reserve /rɪˈzərv/ reserve thy /ðəi/ thy judgment /ˈdʒʊdʒmənt/ judgment
Costly /ˈkɒstli/ costly thy /ðəi/ thy habit /ˈhabɪt/ clothing as /az/ as thy /ðəi/ thy purse /pʊrs/ purse can /kan/ can buy /bəi/ buy
But /bʊt/ but not /nɒt/ not expressed /ɪkˈsprɛst/ expressed in /ɪn/ in fancy /ˈfansi/ elaboration rich /rɪtʃ/ rich not /nɒt/ not gaudy /ˈgɔːdi/ gaudy
F-B: Authentic Text with Translation
“Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice; Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment. Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not expressed in fancy; rich, not gaudy.”
“Listen to everyone, but speak to few; Accept each man’s opinion, but withhold your own judgment. Let your clothing be as expensive as you can afford, But not extravagantly fashionable; quality, not flashiness.”
F-C: Authentic Text Only
Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice; Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment. Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not expressed in fancy; rich, not gaudy.
F-D: Grammar and Vocabulary Notes
In this passage, take means “receive” or “hear out” — Polonius advises Laertes to listen to criticism without immediately reacting. The construction “take each man’s censure” exemplifies the TAKE + abstract noun pattern, where censure means “opinion” or “judgment” (not exclusively negative criticism as in modern usage).
Note the period pronunciation of censure as /ˈsɛnsjʊr/ — the -sure ending retained its /sjʊr/ value rather than modern /ʒər/.
The passage demonstrates the elliptical style common in Shakespeare: “Give... thine ear, but few thy voice” omits the repetition of “give” before “few.”
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A scene in which a gentleman instructs his servant before departing on a journey
Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
47.16a Take this letter and bear it to Master Thornton. 47.16b Take /teːk/ take this /ðɪs/ this letter /ˈlɛtər/ letter and /and/ and bear /bɛːr/ bear it /ɪt/ it to /tʊ/ to Master /ˈmastər/ Master Thornton /ˈθɔːrntən/ Thornton
47.17a I take your instruction, sir, most willingly. 47.17b I /əi/ I take /teːk/ take your /jʊr/ your instruction /ɪnˈstrʊksɪən/ instruction sir /sər/ sir most /moːst/ most willingly /ˈwɪlɪŋli/ willingly
47.18a See that thou take the shorter way through the woods. 47.18b See /siː/ see that /ðat/ that thou /ðaʊ/ thou take /teːk/ take the /ðə/ the shorter /ˈʃɔːrtər/ shorter way /weː/ way through /θruː/ through the /ðə/ the woods /wʊdz/ woods
47.19a I shall take care to avoid the marshy ground. 47.19b I /əi/ I shall /ʃal/ shall take /teːk/ take care /kɛːr/ care to /tʊ/ to avoid /əˈvɔid/ avoid the /ðə/ the marshy /ˈmarʃi/ marshy ground /graʊnd/ ground
47.20a If brigands take thee, what wilt thou do? 47.20b If /ɪf/ if brigands /ˈbrɪgəndz/ brigands take /teːk/ take thee /ðiː/ thee what /hwat/ what wilt /wɪlt/ wilt thou /ðaʊ/ thou do /duː/ do
47.21a I would not take such villains lightly, sir. 47.21b I /əi/ I would /wʊd/ would not /nɒt/ not take /teːk/ take such /sʊtʃ/ such villains /ˈvɪlənz/ villains lightly /ˈləitli/ lightly sir /sər/ sir
47.22a Take heed then, and go well armed. 47.22b Take /teːk/ take heed /hiːd/ heed then /ðɛn/ then and /and/ and go /goː/ go well /wɛl/ well armed /armd/ armed
47.23a Shall I take the bay mare or the roan gelding? 47.23b Shall /ʃal/ shall I /əi/ I take /teːk/ take the /ðə/ the bay /beː/ bay mare /mɛːr/ mare or /ɔr/ or the /ðə/ the roan /roːn/ roan gelding /ˈgɛldɪŋ/ gelding
47.24a Take the gelding; the mare hath taken lame. 47.24b Take /teːk/ take the /ðə/ the gelding /ˈgɛldɪŋ/ gelding the /ðə/ the mare /mɛːr/ mare hath /haθ/ hath taken /ˈteːkən/ taken lame /leːm/ lame
47.25a I am sorry to hear it; she was a fair beast. 47.25b I /əi/ I am /am/ am sorry /ˈsɒri/ sorry to /tʊ/ to hear /hiːr/ hear it /ɪt/ it she /ʃiː/ she was /wɒz/ was a /ə/ a fair /fɛːr/ fair beast /biːst/ beast
