ENGLISH
REFERENCE

elizabethan

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌɛɫɪzəˈbiθən// eliz·a·bethan

adj. relating to the time when Queen Elizabeth I ruled England, from 1558 to 1603. It often describes the famous plays, music, and buildings from that period.

adj. relating to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England (1558–1603). Frequently describes the literary, architectural, and cultural output of the English Renaissance.


SIMPLE

We are studying Elizabethan poetry in school.

CONTEXTUAL

The town is famous for its well-preserved Elizabethan houses with their distinctive black-and-timber frames.

COMPLEX

Scholars often debate the extent to which Elizabethan drama was influenced by the political tensions of the late sixteenth century.

Origin

From Elizabeth + -an (suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’ forming adjectives; and forming agent nouns), referring to Elizabeth I (1533–1603), Elizabeth II (1926–2022), and Elizabeth of Russia (1709–1762).

Usage

Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun; when used as a noun, it refers to a person living during that era.

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