Twelfth Night

American  

noun

1. the evening before Twelfth Day, formerly observed with various festivities.

2. the evening of Twelfth Day itself.

3. (italics) a comedy (1602) by Shakespeare.

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Twelfth Night British  

noun

1. 1. the evening of Jan 5, the eve of Twelfth Day, formerly observed with various festal celebrations

   2. the evening of Twelfth Day itself

   3. ( as modifier )

      Twelfth-Night customs

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Twelfth Night Cultural  

1. A comedy by William Shakespeare. The two central characters are a twin brother and sister; each thinks that the other has been lost at sea. The sister disguises herself as a boy and goes to serve the duke of the country, a bitter man disappointed in love. The brother reappears and marries the woman whom the duke has been pursuing, and his sister marries the duke. Twelfth Night begins with the line “If music be the food of love, play on.”

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Etymology

Origin of Twelfth Night

before 900; Middle English; Old English

Example Sentences

Now he's ticking that off the list, playing pompous servant Malvolio in Twelfth Night at the Shakespeare North Playhouse in Prescot, just outside Liverpool.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2024

The importance of musically serenading your true love has driven plotlines from Twelfth Night to The Trumpet of the Swan to Happy Feet.

From Science Daily • Oct. 11, 2023

Without its publication there would have been no copy of such plays as Macbeth, Twelfth Night, Julius Caesar and The Tempest.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2022

And in New Orleans, where Catholicism is still the predominant religion, Twelfth Night, celebrated here on Jan. 6, holds deep significance.

From New York Times • Jan. 4, 2022

We're watching Twelfth Night in first period, because every English teacher is a comedian.

From "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli