Shakespearean Words That Have Changed Meaning Over Time 

Sam Hindman 

Cunning - Clever, intellectually sharp. It did not have the connotation of deceit or evasion it has today.

Brave - Handsome, impressive, finely dressed. It was not associated with courage.

Honest - Chaste, sexually pure. It did not mean truthful as it does today.

Fond - Foolish, naive, misguided - not today's meaning of affectionate

Nice - Foolish, ignorant, lacking judgment. This is one of the most changed words over time, meaning nearly the opposite of what it means today.  

Silly - Innocent, helpless, deserving of sympathy - not foolish or goofy as it means today

Tax - To accuse or blame - not associated with money

Jealous - Suspicious, mistrustful - not envious as it means today

Merely - A word that means the opposite today of what it meant to Shakespeare. Merely meant completely, utterly, adding emphasis - rather than minimizing the importance of something - making things sound trivial or unimportant 

Two words that still retain their Shakespearean meaning today, when used specifically:

Want - to lack or not desire (the opposite of what it generally means today - - - but still used in expressions like, "He wants for nothing."

Conceit - Usually suggests arrogance, but can still mean an idea, concept, or imaginative thought - as it did for Shakespeare.