Question

understanding macbeth act 1, scene 2
malcolm. this is the sergeant
who, like a good and hardy soldier fought
gainst my captivity.
--the tragedy of macbeth,
william shakespeare
read the passage. what is the full spelling of the contraction \gainst\?
○ gained
○ again
○ regained
○ against

Explanation:

In Early Modern English (the language of Shakespeare), "'Gainst" is a common contracted form of the word "against". The context of "fought 'Gainst my captivity" also aligns with the meaning of "against", as it refers to fighting in opposition to captivity. The other options do not match the semantic or linguistic context of the contraction.

Answer:

against