10 Words Supposedly Invented by Shakespeare
- Camille Rosas
- Apr 14
- 3 min read
William Shakespeare remains one of the most renowned writers in the history of the world. What people might not know is that some words didn’t even exist until Shakespeare invented them. That means he didn't just contribute to English literature—he contributed to the English language itself! Here are some words that were coined by Shakespeare and the plays where you can find them.
Articulate – Coriolanus, Henry IV Part 1
Meaning: (v.) express (an idea or feeling) fluently and coherently
It's ironic that the man who could never seem to find the right words was the first to utter a word that meant finding the right words. Originally, "articulate" was used to mean “to express in the form of articles.”
Cold-blooded – King John
Meaning: (adj.) without emotion or pity; deliberately cruel or callous. Synonyms: cruel, ruthless
And we don't mean reptiles. Shakespeare was not one to skimp on metaphors, and cold-blooded was one that really stuck. The term was initially used to mean “lacking in emotion,” but it has evolved to accommodate several other meanings. Another similar metaphor coined by Shakespeare is “cold-hearted.”
Eyesore – The Taming of the Shrew
Meaning: (n.) an unpleasant or ugly sight in a public place
This word is another clever compound word that is said to be coined by Shakespeare. First appearing in The Taming of the Shrew, the word retains its original meaning to this day.
Friend (as a verb) – Cymbeline, Henry VIII, Hamlet
Meaning: (v.) befriend (someone)
Shakespeare was the first one to use "friend" as a verb. The original intended meaning of the word may now be considered archaic, but the word has resurfaced thanks to social media platforms like Facebook.
Gnarled – Measure for Measure
Meaning: (adj.) knobbly, rough, and twisted, especially with age
This adjective describes something that has become crooked because of age, such as a tree. The word comes from “knurled,” which also means “bumpy.”
Launder (as a verb) – A Lover’s Complaint
Meaning: (v.) wash, or wash and iron (clothes or linens)
A woman who washes clothes is already known as a “laundress.” However, Shakespeare is credited for the backformation launder, a verb that means to wash clothes. It comes from the contraction of the French word for “washer,” which is lavandier.
Quarrelsome – As You Like It, Taming of the Shrew
Meaning: (adj.) given to or characterized by quarreling
Yet another compound adjective, this word appears in both As You Like It and The Taming of the Shrew. The adjective refers to someone who tends to pick fights often.
Rival (as an adjective and a verb) – King Lear, Midsummer Night’s Dream
Meaning: (v.) compete for superiority with; be or seem to be equal or comparable to
Meaning: (adj.) having the same pretensions or claims Synonym: competing
The noun form of rival was already well into the English lexicon, but its use as an adjective or a verb was pioneered by Shakespeare in two of his works.
Watchdog – The Tempest
Meaning: (n.) a person or organization that monitors and publicizes the behavior of others (individuals, corporations, governments) to discover undesirable activity
This compound noun was popularized in Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Often referring to a person, or a group of persons, watchdog is also a popular term in journalism.
Zany – Love’s Labour Lost
Meaning: (adj.) amusingly unconventional and idiosyncratic
This may sound like a fairly new word, but this was actually first used as a part of the English language by Shakespeare. The word was loaned from an Italian commedia dell’arte.
Get zany with your words
Shakespeare reminds us that language is a complex and ever-changing thing, and that ordinary people contribute to language's evolution everyday. Don't be afraid to play around with words, or even invent new ones. In a hundred years, a word you made up might even catch on.
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