47.26a The farrier took a stone from her hoof yesternight. 47.26b The /ðə/ the farrier /ˈfarɪər/ farrier took /tʊk/ took a /ə/ a stone /stoːn/ stone from /frɒm/ from her /hər/ her hoof /huːf/ hoof yesternight /ˈjɛstərˌnəit/ yesternight
47.27a Well, I must take my leave; the hour grows late. 47.27b Well /wɛl/ well I /əi/ I must /mʊst/ must take /teːk/ take my /məi/ my leave /liːv/ leave the /ðə/ the hour /aʊr/ hour grows /groːz/ grows late /leːt/ late
47.28a God speed thee, and take this coin for thine expenses. 47.28b God /gɒd/ God speed /spiːd/ speed thee /ðiː/ thee and /and/ and take /teːk/ take this /ðɪs/ this coin /kɔin/ coin for /fɔr/ for thine /ðəin/ thine expenses /ɪkˈspɛnsɪz/ expenses
47.29a I shall not take it, sir; you are too generous. 47.29b I /əi/ I shall /ʃal/ shall not /nɒt/ not take /teːk/ take it /ɪt/ it sir /sər/ sir you /juː/ you are /ar/ are too /tuː/ too generous /ˈdʒɛnərəs/ generous
47.30a Nay, take it; I shall take offence if thou refuse. 47.30b Nay /neː/ nay take /teːk/ take it /ɪt/ it I /əi/ I shall /ʃal/ shall take /teːk/ take offence /əˈfɛns/ offence if /ɪf/ if thou /ðaʊ/ thou refuse /rɪˈfjuːz/ refuse
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Part B: Natural Sentences
47.16 Take this letter and bear it to Master Thornton. “Accept this letter and carry it to Master Thornton.”
47.17 I take your instruction, sir, most willingly. “I accept your orders, sir, with pleasure.”
47.18 See that thou take the shorter way through the woods. “Make sure you use the shorter path through the forest.”
47.19 I shall take care to avoid the marshy ground. “I will be careful to stay away from the wetlands.”
47.20 If brigands take thee, what wilt thou do? “If robbers capture you, what will you do?”
47.21 I would not take such villains lightly, sir. “I would not underestimate such criminals, sir.”
47.22 Take heed then, and go well armed. “Be careful then, and carry weapons.”
47.23 Shall I take the bay mare or the roan gelding? “Should I ride the brown mare or the reddish-brown gelding?”
47.24 Take the gelding; the mare hath taken lame. “Use the gelding; the mare has become lame.”
47.25 I am sorry to hear it; she was a fair beast. “I am sorry to hear that; she was a fine animal.”
47.26 The farrier took a stone from her hoof yesternight. “The blacksmith removed a stone from her hoof last night.”
47.27 Well, I must take my leave; the hour grows late. “Well, I must go; it is getting late.”
47.28 God speed thee, and take this coin for thine expenses. “May God help you on your journey, and accept this money for your costs.”
47.29 I shall not take it, sir; you are too generous. “I cannot accept it, sir; you are too kind.”
47.30 Nay, take it; I shall take offence if thou refuse. “No, accept it; I will be insulted if you decline.”
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Part C: Elizabethan Text Only
47.16 Take this letter and bear it to Master Thornton.
47.17 I take your instruction, sir, most willingly.
47.18 See that thou take the shorter way through the woods.
47.19 I shall take care to avoid the marshy ground.
47.20 If brigands take thee, what wilt thou do?
47.21 I would not take such villains lightly, sir.
47.22 Take heed then, and go well armed.
47.23 Shall I take the bay mare or the roan gelding?
47.24 Take the gelding; the mare hath taken lame.
47.25 I am sorry to hear it; she was a fair beast.
47.26 The farrier took a stone from her hoof yesternight.
47.27 Well, I must take my leave; the hour grows late.
47.28 God speed thee, and take this coin for thine expenses.
47.29 I shall not take it, sir; you are too generous.
47.30 Nay, take it; I shall take offence if thou refuse.
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Part D: Grammar Notes for Genre Section
Social Register in Dialogue:
This dialogue demonstrates the nuanced pronoun usage between master and servant:
The master uses thou/thee/thy/thine when addressing his servant, reflecting the social hierarchy. The servant, however, addresses his master as you/your (formal) and sir (honorific).
