In honour of Shakespeare's 460th birthday, what words did he invent?

[AviatorTom]

William Shakespeare was born 460 years ago today (23-Apr-2024).

In his honour, we have an interesting quiz for you.

The poll lists several words and phrases. All but one of them were actually invented by Shakespeare. Can you guess which one was not invented by him?

Correct answer will be given tomorrow, Wednesday.

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Ballad-Monger

Dishearten

Disturbed

Inaudible

Multitudinous

Pageantry

Updates

+1 y

Shakespeare is credited with inventing all those words... except for DISHEARTEN. That's been traced to earlier sources.

[purplepoppy]

Only one from that list I know for sure is dishearten.

I'm always sceptical about claims he invented words, I suspect most were already in the common vernacular but he was the first notable person to write them down.

It is interesting how we can hear new words and instantly know what they mean.

[FatNeville]

Like "sonder".

[AngryCarl]

I don't think Shakespeare invented advertising. In Shakespeare's time people would buy tickets to watch a play so there was no need to interrupt the play every ten minutes to talk about your sponsor. Unless your sponsor was Queen Elizabeth, when you would cleverly include lots of references in the play.

[exitseven]

Honorrificabilitudinitatibus.

[exitseven]

Thanks for the MHO

[msc545]

Advertising" was not first used by Shakespeare

[NathanDavis]

Bye, Felicia...

[FatNeville]

I hope not to see too much bardolatry.

[BCRanger10]

Didn't he invent contractions?

[purplepoppy]

No, they've been in used in Britain since the 5th century, probably the same across Europe. English is unusual in that it doesn't contract as much as other languages

[BCRanger10]

@purplepoppy I stand corrected then. Thank you 🙌