Shakespearian
2
8.6
- adjective
- /ʃeɪkˈspɪəriən/
- Literature
:
shakespeariano
- There's no way you can ever do a definitive Shakespearian role.
- Shakespearian actor
- Shakespearian drama
- Shakespearian classic
Examples
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The play 'Romeo and Juliet' is a classic example of a Shakespearian tragedy, illustrating themes of love and fate.
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I even had a renowned Bay Area Shakespearian actor come to the school to coach my students.
Academic text (2011) -
Outside, in darkness, a storm rose on Shakespearian wings.
Fiction book (1996) -
"You will never write again," he said, enunciating each word like a Shakespearian actor.
Fiction book (2000) -
And while this description sounds grandiose, there was somewhat of an almost Shakespearian quality to the moment too.
Blog text (34) -
At the 1st opening line, the cast breaks the fourth wall in the truest sense of Shakespearian theatre.
Blog text (25) -
The ensemble cast is self-directed, with only 5 off-book rehearsals bringing Shakespearian theatre conditions to life with undeniable passion for their work.
Blog text (25) -
He achieved an even wider public with his Shakespearian studies, which included an edition of the Sonnets and a celebrated identification of their "dark lady" as Emilia Lanier, daughter of an Italian court musician.
Academic text (1999) -
In a world where people can't seem to make the simplest of relationships work and the slightest emotional commitment is considered devastating, Mickey and Mallory have a do-or-die romance of Shakespearian magnitude.
Fiction book (1994) -
Many of the characters in 'Hamlet' reflect the complexities of Shakespearian heroes, grappling with moral dilemmas.
Synonyms
15
8.9
About William Shakespeare or his plays
Surface Forms
Morphology
Shakespearian = Shakespeare (transparent) = Shakespeare + ian
The adjective is directly formed from the proper name 'Shakespeare' with the productive adjectival suffix '-ian'; learners who recognise the name will readily infer the meaning.
Etymology
The word Shakespearian comes from the name Shakespeare, the famous writer, plus the ending -ian meaning 'related to'. A helpful way to remember it is to picture Shakespeare as shake + spear, an image of bold action and strong speech, so Shakespearian means 'like Shakespeare' in style, language, or themes.