Alexander Schmidt, Shakespeare Lexicon and Quotation Dictionary

Note, subst. 1) a mark, a sign by which something may be perceived or known: the greatest n. of it (his being in love) “is his melancholy,” Ado III, 2, 54. “nine changes of the watery star hath been the shepherd's n.” Wint. I, 2, 2 (by which he measured time). “a n. infallible of breaking honesty,” Wint. I, 2, 2 “the changes I perceived in the king and Camillo were very --s of admiration,” V, 2, 12. “upon his royal face there is no n. how dread an army hath enrounded him,” H5 IV Chor. H5 IV Chor. “lest they should spy my windpipe's dangerous --s,” Tim. I, 2, 52 (where best to cut it). “some natural --s about her body,” Cymb. II, 2, 28. “averring --s of chamber-hanging, pictures,” V, 5, 203.
2) a musical character marking a sound: “one clef, two --s have I,” Shr. III, 1, 77. “would sound me from my lowest n. to the top of my compass,” Hml. III, 2, 383.
Hence == tune, melody: “she begins a wailing n.” Ven. 835. “relish your nimble --s to pleasing ears,” Lucr. 1126. “who . . . one pleasing n. do sing,” Sonn. 8, 12. “give me a n.: your ladyship can set,” Gent. I, 2, 81. “the nightingale's complaining --s,” V, 4, 5. “that is the very n. of it,” Wiv. I, 1, 172. Err. III, 2, 45. Ado II, 3, 56. Ado II, 3, 56 Ado II, 3, 56 LLL III, 14. V, 2, 929. V, 2, 929 Mids. III, 1, 130. Mids. III, 1, 130 Mids. III, 1, 130 V, 405. As II, 5, 3. As II, 5, 3 V, 3, 36. Shr. V, 2, 1. H5 IV, 2, 35. H6B III, 2, 40. H6C IV, 6, 14. H8 IV, 2, 78. Troil. IV, 5, 3. V, 3, 14. V, 10, 45. Tit. III, 1, 86. Rom. III, 5, 21. Cymb. IV, 2, 237. Cymb. IV, 2, 237
3) any paper or writing from which something may be gathered: “I come by n., to give and to receive,” Merch. III, 2, 141 (according to the direction of the scroll). “here is the n. of the fashion to testify,” Shr. IV, 3, 130. Shr. IV, 3, 130 “perusing o'er these --s,” John V, 2, 5. “this n. doth tell me of ten thousand French,” H5 IV, 8, 85. “I have a n. from the Volscian state, to find you out there,” Cor. IV, 3, 11. “what doth her beauty serve but as a n. where I may read who passed that passing fair?” Rom. I, 1, 241. “take thou this n.” Lr. V, 3, 27. “left these --s of what commands I should be subject to,” Cymb. I, 1, 171. == letter, billet: Meas. IV, 2, 106. Merch. III, 4, 51. R3 V, 3, 41 (Qq scroll). Hml. II, 1, 1. == reckoning, bill: “here's the n. how much your chain weighs,” Err. IV, 1, 27. “the smith's n. for shoeing,” H4B V, 1, 19. “here is a n. of certain dues,” Tim. II, 2, 16. == list, catalogue: “he hath an abstract for the remembrance of such places, and goes to them by his n.” Wiv. IV, 2, 64. “I have perused the n.” Shr. I, 2, 145. “answer to what I shall ask you out of a n.” All's IV, 3, 146. “that's out of my n.” Wint. IV, 3, 49. “the rest that are within the n. of expectation already are in the court,” Mcb. III, 3, 10 (== in the list of expected guests). “who has the n. of them?” Cymb. I, 5, 2. == prescription, receipt: “--s whose faculties . . .,” All's I, 3, 232.
4) stigma, brand, reproach: “my posterity, shamed with the n.” Lucr. 208. “would from my forehead wipe a perjured n.” LLL IV, 3, 125 (== a n. of perjury). “folly in fools bears not so strong a n. as foolery in the wise,” V, 2, 75. “the more to aggravate the n., with a foul traitor's name stuff I thy throat,” R2 I, 1, 43.
