Shakespeare William

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Shake·speare

(shāk′spîr), William 1564-1616.

English playwright and poet whose works are noted for their exceptional verbal wit, psychological depth, and emotional range. His plays include historical works such as Richard II; comedies, including Much Ado about Nothing; and tragedies, such as Hamlet, Othello, and King Lear. He also composed 154 sonnets. The earliest collected edition of his plays, the First Folio, contained 36 plays and was published posthumously (1623).

Shake·spear′e·an, Shake·spear′i·an adj. & n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Shakespeare William Shakespeare died 400 years ago in April, and the Everyman and Playhouse have a mini-season to mark the anniversary.