In Example 47.30, both pronouns appear: “Nay, take it; I shall take offence if thou refuse.” The master continues using familiar address with his subordinate.
TAKE in Multiple Senses:
The dialogue showcases several distinct meanings of take: -
47.16: take (receive/accept a physical object) -
47.17: take your instruction (accept orders) -
47.19: take care (be careful) -
47.20: take thee (capture, seize) -
47.21: take lightly (regard without seriousness) -
47.22: take heed (pay attention, be wary) -
47.23: take the mare (use, select) -
47.24: taken lame (become, grow — a copular use) -
47.26: took a stone (removed) -
47.27: take my leave (depart) -
47.28: take this coin (accept) -
47.30: take offence (experience, feel)
Period Pronunciation Notes: -
instruction /ɪnˈstrʊksɪən/ — note the -tion as /sɪən/ -
offence /əˈfɛns/ — spelled with ‘c’ in period texts -
yesternight /ˈjɛstərˌnəit/ — “last night,” now archaic -
hath taken lame — auxiliary + past participle with adjective complement
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Key IPA Transcriptions for This Lesson:
Core Vocabulary: -
take /teːk/ -
took /tʊk/ -
taken /ˈteːkən/ -
ta’en /teːn/
-TION/-SION Words (Period Pronunciation): -
nation /ˈneːsɪən/ -
instruction /ɪnˈstrʊksɪən/ -
infection /ɪnˈfɛksɪən/ -
potion /ˈpoːsɪən/ -
affection /əˈfɛksɪən/ -
exception /ɪkˈsɛpsɪən/
Common Pronunciation Errors for Modern Speakers: -
Diphthongizing /eː/ to /eɪ/ in words like take, make, name -
Pronouncing -tion as /ʃən/ instead of period /sɪən/ -
Dropping r’s that Elizabethans pronounced -
Using /ʌ/ for words like love, blood instead of period /ʊ/ -
Forgetting the /h/ in heed, hath, have (though h-dropping existed, educated speech retained it) -
Pronouncing “wh-” words without the /hw/ onset: what = /hwat/, where = /hwɛːr/
Audio Reference Suggestions:
Recordings by David Crystal and Ben Crystal demonstrating Original Pronunciation are available through Shakespeare’s Globe and the British Library. These provide invaluable models for the sounds described in this lesson.
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This lesson forms part of the Elizabethan English Course developed according to the Latinum Institute methodology. The Latinum Institute, founded by Dr. Evan Millner, has been creating language learning materials since 2006, specializing in autodidactic approaches to classical and historical languages.
Course Index:
https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
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The Construed Text Method:
The interlinear glossing approach presented in this course derives from centuries of classical pedagogy. By providing word-by-word translation alongside the original text, learners can immediately comprehend meaning while simultaneously absorbing grammatical patterns. This method accelerates acquisition far beyond traditional translation exercises, as learners engage with authentic language structures from the first lesson.
Why Study Elizabethan English?
Understanding the language of Shakespeare, Marlowe, Spenser, and the King James Bible enriches appreciation of foundational English literature. The Original Pronunciation movement, pioneered by scholars like David Crystal, has demonstrated that hearing period English as it sounded transforms our understanding of puns, rhymes, and dramatic effects invisible to modern ears.
The -TION Pronunciation:
As this lesson emphasizes, the suffix -tion was pronounced /sɪən/ (”see-un”) in Elizabethan times, not modern /ʃən/ (”shun”). This single feature transforms the sound of countless English words: nation, question, perfection, condition. When speaking Elizabethan English, pronouncing these endings correctly immediately transports the speaker four centuries backward in time.
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✓ Lesson 47 Elizabethan English complete
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