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The meaning and origin of the expression: Heart's content

Heart's content

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What's the meaning of the phrase 'Heart's content'?

To one's (or your) heart's content means to one's complete inner satisfaction - until one's heart is content.

What's the origin of the phrase 'Heart's content'?

This phrase is first put into print in Shakespeare's plays and there's every reason to believe that he coined it. He used it in at least two plays:

Henry VI, Part II, 1592 - Her grace in Speech, Makes me from Wondring, fall to Weeping ioyes, Such is the Fulnesse of my hearts content.

The Merchant of Venice, 1596 - I wish your Ladiship all hearts content.

The meaning and origin of the phrase 'Heart's content'It is also found in a letter Shakespeare sent to the Earl of Southampton, as the dedication of the poem Venus and Adonis:

Right Honourable, - I know not how I shall offend in dedicating my unpolished lines to your Lordship, nor how the world will censure me for choosing so strong a prop to support so weak a burthen: only, if your Honour seem but pleased, I account myself highly praised, and vow to take advantage of all idle hours, till I have honoured you with some graver labour. But, if the first heir of my invention prove deformed, I shall be sorry it had so noble a godfather, and never after ear so barren a land, for fear it yield me still so bad a harvest. I leave it to your honourable survey, and your Honour to your heart's content; which I wish may always answer your own wish, and the world's hopeful expectation,

Gary Martin - the author of the phrases.org.uk website.

By Gary Martin

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

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