5) any distinction or eminence: you must not foil the precious n. of it (the crown) “with a base slave,” Cymb. II, 3, 127. of n. == distinguished, eminent: “make them men of n.” LLL III, 25. “offence of mighty n.” All's V, 3, 14. “some sir of n.” Tw. III, 4, 82. “a daughter of most rare n.” Wint. IV, 2, 48. “creatures of n. for mercy-lacking uses,” John IV, 1, 121. “one of greatest n.” Mcb. V, 7, 21. “a youth that means to be of n.” Ant. IV, 4, 27. “he is of n.” IV, 9, 32. “my report was once first with the best of n.” Cymb. III, 3, 58. “he brags as if he were of n.” V, 3, 94. With an adjective denoting the particular kind of distinction: “a nun, or sister sanctified, of holiest n.” Compl. 233. “I did some service, of such n. indeed, that it would scarce be answered,” Tw. III, 3, 27. “there shall be done a deed of dreadful n.” Mcb. III, 2, 44. “he is one of the noblest n.” Cymb. I, 6, 22. “he was then of a crescent n.” I, 4, 2.
6) remark: “a good n.; that keeps you from the blow of the law,” Tw. III, 4, 168.
7) any thing by which something is kept in mind; record: “no n. upon my parents, his all noble,” All's I, 3, 163. to take n. (German sich merken) == a) to mind, to remember: “take n. of it,” Meas. V, 80. “for which the heavens, taking angry n., have left me issueless,” Wint. V, 1, 173 (remembering, recording it in anger). “take this n.” Lr. IV, 5, 29. “take n., take n., O world, to be direct and honest is not safe,” Oth. III, 3, 377. b) to imprint in the mind: “to take a n. of what I stand in need of,” Gent. II, 7, 84. “I have ta'en a due and wary n. upon't,” Meas. IV, 1, 38. “as I took n. of the place, it cannot be far,” Tim. V, 1, 1.
8) attention, observation: “some precepts worthy the n.” All's III, 5, 104. “O give us n.” H8 I, 1, 63 (M. Edd. he gives us n.). “which, without n., here's many else have done,” Cor. I, 9, 49 (without notice taken). “what hath proceeded worthy n.” Caes. I, 2, 181. “give him heedful n.” Hml. III, 2, 89. “three in Egypt cannot make better n.” Ant. III, 3, 26 (be better observers). “that they will waste their time upon our n.” Cymb. IV, 4, 20 (to mind, to take notice of us). to take n. == a) to pay regard, to respect: “my love hath in't a bond whereof the world takes n.” All's I, 3, 195. “high n. is taken of your many virtues,” H8 II, 3, 59. b) to observe: “take good n. what Caesar doth,” Caes. II, 4, 14. “I have taken a n. of it,” Hml. V, 1, 151. “take but good n.” Ant. I, 1, 11. c) to take notice, to care for, to heed: “now 'tis awake, takes n. of what is done,” Meas. II, 2, 94. “take no n. of him,” Ado III, 3, 29. “that they take no n. at all of our being absent,” Merch. V, 120. “to take n. how many pair of silk stockings thou hast,” H4B II, 2, 17. “take no n. of him,” Rom. I, 5, 73. “where never Roman shall take n. of him,” Caes. V, 3, 50. d) to perceive, to become aware: “taking n. of thy abhorred aspect,” John IV, 2, 224. “they have ta'en n. of us,” Cor. IV, 2, 10. “let the world take n., you are the most immediate to our throne,” Hml. I, 2, 108.
9) intelligence, information, knowledge: “she that from Naples can have no n.” Tp. II, 1, 248. “--s whose faculties inclusive were more than they were in n.” All's I, 3, 233 (== known). “my niece shall take n. of it,” Tw. III, 2, 38 (== be informed of it). “it shall come to n.” IV, 3, 29 (become known). “a gentleman of the greatest promise that ever came into my n.” Wint. I, 1, 40. “the king hath n. of all,” H5 II, 2, 6. give dreadful n. of preparation, IV Chor. H5 II, 2, 6 “whereof my sovereign would have n.” H8 I, 2, 48. “in self-assumption greater than in the n. of judgment,” Troil. II, 3, 134 (than true judges know him to be). “give him n. of our approach,” IV, 1, 43. “the king shall have n. of this,” Tit. II, 3, 85 (O. Edd. notice). “such ambiguous giving out to n. that you know aught of me,” Hml. I, 5, 179 (Qq out, to n.). “I do know you, and dare upon the warrant of my n. commend a dear thing to you,” Lr. III, 1, 18 (Qq art). “his picture I will send far and near, that all the kingdom may have due n. of him,” II, 1, 85. “these present wars shall find I love my country, even to the n. o' the king,” Cymb. IV, 3, 44 (so that the king shall hear of it).