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Glite Dictionary
Laurence Olivier

Laurence Olivier

6 6.1
An English actor and director famous for acting in Shakespeare plays
  • proper noun
  • /ˈlɔːrəns əˈlɪviər/
: Laurence Olivier
  • Laurence Olivier is widely regarded as one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of the 20th century.

Examples

  • The film adaptation of "Hamlet" directed by Laurence Olivier won multiple Academy Awards.

  • Many critics believe that Laurence Olivier's interpretation of Othello set a new standard for stage performance.

  • Many consider Laurence Olivier to be one of the greatest actors of all time.

  • Did you know Laurence Olivier won an Academy Award for his role in 'Hamlet'?

  • Laurence Olivier is widely regarded as one of the greatest Shakespearean actors of the 20th century.

  • Many critics believe that Laurence Olivier's interpretation of Othello set a new standard for stage performance.

  • The film adaptation of "Hamlet" directed by Laurence Olivier won multiple Academy Awards.

Synonyms

Olivier
vsLaurence Olivier
14 7.9

An English actor and director famous for his Shakespeare roles on stage and screen

is the identical person but expressed with the full personal name rather than surname

Surface Forms

Laurence Olivier main

Morphology

Laurence + Olivier

This is a proper name referring to a specific person; knowing the constituent names 'Laurence' and 'Olivier' does not let a B1 learner infer the biographical meaning (that he was an acclaimed English actor and director). Proper names are typically non-compositional and language-specific, so the meaning cannot be derived from the parts without prior exposure.

Etymology

Laurence Olivier comes from old words: Laurence from a word for 'laurel' and Olivier from the French word for 'olive tree'. Think of a laurel crown and an olive tree as signs of 'honor' and strength, and this image helps explain why Laurence Olivier is remembered as a great actor and director.