Shakespearean

Or Shake·spear·i·an

[sheyk-speer-ee-uhn]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or suggestive of Shakespeare or his works.

noun

1. a Shakespearean scholar; a specialist in the study of the works of Shakespeare.

Shakespearean

/ ʃeɪkˈspɪərɪən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Shakespeare or his works

noun

1. a student of or specialist in Shakespeare's works

Other Word Forms

• Shakespeareanism noun
• Shakespearianism noun
• half-Shakespearean adjective
• non-Shakespearean adjective
• non-Shakespearian adjective
• post-Shakespearean adjective
• post-Shakespearian adjective
• pre-Shakespearean adjective
• pre-Shakespearian adjective
• pseudo-Shakespearean adjective
• pseudo-Shakespearian adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Shakespearean¹

First recorded in 1810–20; Shakespeare + -an

Example Sentences

He was also known for his numerous Shakespearean roles on stage and was a member of Sir Laurence Olivier's National Theatre Company at the Old Vic.

From BBC

Half the fun was working out which act of the Shakespearean drama was being enacted in front of you.

From BBC

"It goes in line with this sort of academic elitism that for something to be serious, it has to be a Shakespearean tragedy," she says.

From BBC

He consumed everything from “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill to Shakespearean sonnets.

From Los Angeles Times

The text becomes a straitjacket for a princely son who doesn’t seem accustomed to Shakespearean rigors.

From Los Angeles Times