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"Canst" is the form of the verb "can" appropriate to the second person singular. The pronoun for this used to be "thou" and all the verbs that went with "thou" ended with "-st" or "-est". So if you were talking to one person it was "thou canst" but if you were talking to a crowd it was "you can". It was the same with all the other verbs: you had, thou hadst; you did, thou didst; you wave, thou wavest; you think, thou thinkst.
At some time before Shakespeare's day, the "you" forms started to be used when there was only one person, when they ought to have said "thou". By Shakespeare's day this was happening a lot, and soon after it happened most of the time, and by now it happens almost always.
But you can be sure that if you see a verb with "-st" on the end in Shakespeare, there's going to be a "thou" lurking about somewhere.
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∙ 11y ago
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What does Shakespeare's word mad-bread mean?
Sorry, Shakespeare did not use that word.
What does Shakespeare mean by the word townsfolk?
Shakespeare does not use the word townsfolk.
What does Shakespeare mean by the word forth?
In a forward direction.
What does shortened word oft mean in shakespeare?
Oft is not a shortened word. Often is a lengthened word. The original word is oft and the form often did not appear until about a century before Shakespeare's day. They are, of course, the same word and mean the same thing.
What does gi' mean in shakespeare plays?
William Shakespeare sometimes uses the word gi in his plays. This word has the same meaning as the word give.
What does Shakespeare's word mad-bread mean?
Sorry, Shakespeare did not use that word.
Canst hear the breakers roar. Does this mean - Can you not hear the breakers roar?
Yes, that interpretation is correct. "Canst" is an archaic form of "can" used to imply "cannot" in this context. So "Canst hear the breakers roar" would mean "Can you not hear the breakers roar?"
What does Shakespeare mean by the word townsfolk?
Shakespeare does not use the word townsfolk.
What does Shakespeare mean by the word forth?
In a forward direction.
What does Shakespeare mean by the word the?
Shakespeare wrote in English. "The" means exactly the same when he used it as it does when you use it.
What does shortened word oft mean in shakespeare?
Oft is not a shortened word. Often is a lengthened word. The original word is oft and the form often did not appear until about a century before Shakespeare's day. They are, of course, the same word and mean the same thing.
What does gi' mean in shakespeare plays?
William Shakespeare sometimes uses the word gi in his plays. This word has the same meaning as the word give.
What does canst mean in modern English?
A second person singular present tense of can
What does Shakespeare mean by the word waxen?
Waxen means made of wax. Its meaning has not changed since Shakespeare used it.
Who quotes This above all to own self be true and it must follow as the night the day thou canst not then be false to any man from Hamlet?
William Shakespeare
What does meration mean in the play of romeo and julliet?
There is no word "meration" in Shakespeare.
What does shakespeare mean by the word fie?
Used to express distaste or disapproval.
