6 ms·

he may have lifted his plots, but Shakespeare created 1700+ of modern english words [0] Shakespeare can definitely be considered "original". [0] https://en.wi

he may have lifted his plots, but Shakespeare created 1700+ of modern english words [0] Shakespeare can definitely be considered "original". [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare's_influence#Influence_on_the_English_language https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare's_influence#Influe...

pfraze 6y ago
Just to add some dimension to that observation (but not diminish it) at least some of those words are better described as "credited as first used" rather than invented. He did invent many words, however, and I think more impressive is the number of phrases which he invented and are now so commonplace you don't think you're quoting shakespeare. Some examples: As luck would have it; Break the ice; Fair play; In a pickle; It's greek to me; What's done is done.
disown 6y ago
> Shakespeare can definitely be considered "original". To be fair, the idea of inventing new words isn't very original and not limited to shakespeare. Ordinary people/writers/etc have been coining new words since human speech began.
goto11 6y ago
First recorded use - does not mean Shakespeare invented the word or were the first to use it. Shakespeare was just really prolific and has been studied a lot, so is often the first citation chosen. There is a good post about this over at AskHistorians: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/99oio9/if_william_shakespeare_made_up_new_words_for_his/ https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/99oio9/if_wi... (Follow the references if you are interested in the subject) > Unfortunately, the citations have very frequently been misread: in particular, the ‘first citation’ for a word, or sub-meaning of a word, has mistakenly been taken as being the ‘first use’ – the earliest example of the word the OED readers could find. This is unfortunate, because the OED readers and editors were not making claims about priority: citations are exemplary rather than evidential. (...) > This means that Shakespeare features as the first citation for a very large number of head words and sub-meanings – and this has mistakenly been taken as evidence that Shakespeare ‘invented’ these words and meanings.

pfraze 6y ago

Just to add some dimension to that observation (but not diminish it) at least some of those words are better described as "credited as first used" rather than invented. He did invent many words, however, and I think more impressive is the number of phrases which he invented and are now so commonplace you don't think you're quoting shakespeare. Some examples: As luck would have it; Break the ice; Fair play; In a pickle; It's greek to me; What's done is done.

disown 6y ago

> Shakespeare can definitely be considered "original". To be fair, the idea of inventing new words isn't very original and not limited to shakespeare. Ordinary people/writers/etc have been coining new words since human speech began.

goto11 6y ago

First recorded use - does not mean Shakespeare invented the word or were the first to use it. Shakespeare was just really prolific and has been studied a lot, so is often the first citation chosen. There is a good post about this over at AskHistorians: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/99oio9/if_william_shakespeare_made_up_new_words_for_his/ https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/99oio9/if_wi... (Follow the references if you are interested in the subject) > Unfortunately, the citations have very frequently been misread: in particular, the ‘first citation’ for a word, or sub-meaning of a word, has mistakenly been taken as being the ‘first use’ – the earliest example of the word the OED readers could find. This is unfortunate, because the OED readers and editors were not making claims about priority: citations are exemplary rather than evidential. (...) > This means that Shakespeare features as the first citation for a very large number of head words and sub-meanings – and this has mistakenly been taken as evidence that Shakespeare ‘invented’ these words and meanings.