Library / English Dictionary

SHAKESPEARE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

English poet and dramatist considered one of the greatest English writers (1564-1616)

Synonyms:

Bard of Avon; Shakespeare; Shakspere; William Shakespeare; William Shakspere

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Instance hypernyms:

dramatist; playwright (someone who writes plays)

poet (a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry))

Derivation:

Shakespearean; Shakespearian (of or relating to William Shakespeare or his works)

Credits

 Context examples: 

And from Shakespeare she gained a great store of information—amongst the rest, that—

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

You have both warm hearts and benevolent feelings; and, Fanny, who that heard him read, and saw you listen to Shakespeare the other night, will think you unfitted as companions?

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

I began another, “Shakespeare has observed, my dear Agnes, how strange it is that a man should put an enemy into his mouth”—that reminded me of Markham, and it got no farther.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Why, Jo, your stories are works of Shakespeare compared to half the rubbish that is published every day.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

The captain was a fishy-eyed Norwegian who somehow had fallen into possession of a complete Shakespeare, which he never read, and Martin had washed his clothes for him and in return been permitted access to the precious volumes.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Up to now I never quite knew what Shakespeare meant when he made Hamlet say:—for now, feeling as though my own brain were unhinged or as if the shock had come which must end in its undoing, I turn to my diary for repose.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

It will be a favourite, I believe, from this hour, replied Crawford; but I do not think I have had a volume of Shakespeare in my hand before since I was fifteen.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

I talked to her on the subjects which occupied my thoughts; and I read Shakespeare to her—and fatigued her to the last degree.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

"I don't see how you can write and act such splendid things, Jo. You're a regular Shakespeare!" exclaimed Beth, who firmly believed that her sisters were gifted with wonderful genius in all things.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

And sure enough there was a book on the table which had the air of being very recently closed: a volume of Shakespeare.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)