13 Words You Probably Didn't Know Were Invented By Shakespeare

1.Gloomy

Definition: Somewhat dark: not bright or sunny 

Origin: "To gloom" was a verb that existed before Shakespeare converted the word into an adjective in a number of his plays.

Quote: "Forced in the ruthless, vast, and gloomy woods?" - Titus Andronicus

2. Laughable

Definition: Bad in a way that seems foolish or silly.

Origin:Derived from the verb "laugh." 

Quote: "Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable." - The Merchent of Venice

3. Majestic

Definition: Large and impressively beautiful.

Origin: From "majesty," which appeared in the 1300s, meaning "greatness."

"Majestical" was first used in the 1570s.

Quote: "This is a most majestic vision" - The Tempest

4. Lonely

Definition: Sad from being apart from other people

Origin: "Alone" was first shortened to "lone" in the 1400s.

Quote: "Believe't not lightly – though I go alone

5. Radiance

Definition: A quality of brightness and happiness that can be seen on a person's face

Origin: Derived from the Latin "radiantem," meaning "beaming."

Quote: "For by the sacred radiance of the sun" - King Lear

6. Hurry

Definition: Move or act with haste; rush

Origin: Likely derived from the verb "harry"

Quote: "Lives, honors, lands, and all hurry to loss." - Henry VI Part 1

7. Generous

Definition: Freely giving or sharing money and other valuable things

Origin: From the Latin "generosus," meaning "of noble birth."

Quote: "Free me so far in your most generous thoughts / That I have shot mine arrow

o'er the house / And hurt my brother." - Hamlet

8. Frugal

Definition: Careful about spending money or using things when you do not need to

Origin: From the Latin "frugi," meaning "useful, proper, worthy, honest."

Quote: "Chid I for that at frugal Nature's frame?" - Much Ado About Nothing

9. Critical

Definition:Expressing criticism or disapproval

Origin: From the Latin "criticus," which referred specifically to a literary critic.

Quote: "For I am nothing if not critical" - Othello

10. Courtship

Definition: The activities that occur when people are developing a romantic relationship that could lead to marriage or the period of time when such activities occur

Origin: "Court" was first used to mean "woo" in the 1570s; prior, it was used to mean

"king's court, princely residence," derived from the French "cort."

Quote: "To courtship and such fair ostents of love" - The Merchant of Venice

11. Zany

Definition: Amusingly unconventional and idiosyncratic

Origin: Derived from the Italian "zani," which came from "Zanni," a version of the name "Giovanni."

Quote: "Some carry-tale, some please-man, some slight zany" - Love's Labour's Lost

12. Undress

Definition:To take your clothes off

Origin: "Dress" comes from the Old French "dresser," meaning "prepare, arrange, straighten, put right." Shakespeare was the first to add the prefix "un-."

Quote: "Madam, undress you and come now to bed." - The Taming of the Shrew

13. Rant

Definition: To talk loudly and in a way that shows anger: to complain in a way that is

unreasonable

Origin: Derived from the Dutch "randten," meaning "talk foolishly."

Quote:"I'll rant as well as thou." - Hamlet

[Definitions  from Merriam-Webster. Source information  from Online Etymology Dictionary.]