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What does Shakespeare mean by the word forth?

In Shakespeare's time, the word "forth" had several meanings, including:

- Forward in time or space: "He then forth went, and on his way he went" (The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act 2, Scene 7).

- Out of or from a place: "Forth from his cave he came, with eyes of flame" (The Tempest, Act 1, Scene 2).

- Into view or existence: "Forth came a man, with cloak of black" (Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 2).

- In addition or further: "And forth, an ominous planet, reigns an hour" (King Lear, Act 1, Scene 2).

- Continuously or without stopping: "We'll make a bonfire of his bones, and thence forth burn our incense" (Henry VI, Part 2, Act 4, Scene 10).

- Openly or publicly: "Forthwith a band of ministers came forth" (Henry VIII, Act 5, Scene 1).

Shakespeare used "forth" in a variety of contexts to convey different shades of meaning. The specific meaning in each case depends on the context of the passage.

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