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

He continued to perform in shows and notably in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night at Shakespeare's Globe theatre in London when he was 16.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2025

"The title, Eat the Music, is meant to be a playful nod to 'If music be the food of love, play on,' from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night," Bush explained in a statement.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 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

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

At the outer reaches of the desk, various photographs: the cast of Twelfth Night on the college lawn, himself as Malvolio, cross-gartered.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan