shakespearean
shakespearean Lexical Profile
• adjective
Relating to, written by, or characteristic of the English playwright and poet William Shakespeare, his works, or the historical period in which he lived.
"The university theater department is staging a modern adaptation of a classic Shakespearean tragedy this autumn."
Resembling the themes, grand dramatic intensity, complex psychological conflict, or poetic language found in the works of William Shakespeare.
"The corporate succession battle unfolded with all the betrayal and high drama of a Shakespearean plot."
• noun
A scholar, specialist, or theatrical actor who focuses on the life and works of William Shakespeare.
"As a trained Shakespearean, the actor brought remarkable clarity and rhythm to the complex blank verse."
• Rhymes for shakespearean
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed from the surname of the English poet and playwright William Shakespeare (1564–1616) combined with the suffix -an. The variant spelling Shakespearian is also attested in British usage.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.