Character Etymology

Click on this link created by our very own Rosalind to hear some of the songs that she listens to to get into character before rehearsals and shows!

Rosalind

Germanic Origin: Hros meaning horselind meaning gentle, soft, tender
Latin: Rosa Linda meaning beautiful roseShortened: Ros, Roz
Rose (n) (adj):a flower, frequently contrasted with thornsresembling a rose in looks, scent, or otherwise(of a woman) a matchless person, a woman of great beauty, excellence and virtuehue of cheeks regarding to health or vitalityemblematic of beauty, purity, and implied transience (lasting for a short time); short lived beauty
Suf ix ine/ina/ino:often used as indicators of origin, as in “derived from,” imitation, or resemblance.used to connote feminine/masculine

Ganymede

Mythology: a Trojan prince in Greek mythology, son of Tros and Callirrhoe. Zeus transformed into an eagle and took Ganymede to Olympus to make him the immortal cupbearer of the gods. He became successor to Ganymeda (daughter of Zeus and Hera, goddess of youth, and cupbearer to the gods). Ganymede becameAquarius in the sky (water-bearer). In some versions of the myth, he was Zeus’s lover a beautiful Trojan shepherd boy seized by Jove (who took the form of an eagle) and was swept up to Olympus to be the cup-bearer to the gods. Hence he represents the festivities of Shrove Tuesday, and has homoerotic associations.
referred to by Homer as “the most beautiful of mortal men” (Illiad)
a boy or young man likened to the beautiful and youthful Ganymede; a boy or young man used as as a sexual partner for an older man; young male prositutute; beautiful or handsome young man; homoerotic symbol of 17th century; boy or young man employed to serve drinks
From Ovid’s Metamorphoses:“He [Ganymede] is immortal. Year by year, when spring//Drives winter flying and the Ram succeeds//The watery Fish,* he rises from the ear//And in the greensward brings his bloom to birth.”
*in reference to Pisces, the 12th sign of the Zodiac, marking the end of winter

Orlando

from Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso (Raging Roland, The Frenzy of Orlando) an epic poem illustrating Charlemagne’s Christian army during wartime, following the story of a knight Orlando, or Roland.
Italian form of the French Roland
Orlando’s father being Sir Rowland, spelled Roland in earlier versions of the First Folio reference to Chanson de Roland (The Song of Roland), an epic poem (1040-1115) chronicling Charlemagne’s army fighting the Muslims in Spain. Roland, the protagonist, dies a martyr’s death.
in possible reference to Orlando Innamorato (Orlando in Love) archaic definition of famous through the land; heroic

Oliver

also referenced in Chanson de Roland (The Song of Roland) as a principal knight, Roland’s wise and moderate follower into battle.
invokes the image of an olive tree, a reference to peace
something/someone that is an equal match for another thing (in respect to war and combat)

Celia

meaning heavenlyin possible reference to Spenser’s Shepheardes Calender (1579) character of Dame Cæliasaid to ‘as thought//From heaven to come, or thither to arise’
saintly mother of faith, hope, and charity, as a possible tribute to Protestant religion

Touchstone

named Clowne in early versions of the First Folio
Clown[e] (n)a jester of the court on retainer
fine grained black stone upon which objects made of gold and silver can be rubbed to determine theirpurity
figuratively, anything which serves to test the genuineness or value of something; a test, trial; a reference
point by which something is assessed or judgedwhen something is “brought to the touchstone” it’s tested for its genuineness

Duke Frederick

alternate spelling Frederickereferred to as both Duke and New Duke and “Frederick his brother [and] Usurper of Burgundy”

Duke Senior

also referred to as Old Duke or “Old Duke of Burgundy Banished by his Brother"

Adam

referred to as Adam the Spencer or even Adam Spencer
spencer (n):one who dispenses or has charge of the provisions in a household; a steward or butler
possible allusion to the Garden of Eden to represent the ancient and longstanding servitude of Adam tothe family
Adam:(from Eden) being a symbol of humanity and human nature, esp. a state of natural sin.first of its type (founder, prototype)with allusion to Adam’s nakedness in Edenas old as Adam meaning existing since the beginning of humanity, as in anciently old
Click here to read more about servants during Shakespeare's time

Dennis

(Historical Images of Saint Denis of Paris)anglicized name of the patron saint of France who allegedly was the first bishop of Paris.
Saint Denis of Paris:a martyr (death by beheading).Latin name Dionysius, in a possible reference to Dionysius the Areopagite (member of ancient courtAreopagus) who was a judge on the courtDionysius is also a common misspelling of Dionysus, Greek god of wine and revelry

Charles:

possible humorous poke at Charles the Great (Charlemagne) as an ironic contrast between Charles’s lackof power as a wrestling henchman character and Charles the Great’s power as a king

Le Beau

beau (adj) (n):fair, beautiful; used in affection or friendship, as in “fair sir” or “good sir”a man who gives particular or even excessive attention to dress and social etiquette; a fop, a dandythe attendant or suitor of a lady; a lover or sweetheart

Corin

also called Coridonalternate spelling of currant, as in a raisin/dried fruit, or the shrub that produces the fruit

Jacques

identified as a melancholy gentleman and is addressed as Monsieur alluding to possible gentleman statusin possible reference to jakes, an archaic Elizibethan name for a privy (toilet)

Silvius

means “of the woods”Latin silva meaning wood (as in forest)

Phoebe

feminine form of Phoebus (Apollo the sun god)
the name for the goddess of the moon (Artemis), associated with prophetic radiancethe moon personified
signifies both chastity and changeability

Audrey

possible allusion to Henry VIII’s daughter in Henry VIII (more commonly referred to as Ethelreda, butsometimes Audrey)

Sir Oliver Mar-Text

refer to Oliver above for associated meanings
mar-text (n):someone who perverts the meaning of wordsWilliamreference to Shakespeare’s first name

Hymen

used by Elizabethans as a synonym for marriagein Greek mythology:son of Dionysus and Aphrodite; god of marriage, personification of the wedding feast and leader of thenuptial chorus; often a symbol of androgynysupposed to appear at every wedding; often depicted a youthful man wearing a garland of flowers

Forresters

the lords are dressed as forresters, however, the forresters are, those who live in the Forest of Arden
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young boys serving a lord or knight

**Costume design by the amazing Amanda Liberatore

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