Library / English Dictionary

FRANKENSTEIN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The fictional Swiss scientist who was the protagonist in a gothic novel by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley; he created a monster from parts of corpses

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Instance hypernyms:

character; fictional character; fictitious character (an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story))

Sense 2

Meaning:

The monster created by Frankenstein in a gothic novel by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley (the creator's name is commonly used to refer to his creation)

Synonyms:

Frankenstein; Frankenstein's monster

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Instance hypernyms:

character; fictional character; fictitious character (an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story))

Sense 3

Meaning:

An agency that escapes control and destroys its creator

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("Frankenstein" is a kind of...):

agency (the state of being in action or exerting power)

Credits

 Context examples: 

“My dear Frankenstein,” exclaimed he, “how glad I am to see you! How fortunate that you should be here at the very moment of my alighting!”

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Believe me, Frankenstein, I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity; but am I not alone, miserably alone?

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

If you had listened to the voice of conscience and heeded the stings of remorse before you had urged your diabolical vengeance to this extremity, Frankenstein would yet have lived.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

“My dear Frankenstein,” exclaimed Henry, when he perceived me weep with bitterness, “are you always to be unhappy? My dear friend, what has happened?”

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Frankenstein has daily declined in health; a feverish fire still glimmers in his eyes, but he is exhausted, and when suddenly roused to any exertion, he speedily sinks again into apparent lifelessness.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Oh, Frankenstein, be not equitable to every other and trample upon me alone, to whom thy justice, and even thy clemency and affection, is most due.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

I was at first touched by the expressions of his misery; yet, when I called to mind what Frankenstein had said of his powers of eloquence and persuasion, and when I again cast my eyes on the lifeless form of my friend, indignation was rekindled within me.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

So much has been done, exclaimed the soul of Frankenstein—more, far more, will I achieve; treading in the steps already marked, I will pioneer a new way, explore unknown powers, and unfold to the world the deepest mysteries of creation.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Oh, Frankenstein!

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

But, my dear Frankenstein, continued he, stopping short and gazing full in my face, I did not before remark how very ill you appear; so thin and pale; you look as if you had been watching for several nights.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)