Shakespeare added over 1,000 words to the English language

 

Shakespeare added over 1,000 words to the English language

Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare

Almost everyone in the world has heard of the great William Shakespeare, the famous English poet and playwright of the 16th century. From love sonnets to plays like “Romeo and Juliet” and “Hamlet,” Shakespeare has greatly influenced English literature.

But did you know that the English language itself wouldn’t be the same without Shakespeare?

Shakespeare invented over 1,000 words, which he incorporated into his writing. Today, native English speakers still use these words in everyday speech.

Just some of the fantastic words and phrases invented by this famous poet include:

Addiction — Being psychologically or physically dependent on something, usually a drug.

Bedazzled — Blinded by something incredibly wonderful.

Cold-blooded — Either an animal with cold blood (like a reptile) or a way to describe someone who’s cruel and indifferent to emotion.

Swagger — To walk in a way that shows you’re boasting or disrespectful.

Break the ice — To relieve the tension or silence in a conversation by talking.

To see some of the other interesting sayings and words Shakespeare invented, check out these articles from Mental Floss and The Intrepid Guide, as well as this great article from Open Culture.