What does "shakespearean" mean?
A scholar of the works of Shakespeare.
Shakespearean
/ʃeɪkˈspɪɹi.ən/ adj, name, noun
adj, name, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A scholar of the works of Shakespeare.
- Grammar: shakespearean is listed as adj, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: archaic, bardic, dramatic, dramatic form.
- Useful contrasts: contemporary, contemporary prose, modern.
- Usage evidence: I have read three Shakespearean works up to now.
How to use "shakespearean"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "shakespearean" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "shakespearean" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "shakespearean" is acting as adj, name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A scholar of the works of Shakespeare.
"Another lawyer and well-known Shakespearian, Richard Grant White, says: "No dramatist of the time, not even [Francis] Beaumont, who was the younger son of a judge of the Common Pleas, and who after studying in the Inns of Court abandoned law for the drama, used legal phrases with Shakespeare's readiness and exactness.[…]""
- 2 a Shakespearean scholar wordnet
- 3 A person trained to act in Shakespeare's plays.
Adjective
- 1 Of or pertaining to, characteristic of, associated with, or suggestive of William Shakespeare (an English playwright), his works, or his authorship, or the time in which he lived.
"[…]there were those who had them set far over back—wide-awake men, who wanted a clear prospect; while careless men, who did not know, or care, how their hats sat, had them shaking about in all directions. The various hats, in fact, were quite a Shakespearean study."
- 2 Derivative of Shakespeare's works or authorship.
- 3 Composed of Shakespearean sonnets.
Adjective
- 1 of or relating to William Shakespeare or his works wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 Shakespearean English.
"I have had no one to talk to for ages. There’s Ma, who only talks in Shakespearean. And it took me ages to learn that and I still don’t understand the whole thing."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"I have read three Shakespearean works up to now."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "shakespearean"?
Common synonyms include: archaic, bardic, dramatic, dramatic form, early modern, elizabethan.
How do you use "shakespearean" in a sentence?
I have read three Shakespearean works up to now.
How do you pronounce "shakespearean"?
Pronounced /ʃeɪkˈspɪɹi.ən/.
Etymology
From Shakespeare + -ean.