What words did Shakespeare invent?

What words did Shakespeare invent?

Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon and lived until 1616. He is credited with writing 38 plays and at least 150 poems, many of which are well known such as Romeo and Juliette and others less so.

Shakespeare profligacy during his lifetime was truly astonishing but not just his plays and their themes but his use of language and invention of specific words has had a lasting impact on the English speaking world.

A list of words in common use is includes:

Alligator: (n) a large, carnivorous reptile closely related to the crocodile

     Romeo and Juliet, Act 5 Scene 1

Accused: (n) the person who is on trial in a law court

Richard II, Act 1 Scene 1

Bedroom: (n) a room for sleeping; furnished with a bed

     A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 2 Scene 2

Cold-blooded: (adj) behaving in a very cruel way with no sympathy for other people

King John, Act 3 Scene 1

Critic: (n) one who judges merit or expresses a reasoned opinion

     Love’s Labour’s Lost, Act 3 Scene 1

Downstairs: (adv) on a lower floor; down the steps

     Henry IV Part 1, Act 2 Scene 4

Eyeball: (n) the round part of the eye; organ for vision

     Henry VI Part 1, Act 4 Scene 7

Fashionable: (adj) stylish; characteristic of a particular period

     Troilus and Cressida, Act 3 Scene 3

Gossip: (v) to talk casually, usually about others

     The Comedy of Errors, Act 5 Scene 1

Grovel: (v) to behave with too much respect towards someone to show you are eager to please them

Henry VI Part 2, Act 1 Scene 2

Hobnob: (v) to spend time being friendly with someone who is important or famous

Twelfth Night, Act 3 scene 4

Hurry: (v) to act or move quickly

     The Comedy of Errors, Act 5 Scene 1

Inaudible: (adj) not heard; unable to be heard

     All’s Well That Ends Well, Act 5 Scene 3

Jaded: (adj) worn out; bored or past feeling

     Henry VI Part 2, Act 4 Scene 1

Kissing: (ppl adj) touching with the lips; exchanging kisses

     Love’s Labour’s Lost, Act 5 Scene 2

Lonely: (adj) feeling sad due to lack of companionship

     Coriolanus, Act 4 Scene 1

Manager: (n) one who controls or administers; person in charge

     Love’s Labour’s Lost, Act 1 Scene 2

Madcap: (adj) used to describe silly or funny behaviour or a plan that is very silly and funny and unlikely to succeed.

Loves Labour Lost, Act 2 Scene 1

Nervy: (adj) sinewy or strong; bold; easily agitated

     Coriolanus, Act 2 Scene 1

Obscene: (adj) repulsive or disgusting; offensive to one’s morality

     Love’s Labour’s Lost, Act 1 Scene 1

Puking: (v) vomiting (slang)

As You Like It, Act 2 Scene 7

Puppy dog: (n) a young, domestic dog

     King John, Act 2 Scene 1

Questioning: (n) the act of inquiring or interrogating

     As You Like It, Act 5 Scene 4

Rant: (v) to speak at length in inflated or extravagant language

     Hamlet, Act 5 Scene 1

Skim milk: (n) milk with its cream removed

     Henry IV Part 1, Act 2 Scene 3

Swagger: (v) to walk or behave in a way that shows that you are very confident and think you are important

A Midsummer Nights Dream, Act 3 Scene 1

Traditional: (adj) conventional; long-established, bound by tradition

     Richard III, Act 3 Scene 1

Undress: (v) to remove clothes or other covering

     The Taming of the Shrew, Introduction Scene 2

Varied: (adj) incorporating different types or kinds; diverse

     Titus Andronicus, Act 3 Scene 1

Worthless: (adj) having no value or merit; contemptible

     The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act 4 Scene 2

Xantippe: (n) shrewish wife of Socrates; figuratively, a bad-tempered woman

     The Taming of the Shrew, Act 1 Scene 2

Yelping: (adj) uttering sharp, high-pitched cries

     Henry VI Part 1, Act 4 Scene 2

Zany: (n) clown’s assistant; performer who mimics another’s antics

     Love’s Labour’s Lost, Act 5 Scene 2

SOURCES

Grammarly: ‘Words invented by Shakespeare‘

Cambridge University Press: ‘Cambridge Dictionary‘