show'st = showest = to show EX: Please show me the way to the post office. grow'st = growest = to grow EX: The kitten grows bigger everyday. I'm not recalling which sonnet "th'account" appears, but, knowing Shakespeare, it would mean "the account". This would be because of "the" and "account" both starting with the "uh" sound. Instead of speaking a double-uh sound, it would be blended into one: th'account. Hope this helps because I love Shakespeare's work! Good luck. :)

Well, fairly obviously, an apostrophe indicates some letters have been omitted. :) So.. show'st = (you) show th'account = the account grow'st = (you) grow The -est ending was used for "you" verbs, but this form no longer exists in modern English. So what's with the apostrophes anyway? Fairly easy. show'st (1 syllable) vs. showest (2 syllables) th'account (2 syllables) vs the account (three syllables) grow'st (1 syllable) vs growest (2 syllables) So the word/phrase is made to fit the poetic rhythm.

Normally the apostrophes show the letter ‘e’ has been removed. (not always though) The words you quoted are shortened versions of ‘showest’ ‘the account’ and ‘growest’ Understandest thou the rest of the ways in which Shakespeare writeth?