Measure for Measure
Preserved but no longer current.
The plot of Shake- speare's play (acted 1604, first printed 1623) is founded on Whetstone's Promos and Cassandra (1582), which was taken from the 85th tale in Cinthio's Hecatommithi (1565). Promos is called by Shakespeare, "Lord Angelo"; and Cassandra is "Isabella." Her brother, called by Shakespeare "Claudio," is named Andrugjo in the story.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Measure for Measure” mean?
The plot of Shake- speare's play (acted 1604, first printed 1623) is founded on Whetstone's Promos and Cassandra (1582), which was taken from the 85th tale in Cinthio's Hecatommithi (1565). Promos is called by Shakespeare, "Lord Angelo"; and Cassandra is "Isabella." Her brother, called by Shakespeare "Claudio," is named Andrugjo in the story.
Is “Measure for Measure” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.