RE: Positively Shakesperean
I’m not a Shakespear expert, and I only casually read some of his works, but did he ever use what amounted to a swear word in his time in any of his works at all?
That depends on what you mean by “swear word.” Expressions like “Zounds” and “Egad” were considered oaths in their day, while the familiar four-letter expletives we hear so often today were much rarer in formal usage. I know Shakespeare used “ass” a few times and was well known for his ribald innuendoes and double entendres. But I don’t believe he ever used the words “sh_t” or “f_ck” in his entire catalog of works.