Believe it or not, the English playwright William Shakespeare added over 1,700 words to the English language. While his audiences are unlikely to have known what many of these words meant, the popularity of his work meant that huge numbers of people took these words and used them anyway \u2013 relying on context to work out the meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the words Shakespeare created are downright amazing. However, if you want to find them all, you\u2019d need to work your way through at least 38 plays and around 150 poems \u2013 so it\u2019s understandable if you don\u2019t have time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For those who enjoy weird and wonderful words but don\u2019t have years to invest in reading Shakespeare\u2019s collected works, here\u2019s a taste of the best ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shakespeare didn\u2019t just create new words, he also took existing words and turned them into descriptive and meaningful new phases. Many of these phrases have become such familiar parts of our modern language that we forget they were actually created as lines in some of the world\u2019s most famous plays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take a look at the original Shakespeare phrase and what each of them means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t slept one wink\u201d:<\/strong> I have not slept at all<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBreak the ice\u201d:<\/strong> To reduce any awkward social tension and get a conversation moving<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cToo much of a good thing\u201d:<\/strong> Even enjoyable things can be bad for you in excess<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCruel to be kind\u201d:<\/strong> Giving someone harsh honest advice for their benefit <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe clothes make the man\u201d:<\/strong> People can be judged based on how they are dressed or presented<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn my heart of hearts\u201d:<\/strong> You most true, inner feelings<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy own flesh and blood\u201d:<\/strong> Part of your family \u2013 often a child<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll that glitters isn\u2019t gold\u201d:<\/strong> Things might not be as appealing as they look<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFit for the Gods\u201d:<\/strong> Something of such high-quality it could be served to the Gods<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWild-goose chase\u201d:<\/strong> A pursuit of something that requires effort but doesn\u2019t bring any result<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWear my heart on my sleeve\u201d:<\/strong> To be honest about true feelings<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s done is done\u201d:<\/strong> Something that has happened in the past cannot be changed<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shakespeare is thought to have created 1,700 new words that were absorbed into the English language. While some of the words he created have stayed in the 16th<\/sup> and 17th<\/sup> Century \u2013 whereas others have become terms that many of us use everyday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Accommodation:<\/strong> A place where people can stay<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI used AirBnB to book some fantastic holiday accommodation!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Bump:<\/strong> A light blow or knock <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI bumped my head when I fell off my bike.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Critical:<\/strong> Expressing an adverse comment or judgement<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe performance review gave him chance to ask for some critical feedback on his plans.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dishearten:<\/strong> To cause someone to lose confidence or determination<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTom appeared disheartened by the call from his parents.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dislocate:<\/strong> To move something from its proper position<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe doctor confirmed the gymnast\u2019s worst fears, his shoulder was dislocated.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Eventful:<\/strong> Made up of interesting or exciting events<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLucy\u2019s party was made more eventful when the police knocked on the door!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Frugal:<\/strong> Being careful with money or resources<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAfter losing her job, Samantha decided she should be more frugal with money.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Generous:<\/strong> Being ready to give more than is expected or necessary<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was a generous donation \u2013 almost five times what anyone else had given to the charity.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Gloomy:<\/strong> Dark or poorly lit \u2013 as to appear depressing or frightening<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe went down the stairs into the gloomy basement.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Impartial:<\/strong> Treating everyone equally \u2013 showing no preference to one party or another<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe referee had to do his best to remain impartial.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lapse:<\/strong> A fleeting moment where concentration, memory or judgement fails<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe driver had a momentary lapse of concentration at a crucial moment.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Laughable:<\/strong> So absurd that the thing becomes funny<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe presentation was so inaccurate it was laughable.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lonely:<\/strong> feeling down or sad due to a lack of company, friends or companionship<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHarry was feeling very lonely since he lost his dog.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Majestic:<\/strong> Having or showing impressive scale or beauty<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was a majestic theatre, beautifully decorated and capable of seating 2,000 people\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Premeditated:<\/strong> Pre-planned or thought-out beforehand<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHis messages show that this was clearly a premeditated crime..\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sanctimonious:<\/strong> Showing off about being morally superior to others<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe was acting in a sanctimonious way \u2013 but his wife knew the truth.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Submerge:<\/strong> To place something under water<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe decided the best way to wash the cup was to fully submerge it in the water.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Suspicious:<\/strong> Having a level of distrust towards someone or something<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was suspicious about the car \u2013 it looked like it had been in a recent accident.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Believe it or not, the English playwright William Shakespeare added over 1,700 words to the English language. While his audiences are unlikely to have known what many of these words meant, the popularity of his work meant that huge numbers of people took these words and used them anyway \u2013 relying on context to work… <\/p>\nWords created by William Shakespeare<\/h2>\n\n\n\n