Jacobean

American  

[jak-uh-bee-uhn] / ˌdʒæk əˈbi ən /

adjective

1. of or relating to James I of England or to his period.

2. noting or pertaining to the style of architecture and furnishings prevailing in England in the first half of the 17th century, continuing the Elizabethan style with a gradual introduction of Italian models in architecture and increased elaboration of forms and motifs in furnishings.

3. of or relating to the style of literature and drama produced during the early 17th century.

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noun

1. a writer, statesman, or other personage of the Jacobean period.

Jacobean British  

/ ˌdʒækəˈbɪən /

adjective

1. history characteristic of or relating to James I of England or to the period of his rule (1603–25)

2. of or relating to the style of furniture current at this time, characterized by the use of dark brown carved oak

3. denoting, relating to, or having the style of architecture used in England during this period, characterized by a combination of late Gothic and Palladian motifs

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noun

1. any writer or other person who lived in the reign of James I

Other Word Forms

• anti-Jacobean adjective
• pro-Jacobean adjective
• quasi-Jacobean adjective

Etymology

Origin of Jacobean

First recorded in 1750–60; from New Latin Jacobae(us) “of Jacobus ” (Latinized form of James ) + -an

Example Sentences

“Can I sell you a Jacobean four-poster bed? Or do the tax inspectors keep getting younger?”

From Literature

I spent all my time in the library, reading the Jacobean dramatists.

From Literature

The book fair accelerated the growth of an international trade in books, what the Jacobean poet Samuel Daniel called ‘the intertraffique of the mind.’

From Literature

This play was not even a solo effort for Shakespeare, who shares the credit with John Fletcher, like a Jacobean version of James Patterson sharing authorship with lesser-known collaborators for his thrillers.

From New York Times

A Jacobean mansion and a concert venue in a Baroque church are among 26 sites across London to be added to Historic England's at-risk register.

From BBC